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I finally got around to replacing my vavle cover gaskets thank you very much for all of the help from the forum once again!
Now I have another issue I want to take care of. Because my VC gasket was leaking BADLY for so long, my entire engine/engine bay is filthy, like really filthy.
Any tips on detailing an engine bay? I did read the article on se-r .net but was missing info like what all needs to be wrapped up bsides the MAF and the distributor?
I have never done this before and Im not trying to damage anything. water and electricy dont really mix to well.
good news: under my valve cover was surprisingly clean. Only one tiny deposit of black stuff near the timing chain guide everything else was clean and clear, not bad for 130K on the clock.
yeah wrap up the maf and the cap and rotor. get a crap load of cans of break cleaner and simple green. spray the engine with the break cleaner and scrub with a wire brush for the engine and use a plastic brush for other parts. then was with simple green let it sit for a few minutes. rinse if off let it dry. and repeat till you happy.
ive used brake cleaner on the engine block valve cover. i havent used it on the engine bay its self. that i wouldnt know but i have seen brake cleaner eat paint up so id say avoid getting it on paint. the simple green sh*t is a concentrate, so you mix it with water. toss it on scrub everything up. let it sit for a few minutes and spray it off. ive never had a problem using simple green.
honestly all you need is a bottle of simple green.....that stuff freakin cleans anything if you ask me.....i just spray and then let it sit for about 10 minutes then wash the whole engine bay down and then use armoral wipes to make everything shinny....
vince
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G20/Primera
D2 damper kit, hotshot cold air intake, topspeed header, nismo radiator cap, front superpro bushings, octocat rear strut bar, obx b10 axle back exhaust, Apexi SAFC-ll, P11 mesh rims, Primera phase 1 grille, Primera amber corners, NGK iridium plugs, 300zx tt fuel filter, Primera sidemakers and striped interior
Castrol super clean degreaser. Run the engine for a few minutes to make the grime easier to remove. As said earlier, cover the MAF and the cap & rotor. Also lay a bag/towel in the spark plug portion of the head, around the wires. If you get water in there, chances are it will get in the spark plug holes, and when the engine gets to operating temp, the water will boil and the car will miss like crazy.
Heheh I do this all the time at work. Just coat the engine bay with a simple green like cleaner then hose it down for a minute or so. they come out nice and clean but its something id never do to my own engine.
Lots of before/after photos in there. Basically the consensus was to use this method:
I recently attended a detailing seminar hosted buy a bunch of detailing pros. I couldn't believe some of the tips-n-tricks I learned that day.
I was particularly interested in how they go their engine bays so clean. I just couldn't imagine anyone cleaning every belt and hose with a tooth brush and some Amour-All.
Well, they had a demonstration using a Porsche 944 with an engine bay that had not been cleaned in years. Here's how it went...the ending shocked me.
1. Let the engine run for a minute or two to warm it up. Grease and other gunk is easier to remove when the engine is warm (NOT HOT).
2. Cover any exposed electrical components and anything else you do not want to get a bunch of water on with aluminum foil.
3. Get a can of engine degreaser from your local auto store...they used GUNK Engine Degreaser. Spray it liberally on everything! Don't be shy...they used the entire can. Let is sit for 10-15mins so it can breakdown and loosen all that grime.
4. Get the hose out and spray down everything to remove all the degreaser and dirt and grime. Do not use a nozzle...just the hose is enough pressure. You do not want to blast water into all the engine components...especially on newer cars.
5. Let the water run off for a few mins and start the engine and let is run for 30 seconds to help dry some of the water.
6. Here's the final step that SHOCKED the hell out of me. They sprayed the entire engine bay down with WD-40. They used an entire can and sparyed it on EVERYTHING! After they were done; the engine looked BRAND NEW. I was told this is how many car dealers get the used cars to look brand new under the hood. Some substitute Pledge furniture spray instead of WD-40 (believing WD-40 attracts dust).
I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes. The Porsche engine looked flawless and every hose and belt looked brand new. I'm planning on doing this to my car this weekend.
__________________
1991 SE-r Aztec Red "Quiet, She's sleeping"
1992 SE-r Ruby Red "Now with 100% less engine"
1992 SE-r Black Beauty... "It's not his anymore"
Lots of before/after photos in there. Basically the consensus was to use this method:
I recently attended a detailing seminar hosted buy a bunch of detailing pros. I couldn't believe some of the tips-n-tricks I learned that day.
I was particularly interested in how they go their engine bays so clean. I just couldn't imagine anyone cleaning every belt and hose with a tooth brush and some Amour-All.
Well, they had a demonstration using a Porsche 944 with an engine bay that had not been cleaned in years. Here's how it went...the ending shocked me.
1. Let the engine run for a minute or two to warm it up. Grease and other gunk is easier to remove when the engine is warm (NOT HOT).
2. Cover any exposed electrical components and anything else you do not want to get a bunch of water on with aluminum foil.
3. Get a can of engine degreaser from your local auto store...they used GUNK Engine Degreaser. Spray it liberally on everything! Don't be shy...they used the entire can. Let is sit for 10-15mins so it can breakdown and loosen all that grime.
4. Get the hose out and spray down everything to remove all the degreaser and dirt and grime. Do not use a nozzle...just the hose is enough pressure. You do not want to blast water into all the engine components...especially on newer cars.
5. Let the water run off for a few mins and start the engine and let is run for 30 seconds to help dry some of the water.
6. Here's the final step that SHOCKED the hell out of me. They sprayed the entire engine bay down with WD-40. They used an entire can and sparyed it on EVERYTHING! After they were done; the engine looked BRAND NEW. I was told this is how many car dealers get the used cars to look brand new under the hood. Some substitute Pledge furniture spray instead of WD-40 (believing WD-40 attracts dust).
I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes. The Porsche engine looked flawless and every hose and belt looked brand new. I'm planning on doing this to my car this weekend.
That's what I said earlier I skip the step at the end when you apply either tire shine/wd-40. It attracts dirt to it, so the motor looks dirtier, faster. I personally just like the look of a clean, grime free engine bay without all the added shine.
I only have to spray the engine down about once a month to keep it clean. The tire shine doesnt attract more dirt, and this is a DD (90 miles to & from work).
I would think that spraying the belts with WD-40 would cause them to wear out, and slip..
-Tim
damn thanks for all the info, looks like other people had the same questions. This thread should be saved somewhere for easy access. I am deffinately going to have to try this once the rains go away.
edit: I just read through the entire bmw thread, and the results from some of the pictures are damn amazing!!
question: can you just "HOSE" down the engine or should youjust mist it down?
also what about the battery? couldnt the water short the terminals?
question: can you just "HOSE" down the engine or should youjust mist it down?
also what about the battery? couldnt the water short the terminals?
as long as electrical/intake is covered up, yes. and im no electrician...but no the water does not short the battery out. i do this all the time at work and have never had a problem. hell i know a place that powerwashes engine bays.
I skip the step at the end when you apply either tire shine/wd-40. It attracts dirt to it, so the motor looks dirtier, faster. I personally just like the look of a clean, grime free engine bay without all the added shine.
