Engine Detailing? - Page 2

kayno · 03-29-2008, 02:44 PM

what do you guys cover in the engine bay exactly....anyone have a pic of what parts they cover and with what method?

005sti · 03-29-2008, 03:23 PM

make sure the engine is cold, cover the alternator with a plastic bag or something similar, spray down the engine bay with water, use wheel cleaner and brush to scrub all surfaces, spray again and repeat until clean, then carefully remove plastic bag and ur done

M.K. STI · 03-29-2008, 03:32 PM

yea my engine bay needs a detail badly!!!

Es Tee Aye · 03-29-2008, 04:41 PM

i ussualy do everything by hand, i use scratchX on the painted surfaces to remove thick build up. for the rest i use water and light solvent or like 005sti said "wheel cleaner" and i use rough sponge to scrub surfaces. Ive never actually sprayed downt he engine but id say as well to cover the alternator and if you have an after market intake, to cover that as well...

sti_nguyen · 03-29-2008, 04:51 PM

so the only things you have to cover is the alternator, battery, and aftermarket intake/sensor? Anything else i have to cover before i do some detailing on the engine bay?

005sti · 03-30-2008, 04:10 AM

yeah, just make sure the bag covering the alternator is tucked well around the alternator ad that red plug closest to the firewall. FYI my engine bay is stock and I have done mine several times without covering the battery with no problems yet, but it's probably a good idea. I also wipe down all plastic surfaces afterwards to avoid water spot formation, so the water that was sprayed on the battery, etc. was always quickly wiped off. And, when I say cold, I eliminate all guessing by detailing only after the car has been sitting all night. Lastly, the reason I spray with water is because I don't want any of the questionably flammable chemicals to burn off while I'm driving the car.

sophal0303 · 04-11-2008, 12:35 PM

is it okay to spray down your everything under the hood with water? It won't ruin anything under the hood?

atomicfire · 04-20-2008, 09:03 PM

Its not recommended you use Simple Green unless you rinse it off very quickly (its mildly corrosive, its a mild base) but all I did was cover my K&N Typhoon cone filter (no need if you have a stock airbox), spray away with Simple Gree, give everything a good scrub with my wheel cleaning brush, and rinse away with regular hose pressure water. If you're using Simple Green, make sure to rinse EVERYTHING VERY WELL. Simple Green, if left on bare metals such as the engine block, transmission housing or intercooler can cause corrosion because it is a mild base. Just rinse it off well and you will be alright. My bottle of P21S TAW is coming in the mail

Don't worry your batter, alternator, etc are already weatherproofed. Just don't get in there with a pressure washer and it will all work out fine. the 13 volts or so provided by your car battery is not enough to break down and ionize water to conduct through it, so there is no risk whatsoever of a short or electrical damage to electrical components unless you use really really dirty salt water to wash your engine bay.

BTW does anyone use those "foamer" attachments to clean the engine bay? Like get a nice thick layer of degreaser in there, then rise it off?

axo04 · 04-23-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomicfire

Don't worry your batter, alternator, etc are already weatherproofed. Just don't get in there with a pressure washer and it will all work out fine. the 13 volts or so provided by your car battery is not enough to break down and ionize water to conduct through it, so there is no risk whatsoever of a short or electrical damage to electrical components unless you use really really dirty salt water to wash your engine bay.

so, its safe to get all this wet just not with pressure alot of people say to cover it with alum. foil?

**Fletch07STI** · 04-23-2008, 07:48 AM

Thanks for the help! I'll be doing my engine bay today after class

that is after I go to autozone/kragen

atomicfire · 05-03-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axo04

so, its safe to get all this wet just not with pressure alot of people say to cover it with alum. foil?

If you want to cover it, its not going to hurt at all. When I washed my engine bay, all I covered was the Typhoon intake I have.

LSE · 05-04-2008, 06:13 AM

I'm sort of paranoid about washing the thing even if you cover some parts. My brother washed his nissan maxima's engine with just a low pressure hose one time and killed 4 sensors. Cost him like a grand to get it fixed. Normally I just clean it with a sponge in the areas where you can see.

Nasioc_STi · 05-05-2008, 01:51 AM

i never cover anything and the engine bay gets washed every time the exterior does .

STidriver12 · 05-05-2008, 07:05 PM

wow all do some work, i just go to self carwash with powerhose
1st: turn engine off
2nd: pop the hood
3: spray the engine with the engine degrease selection(the spray should be like blue-greenish liquid to the engine)
4:let the liquid do work
5: spray it off with power water in low pressure
6: ur done with clean, close the hood
7: drive away and don't worry about smelly (it cause from engine burn the engine degrease soap)
8:enjoy see ur engine clean.

03-29-2008, 02:44 PM	#16
kayno Amateur STI Driver Posts: 9 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? what do you guys cover in the engine bay exactly....anyone have a pic of what parts they cover and with what method? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-29-2008, 03:23 PM	#17
005sti Senior STI Driver Fav Mod: Agile protune Location: vahbeach Posts: 392 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? make sure the engine is cold, cover the alternator with a plastic bag or something similar, spray down the engine bay with water, use wheel cleaner and brush to scrub all surfaces, spray again and repeat until clean, then carefully remove plastic bag and ur done

03-29-2008, 03:32 PM	#18
M.K. STI Junior STI Driver Car: 07 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 178 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? yea my engine bay needs a detail badly!!!

03-29-2008, 04:41 PM	#19
Es Tee Aye Junior STI Driver Car: White:05STi/04RSX-S Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 169 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? i ussualy do everything by hand, i use scratchX on the painted surfaces to remove thick build up. for the rest i use water and light solvent or like 005sti said "wheel cleaner" and i use rough sponge to scrub surfaces. Ive never actually sprayed downt he engine but id say as well to cover the alternator and if you have an after market intake, to cover that as well...

03-29-2008, 04:51 PM	#20
sti_nguyen STI Driver Car: Java black 04 STi Fav Mod: Greddy T-ic Location: Norcal, Santa Rosa Posts: 200 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Engine Detailing? so the only things you have to cover is the alternator, battery, and aftermarket intake/sensor? Anything else i have to cover before i do some detailing on the engine bay?

03-30-2008, 04:10 AM	#21
005sti Senior STI Driver Fav Mod: Agile protune Location: vahbeach Posts: 392 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? yeah, just make sure the bag covering the alternator is tucked well around the alternator ad that red plug closest to the firewall. FYI my engine bay is stock and I have done mine several times without covering the battery with no problems yet, but it's probably a good idea. I also wipe down all plastic surfaces afterwards to avoid water spot formation, so the water that was sprayed on the battery, etc. was always quickly wiped off. And, when I say cold, I eliminate all guessing by detailing only after the car has been sitting all night. Lastly, the reason I spray with water is because I don't want any of the questionably flammable chemicals to burn off while I'm driving the car.

04-11-2008, 12:35 PM	#22
sophal0303 Amateur STI Driver Car: blue 04 wrx sti Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 13 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? is it okay to spray down your everything under the hood with water? It won't ruin anything under the hood?

04-20-2008, 09:03 PM	#23
atomicfire STI Driver Car: 05 OBP WRX STi Fav Mod: Right Foot Location: Port Orange, Florida Posts: 240 Join Date: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: Engine Detailing? Its not recommended you use Simple Green unless you rinse it off very quickly (its mildly corrosive, its a mild base) but all I did was cover my K&N Typhoon cone filter (no need if you have a stock airbox), spray away with Simple Gree, give everything a good scrub with my wheel cleaning brush, and rinse away with regular hose pressure water. If you're using Simple Green, make sure to rinse EVERYTHING VERY WELL. Simple Green, if left on bare metals such as the engine block, transmission housing or intercooler can cause corrosion because it is a mild base. Just rinse it off well and you will be alright. My bottle of P21S TAW is coming in the mail Don't worry your batter, alternator, etc are already weatherproofed. Just don't get in there with a pressure washer and it will all work out fine. the 13 volts or so provided by your car battery is not enough to break down and ionize water to conduct through it, so there is no risk whatsoever of a short or electrical damage to electrical components unless you use really really dirty salt water to wash your engine bay. BTW does anyone use those "foamer" attachments to clean the engine bay? Like get a nice thick layer of degreaser in there, then rise it off?

04-23-2008, 07:48 AM	#25
Fletch07STI Gold Member Car: Silver 07 STI Fav Mod: Stage 1 Cobb AP Location: Chico, San Diego.. CA Posts: 187 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? Thanks for the help! I'll be doing my engine bay today after class that is after I go to autozone/kragen

05-04-2008, 06:13 AM	#27
LSE Professional STI Racer Car: 06 STI WRB Fav Mod: Defi Gauges Location: Bethlehem PA Posts: 811 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? I'm sort of paranoid about washing the thing even if you cover some parts. My brother washed his nissan maxima's engine with just a low pressure hose one time and killed 4 sensors. Cost him like a grand to get it fixed. Normally I just clean it with a sponge in the areas where you can see.

05-05-2008, 01:51 AM	#28
Nasioc_STi STI Driver Car: White and Nerdy Fav Mod: PayPal !!! Location: Earth Posts: 216 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? i never cover anything and the engine bay gets washed every time the exterior does .

05-05-2008, 07:05 PM	#29
STidriver12 Professional STI Racer Car: 07 Subaru Impreza 2. Fav Mod: Lights!(headlight, gauge, etc) Location: IL Posts: 814 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Engine Detailing? wow all do some work, i just go to self carwash with powerhose 1st: turn engine off 2nd: pop the hood 3: spray the engine with the engine degrease selection(the spray should be like blue-greenish liquid to the engine) 4:let the liquid do work 5: spray it off with power water in low pressure 6: ur done with clean, close the hood 7: drive away and don't worry about smelly (it cause from engine burn the engine degrease soap) 8:enjoy see ur engine clean. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.