Engine Detailing
Detailing your engine bay will make hoses look darker and metals look brighter. Plus properly cared for hoses, belts and other rubber/plastic pieces last longer than those which go uncared for.
You should only need to fully detail your engine bay 1-2 times per year depending on your enviromental conditions. You can decrease the number of times per year needed to detail your engine bay by regulary using a quick detailer to keep it clean.
What you will need:
– Water – You will need a water source with a hose and spray nozzle attached.
– Assorted brushes – Nylon bristled brushes such as a body brush such as a body brush, old toothbrushes and detailing brushes work well.
– Chemical cleaner – Various chemical cleaners can be used. A quick detailer spray such as poorboy’s Spray and Wipe can be used a dusty engine, Meguiar’s Safe D-Greaser or Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner can be used for modertely dirty engines and Gunk Engine Cleeaner can be used for extremely greasy engine bays or also any other chemicals you know.
– Engine dressing – CD2 engine detailer and Meguiar’s Hyper Dressing are popular choice. However, almost any vinyl/rubber protectant product can be used.
– Microfiber Towels – Cheap microfiber towels from a wholesale club like costco are agreat tool for engine detailing. They are cheap enough so that you won’t mind getting them really dirty, but they are absorbent and soft like more expensive microfiber towels. Make sure they are clean and that all tags have been removed before use.
How to get it done…
1. Make sure the engine is cool. A hot engine should never be detailed, It’s dangerous for both the detailer and the engine.
2. Before opening the hood, spray dow the front end of the car with water. This will dilute any spray substance or any splashing water may fall onto the fender. This will help prevent any damage to the finish due to splashes of grease and excessive detergents.
3. Open the hood and cover sensitive items like the alternator and the battery with plastic wrap or a luminium foil. It’s also agood idea to stuffa towel in the air intake to prevent water form entering.
4. Lightly spray the entrie engine bay with water. Do not spay the water directly at the engine. the idea is to simply mist the engine.
5. Spray the entrie engine bay generously with your degreaser of choice and let dwell for a few minutes. Don’t forget to spray the underside of the hood too.
6. scrub all accessuble surfaces of the engine bay wit abrush. It’s OK to scrub painted areas gently, but take caution not to damage any electrical connetions and to avoid the covered areas.
7. Rinse off the entrie engine bay and the fenders being careful not to spray water directly at the covered areas or electrical connections.
8. Shut the hood and turn on engine. Running the engine for 10 minutes or so will dry the engine bay much fast.
9. After 10 minutes shut off engine and open the hood. Using a microfiber towel dry any remaining water. Make sure to dry the underside of the hood as well.
10. Spray the entrie engine bay with your vinyl dressing of CD2 Engine Detailer.
11. Shut the hood agian and start the engine. RUnning the engine again for 10 minutes will help the dressing to dry faster.
12. Open the hood again and wipe off any excess dressing with a clean microfiber towel.
Other materials:
- Wheel and Tire Detailing.
- Washing and Drying.
- Rinseless Washing.