Cleaning Engine Bay

I see lots of pic of people with very clean engine bays. I was wonderin how all of you get em so clean. What do you use?

[coupe]

Just did a search on "cleaning engine bay".......21 threads.

[2003SCT]

Very LIGHT concentration of Castrol Super Clean and use Stoner's Trim Shine for plastics....same with rubber. Zaino's Tire stuff is great on hoses too! But keeping it clean with any light cleaner and plenty of water is most important.
CHRIS

OK I was just kinda afraid to shoot some water into my bay. Didnt know what it would do.

[atc3434]

Don't blast the alternator, fusebox, or coilpacks. I use S100 cleaner, and it works pretty good in the engine compartment. Defintely run the car after you've finished rinsing it to make sure that it dries off good, I like to take mine for a 20 minute drive to make sure.

[coupe]

Once ya clean it real good the first time all it takes is a wet rag after that every couple of weeks.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/426149/15

^^ All i do now is wipe everything down with a wet rag and armor all all the plastic and rubber every 2 weeks. Now that i drive my car once in awhile i have to do it even less.

[2003SCT]

Originally Posted by coupe

Once ya clean it real good the first time all it takes is a wet rag after that every couple of weeks.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/426149/15

^^ All i do now is wipe everything down with a wet rag and armor all all the plastic and rubber every 2 weeks. Now that i drive my car once in awhile i have to do it even less.

Very true....

It sure helps living in las vegas too.....no rain snow or slop!


CHRIS

[coupe]

The first time is the worste, if your detailed like me it will take for ever. After that its a 5 minute job. Easy

[MantaGreen97]

Originally Posted by 2003SCT

Very LIGHT concentration of Castrol Super Clean and use Stoner's Trim Shine for plastics....same with rubber. Zaino's Tire stuff is great on hoses too! But keeping it clean with any light cleaner and plenty of water is most important.
CHRIS

Yeah I have a hard time cleaning my engine bay too and it is usually a waste of effort because one my car is "rustproofed" so all that guk is on the sides of the engine bay on the strut towers and stuff. Secondly, the winter pretty much kills it anyway, like I clean it in the summer just in time for winter and after winter is over it looks the same as it did before

Castrol Super Clean is good (as they say "if it won't come clean with Super Clean..."). But I think why 2003SCT said to use a light concentration of it (above) is because Super Clean isn't really recommended for aluminum parts, as the upper section of our engines are made of (or the entire engine for the Ecotec ppl). If you read the Super Clean bottle it will say clearly to avoid letting it sit on aluminum, however a lighter concentration is probably okay.

Gunk (a petroleum based engine shampoo) is pretty good IMO and it won't really harm anything in your engine bay (still be sure to cover electrical components though).

3M makes a product which is an "engine detailer" which is pretty much how car dealers, etc. get everything to shine once the engine has been cleaned (like the hoses and plastics and that). I've never seen it available for sale in consumer-sized bottles but I know it comes in large barrels for dealers and detailing shops.

[Braves299]

Originally Posted by coupe

The first time is the worste, if your detailed like me it will take for ever. After that its a 5 minute job. Easy

I just checked your cardomain. Thats one of the nicest GA's I've seen

[coupe]

Originally Posted by Braves299

I just checked your cardomain. Thats one of the nicest GA's I've seen

Thanks dude, I dont get to many compliments on it, makes me feel alot better knowing i put all that time and money in it and someone actually likes it.

[freakydeaky]

Originally Posted by coupe

Once ya clean it real good the first time all it takes is a wet rag after that every couple of weeks.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/426149/15

^^ All i do now is wipe everything down with a wet rag and armor all all the plastic and rubber every 2 weeks. Now that i drive my car once in awhile i have to do it even less.

off topic: ... wow... coupe.... mad props man, first time for me seeing your cardomain page.... i drooled all over my keyboard in awe over your engine bay....

[Woody87]

Originally Posted by my02gt

OK I was just kinda afraid to shoot some water into my bay. Didnt know what it would do.

I did it a couple weeks ago w/ a high pressure water sprayer. I disconnected and took out the battery. and covered up any electrical components w/ trash bags. when I got done, it started back up no problem.

[coupe]

Originally Posted by freakydeaky

off topic: ... wow... coupe.... mad props man, first time for me seeing your cardomain page.... i drooled all over my keyboard in awe over your engine bay....

Thanks man, i really appreciate that. Im redoing the whole thing, i just havent had the time to sit down and do it. Plus i just figured out how to put music on the pages. The first 3 have music right now.

[freakydeaky]

Originally Posted by coupe

Thanks man, i really appreciate that. Im redoing the whole thing, i just havent had the time to sit down and do it. Plus i just figured out how to put music on the pages. The first 3 have music right now.

how'd you get the music on the pages.... wav format.... fill me in with an how-to if you don't mind.... post here or pm me....

[Metallman56]

last time i cleaned my engine bay my car wouldnt start. i guess by some act of god the theftlock came on. dont ask me why. if that happens you can get around it on pfyc.com, if you go to the pcm it will tell you how to reset the cpu. any way my engine bay looks like crap, and thats fine by me. i dont need to put in the theft lock, which takes about 45min, every time i clean it. but that doesnt mean i dont want to.
also coupe i left you a message under check out my ga, in the person ride forum. and how did you get music on your car domain?

[Gramp's GT]

I do mine the lazy way....I take it to a detailing shop...give them $20 and they shampoo it and make it all pretty.

[tomh]

i take mine to a local gm dealer.. my friend works there and he does it for free

[caraudiodave]

i "steam clean" it twice a year. that includes covering the coil packs and alternator, and then using the Gunk engine brite. i spray it all over, let it soak in, then use a hose to rinse it down. i dry it pretty well before starting it to avoid seeing steam (kinda scares me).

in between "steam cleans" i use meguires quick detail and paper towels to wipe it down, and use meguires purple tire gel on the radiator cover, hoses, and spark plug wires.

[texasga]

I use something called 'Hot Stuff'. I detail cars.....spray on and hose off. Never seen anything work like this stuff. Burns the hell out of your hands if you don't wear gloves......and breathing it....damn.....takes your breathe away.