I know it's not a paint correction, so I hope I'm posting in the right area. Story: My work provides me with a car, and that car had to be put in the garage for preventive maintenance. I signed out a spare car. Despite only having the car for two days, I thought it would be a good candidate for a before/after engine cleaning. Products: I used Adam's brushes, Adam's All Purpose Cleaner, Adam's In & Out Spray, and Adam's Super VRT. Car: 2004 Crown Victoria with 81000 neglected miles. Pics: Initial rinse: Sprayed down with All Purpose Cleaner: Work in progress: And the underside of the hood: After drying the APC and drying: Applying the VRT: The final product, also showing products: There are a lot of spots I missed, but it was 37 degrees and I'd had enough. I'm a big time amateur at this, but I would NEVER let one of my vehicle's engines look like the before pics.
I want to do this too as my engine bay is starting to get dusty in all the crevices Do you guys use high pressure hose? Anything you need to avoid spraying, have engine running etc? Can I dry with blower vac?
You can but I wouldn't get the nozzle to close to the target. I have used the pressure washer on tires and made that mistake. It cut right through the rubber. Imagine what it would do to a vacumn line or radiator hose. I've found that the longer you go without doing the engine the longer it takes to clean it up. The dirt, dust etc will find its way to those hard to reach places and when done will show up real bad. It's to bad there are so many products out there that people use to cover up what they couldn't get. For me my steamer works great with a diluted APC, numerous type brushes of various sizes, Garden hose for rinse, air compressor and the Metro Blower. Also I have outside hot water for the garden hose. All this allows me to tackle engine compartments and chassis plus I remove the wheels. The Metro allows for me to dry because it puts out warm air forcefully. I follow up with dressing products on rubber and plastics. Covered items for me are the alternator, but again I'm able to dry everything with the blower. Hope I answered some of your questions......good luck.
I've got one of Adam's fire hose nozzles. I will blast away at the underside of the hood, but use more of a light mist "spring rain" type effect for the engine. I do leave the engine running while spraying water. When I do my Corvette, I cover the alternator with a plastic bag... on the Crown Vic I didn't, I was just careful not to spray right onto it. I also have a Metro Blaster Sidekick that I use to blow away the water. Then I'll let the car run for awhile longer in hopes that engine heat will help dissipate anything left. I'd cover the PCM and fusebox if you're really worried. Klink10, I am jealous that you have hot water in your garden hose. That's awesome.
Yea my outdoor shop/building is 40 wide by 60 long with a full bath and hot water tank. Used to have 10 cars in it. Now full of bikes with enough space to park my own and do a detail on a customer. One other thing, once done right I have yet had to go back and do a full engine clean. Now it's just a blow off or wipe down. Thing about running the car to dry is that no matter what there will be drops left where you don't want them and as the engine heats up and they dry there are spots which then have to be addressed. Oh and that Vette looks good.
from so many detailing threads, i see all the time a shot of the cleaned up engine bay but only showing the top portion of the bay... how do you guys get all the way down into the tighter areas and lower engine bay? i mean even in this thread the OP's pic shows the top of the bay with the hood up, but we don't get to see the "inner" portion or lower part of the engine bay... just curious how u guys get down there as some spots are really tight and no space for a brush in my arsenal...=( thanks folks.
On the CV, I just got as much as I could with the big brush. I didn't feel like using the smaller brush I have. This is the other brush I use: Adam's Polishes - Adam's Trim & Lug Nut Brush For the spots that I can't reach, I just spray Adam's In & Out Spray. (Adam's In & Out Spray) Seems to get everything for me. Like Klink said, once it's clean you don't really have to do anything but a "dust off/wipe down".
For me, to get down and dirty calls for lifting the car up which I do. Once up and on quality jack stands well everything comes off. With my steamer and attachments, hose and hot water it's easy to get everything. Lower engine, chasis, suspension components and of course a better job on the wheels since they come off also.
