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Detailing Discuss how to make your car sparkly clean for car shows, local meets, or any other reason. What products do others use and how do we get them? Get your questions answered in here.

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Old 04-14-2008, 05:57 PM   #1
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Engine bay wash

What do you need to cover to wash the engine bay? Just the alt?

How do you guys do it?

Thx
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Old 04-14-2008, 06:07 PM   #2
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http://videos.streetfire.net/video/W...bay_138890.htm

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Old 04-14-2008, 06:33 PM   #3
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you should cover up the major electrical stuff. The way that video shows it is not too good imo. check youtube for more videos
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Old 04-14-2008, 06:54 PM   #4
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you should cover up the major electrical stuff. The way that video shows it is not too good imo. check youtube for more videos
Thats what the blower is for dude..It dries everything off after the wash. I've done this exact same procedure to my car countless times with NO issues whatsoever.
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Old 04-14-2008, 07:58 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greeny View Post
Thats what the blower is for dude..It dries everything off after the wash. I've done this exact same procedure to my car countless times with NO issues whatsoever.
but on older cars it would be wise to cover up some of the vulnerable components.
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Old 04-14-2008, 08:18 PM   #6
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i never cover anything when i wash. i only use a water hose though.

from what i've gathered, you only reaaaally need to cover junk when you're using a power washer.

but that's just me. i've never had any problems.
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Old 04-15-2008, 04:22 AM   #7
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but on older cars it would be wise to cover up some of the vulnerable components.
Blah, the same components are on newer cars..

What difference does it make if the "vulnerable" parts are dry after the leaf blower is used?

Dry is dry weather it's covered up or blown dry.
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Old 04-15-2008, 08:15 AM   #8
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I would think at least remove your filter for your CAI
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Old 04-15-2008, 08:36 AM   #9
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THE ONE THING HE DIDNT DO THAT I RECOMMEND IS RINSE UR FENDERS..BEFORE(AND AFTER) U START TO SPRAY CHEMICALS..CUZ IT CAN/WILL EAT AT YOUR PAINT AND YOU WONT THINK ABOUT IT

BTW ONLY PROBLEM I'VE EVER HAD IS WITH A CARB'D ENGINE..OTHER THAN THAT, I NEVER COVER ANYTHING. I HAVE YET TO DO A MAXIMA ENGINE BUT I'VE DONE NUMEROUS HONDAS AND MY BROTHERS INFINITI I35
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Old 04-15-2008, 11:19 AM   #10
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THE ONE THING HE DIDNT DO THAT I RECOMMEND IS RINSE UR FENDERS..BEFORE(AND AFTER) U START TO SPRAY CHEMICALS..CUZ IT CAN/WILL EAT AT YOUR PAINT AND YOU WONT THINK ABOUT IT

BTW ONLY PROBLEM I'VE EVER HAD IS WITH A CARB'D ENGINE..OTHER THAN THAT, I NEVER COVER ANYTHING. I HAVE YET TO DO A MAXIMA ENGINE BUT I'VE DONE NUMEROUS HONDAS AND MY BROTHERS INFINITI I35
The "chemical" used was and always is Meguiars car wash soap..
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Old 04-15-2008, 11:20 AM   #11
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I would think at least remove your filter for your CAI
The filter is far enough down into my front fender well that it is not hit by water.
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Old 04-15-2008, 01:01 PM   #12
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The "chemical" used was and always is Meguiars car wash soap..
well i use purple power most of the time and sometimes i use mean green..whatever degreaser, except the stuff that advance sells, i use...i hate that kerosene smell...ftl
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Old 04-16-2008, 02:26 PM   #13
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uh, so just covering the alt and washing everything with soap and water would work I guess? Just dropping water with a hose, no presure wash.
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Old 04-16-2008, 09:02 PM   #14
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Yeah, I was looking at a can of the GUNK Engine Degreaser tonight.. It says to cover all critical sensors/electronics.

Theres damn sensors/electronics all over, Id hate to hear I have to cover every sensor/electronic just to get my motor cleaned up from winter time.

I would do it the way Greeny showed, but I dont have a leaf blower
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Old 04-17-2008, 07:06 AM   #15
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I would do it the way Greeny showed, but I dont have a leaf blower
They are only like $30 for an electric unit.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4910793

You can sometimes find them cheaper at closeout stores.

Also, an air compressor will work in a pinch.
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Old 04-17-2008, 07:18 AM   #16
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here is how i do my engine bay cleaning:

1. ensure u have a mildly warm to cold engine

2. start the car up.

3. spray your fenders to dilute any over spray of chemicals getting on your fender paint as you may forget to spray them afterwards

4. spray the engine bay with your degreaser(purple power, mean green, etc)

5. allow car to run for about 10-15mins allowing the grease to loosing itself up

6. (optional, if engine is heavily greased) respray engine bay to softened grease build up and allow to soak for 5mins tops

7. hose off all degreasing solution from the engine bay and remember to rinse fenders again.

8. (optional) spray an engine detailer or armor all over engine bay to provide your 'shine' and close hood and allow car to run another 10mins to allow it to dry and armor all set in.

9. close hood and allow engine bay to dry while the car is still running for another 10mins.

10. pop hood and admire
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Old 04-23-2008, 12:45 AM   #17
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dat engine bay video reminds me of restaurant bathrooms with the hand blower lol
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Old 04-30-2008, 06:36 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phatboislim View Post
here is how i do my engine bay cleaning:
4. spray the engine bay with your degreaser(purple power, mean green, etc)
Is it really safe to just spray engine degreaser all over? I have heard that it breaks down rubber parts (I am not challenging the write-up, I just don't know and have not cleaned the engine bay before). Are all engine degreasers (bought from autozone) the same?

thanks for the write-up

g

PS. If i spray my wife with engine degreaser, will she go away?
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Old 04-30-2008, 06:56 AM   #19
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everytime that i've degreased my engines, i've never had any problems with hoses. look at it like this..if your hose is already shot, and it takes some degreaser to make it blow..you were driving on a dream.

PS i think that will work, ill try it on my wife first lol
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Old 04-30-2008, 03:00 PM   #20
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[quote=PS i think that will work, ill try it on my wife first lol[/QUOTE]

I just have to laugh at you 2 guys since my wife and I are having just a dream of a disagreement lasting a LLLOOOONNNNNGGGG time. Engine degreaser? HHmmmm....

BTW, i keep reading conflicting things on when to run the engine....some say NEVER when wet, and their reasoning makes perfect sense, and others say to run it because it helps it dry...seems like waiting a day or 2 to let it air dry completely (no leafblower here) makes better sense than running it right after washing it??? confused.

Last edited by MichMaxFan; 04-30-2008 at 03:03 PM.
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Old 05-01-2008, 05:59 AM   #21
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i run my engines when i degrease them...takes it (with the hood closed after spraying it) no longer than 10minutes to dry. to eaches own, but i run my engines.
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Old 05-29-2008, 02:18 PM   #22
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By running the engine, aren't you at a greater risk of shorting out the alternator and any other electrical components in the event that they get wet? Same situation with the intake.
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Old 05-29-2008, 02:50 PM   #23
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for one i dont run a continuous stream of water on any electrical parts including the alternator and sensors, same with the intake..i rinse it just enough, then move on.
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