Cleaning Engine Bay

[Mrauder83]

I just purchased another marauder and the engine and engine bay is filthy. Can I use gunk on the engine and spray it off with water to clean it up or no???


Thanks

[Bruce Wayne]

Tell us more about the new Marauder, after you clean it up, I just spray all the plastic parts with some cleaner and WD and viola! it looks like new in there again

[Jeffonebuck]

Good topic ! Subscribing

[whitey]

Dollartree sells a cleaner called Awesome, its piss colored, and dont let the price full you. Spray on the cool or slightly warm engine wait a couple minutes and hose off with an open hose. You might need to scrub a few spots (no cleaner i ever seen where you didnt have to) but it works better than simple green in my homemade test, and for $1 a bottle , you cant beat it. As for afterwards i recommend a silicone lube or croftgates tire shine. Wd40 isnt good for some rubbers, although its great for protecting metal, just be careful where you spray it.

[Baconbit]

After cleaned use Cd-2 engine detailer, stuff works great

[Mrauder83]

Dollartree sells a cleaner called Awesome, its piss colored, and dont let the price full you. Spray on the cool or slightly warm engine wait a couple minutes and hose off with an open hose. You might need to scrub a few spots (no cleaner i ever seen where you didnt have to) but it works better than simple green in my homemade test, and for $1 a bottle , you cant beat it. As for afterwards i recommend a silicone lube or croftgates tire shine. Wd40 isnt good for some rubbers, although its great for protecting metal, just be careful where you spray it.


Ok thanks the dirt is really on and around the intake and heads just wanna make look decent and clean. Everything else I can whip down with a rag and cleaner.

[Guittard22]

A lot of time a lot of elbow grease 50-50 mix simple Green/ hot water

[fastblackmerc]

Use any engine cleaner/degreaser, just follow the directions. Use CD2 Engine Detailer as it dries clear and non sticky. Silicone spray and WD40 stays wet and will attract dirt.

[Mrauder83]

Cool thanks for the info guys!

[boatmangc]

+1 on the Simple Green.
Gunk smells for a long time.

[vtwoodsman]

I just purchased another marauder and the engine and engine bay is filthy. Can I use gunk on the engine and spray it off with water to clean it up or no???


Thanks

I use nothing but Simple Green. Non Toxic, and does not hurt anything on contact.
Just spray liberally when engine is cold, let soak, spray again, then rinse with cold water hose. Don't use a pressure washer.
By hand wipe down with shop towels, then use micro fiber cloth for touch up.
Excellent results.

[L.Mark]

+1 on the Simple Green.
Gunk smells for a long time.

Are you sure that's the Gunk you think your smelling???:P

[sflrainmaker01]

I use nothing but Simple Green. Non Toxic, and does not hurt anything on contact.
Just spray liberally when engine is cold, let soak, spray again, then rinse with cold water hose. Don't use a pressure washer.
By hand wipe down with shop towels, then use micro fiber cloth for touch up.
Excellent results.

Do you use full strength or diluted Simple Green? This will be my next project. I need to use something environmentally safe, being that we live on a canal.:fish:

[ajdereicup]

Dollartree sells a cleaner called Awesome, its piss colored, and dont let the price full you. Spray on the cool or slightly warm engine wait a couple minutes and hose off with an open hose. You might need to scrub a few spots (no cleaner i ever seen where you didnt have to) but it works better than simple green in my homemade test, and for $1 a bottle , you cant beat it. As for afterwards i recommend a silicone lube or croftgates tire shine. Wd40 isnt good for some rubbers, although its great for protecting metal, just be careful where you spray it.


I heard about this stuff from a local cab company that seem to always have their cars looking really clean. Apparently they clean the cars then use that stuff on it and more dirt comes off the cars. I still need to try it sometime

[MM2004]

Go to a local FLAPS. grab a spray bottle (32 oz I think?), spray it on everything under the hood while the engine is cold.

Wait a few minutes, or in my case I have a smoke and a beer, then spray off with an adjustable spray nozzle on a garden hose. (shower spray is what I recommend)

Immediately start the car and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes.

Dry off where water is puddled.

Voila!

Mike.

[Mr. Man]

Go to a local FLAPS. grab a spray bottle (32 oz I think?), spray it on everything under the hood while the engine is cold.

Wait a few minutes, or in my case I have a smoke and a beer, then spray off with an adjustable spray nozzle on a garden hose. (shower spray is what I recommend)

Immediately start the car and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes.

Dry off where water is puddled.

Voila!

Mike.Buy a spray bottle of what? :dunno:

Anything good for removing the oxidation on the '04 cam covers w/o removing them?

[L.Mark]

Buy a spray bottle of what? :dunno:

Anything good for removing the oxidation on the '04 cam covers w/o removing them?

I asked that before MV and..elbow grease was the best answer...

[clintons4]

Use simple green, castrol super clean, etc. Then spray with tire foam when dry. Its basically the same as CD2 but 1/3 the price.

[whitey]

I heard about this stuff from a local cab company that seem to always have their cars looking really clean. Apparently they clean the cars then use that stuff on it and more dirt comes off the cars. I still need to try it sometime

See^^^...im telling you guys, its not "dollartree" quality crap. Its worth a dollar to give it a shot, you wont be dissapointed. When i worked there years ago a lady would buy it by the boxes for her professional carpet cleaning buisness. I dont even bother with simple green anymore. On a side note, I wouldn't use it to wash my car, unless your going to wax it again.

[MM2004]

Buy a spray bottle of what? :dunno:

Anything good for removing the oxidation on the '04 cam covers w/o removing them?

Ooops.. Simple Green.

I removed the oxidation with powder coating during my Eaton swap.

:P

Mike.

[fastblackmerc]

Buy a spray bottle of what? :dunno:

Anything good for removing the oxidation on the '04 cam covers w/o removing them?

Your looking at alot of elbow grease to get the oxidation off, then you will need to protect them once it's off. Probably alot easier to get them powdered coated.

[Blk04MM]

+1 on the awesome. I use it for everything

[Embassy]

Stay away from CD 2 or any engine degreaser that uses petroleum distillates. They are hard on the rubber components. The same goes for certain tire shine products that people like to spray in the engine bay.

Simple Green has been known to oxidize metal surfaces.

These products might be fine for your beater or DD, but I know our Marauders are special to us.

I recommend a citrus degreaser. They are tough on dirt but gentle on engine bays. Sounds like a slogan, I know.

I use P21S.

Be sure to cover your alternator and any other exposed electrical items with bags or foil to protect them from water.

Results:

Marauder:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1001603/fullsize/16.jpg

'98 P71:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245339/fullsize/engine-masked-off1.jpg

'01 P71:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/501581/fullsize/engine-after.jpg

Here's an excellent guide to cleaning and detailing your engine bay:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Engine-Bay/ (http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Engine-Bay/)

I highly recommend a leaf blower to blow out all the water from around the COPs, and other electirical components.

Edit: I just ordered some of that Chemical Guys Black on Black spray for the black trim in the engine bay and wheel wells.

[Mr. Man]

Stay away from CD 2 or any engine degreaser that uses petroleum distillates. They are hard on the rubber components. The same goes for certain tire shine products that people like to spray in the engine bay.

Simple Green has been known to oxidize metal surfaces.

These products might be fine for your beater or DD, but I know our Marauders are special to us.

I recommend a citrus degreaser. They are tough on dirt but gentle on engine bays. Sounds like a slogan, I know.

I use P21S.

Be sure to cover your alternator and any other exposed electrical items with bags or foil to protect them from water.

Results:

Marauder:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1001603/fullsize/16.jpg

'98 P71:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245339/fullsize/engine-masked-off1.jpg

'01 P71:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/501581/fullsize/engine-after.jpg

Here's an excellent guide to cleaning and detailing your engine bay:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Engine-Bay/ (http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Engine-Bay/)

I highly recommend a leaf blower to blow out all the water from around the COPs, and other electrical components.

Edit: I just ordered some of that Chemical Guys Black on Black spray for the black trim in the engine bay and wheel wells.
I've seen Steve's (Embassy) car in person and you could literally eat off the engine it's that clean. Sickens me :rolleyes::P:)

What is P21S and where would one find it? Never heard of it.

[Embassy]

It is a citrus based cleaner.

Google it and you will find many retailers.

It's good stuff.

[larryo340]

It is a citrus based cleaner.

Google it and you will find many retailers.

It's good stuff.

Ditto...I started using it back in the 80's. It works great on nasty caked on brake dust because it can be left on for hours..that's right hours as long as the wheel is cool and out of the sun.

[Accumulator]

Embassy- Glad you mentioned the caveat about Simple Green. IIRC, they do have an aluminum-friendly variant out now but I've never tried it.

The P21s stuff is indeed good and safe! Searching of Total Auto Wash might make it easier to find the stuff, but it is a bit pricey. I've pretty much switched over to Optimum's Power Clean, never had it do any damage to anything even after years of regular use.

[Embassy]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1011129/fullsize/20140211_190235.jpg

Recent detailing pics while getting ready for a car show next week:

http://www.supermotors.net/registry/18556/82686

[JBeezy]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1011129/fullsize/20140211_190235.jpg



Recent detailing pics while getting ready for a car show next week:



http://www.supermotors.net/registry/18556/82686




Wow!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

[fastblackmerc]

Clean!

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Valve%20Covers/Rightside.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods
/Valve%20Covers/Rightside.jpg.html)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Valve%20Covers/Leftside.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Valve%20Covers/Leftside.jpg.html)

[NavySeabee]

I'd just like to mention after cleaning, I spray and wipe the whole bay with some Croftgate Tire Shine. Love it!!

I don't think I'm the only one that uses Croftgate Tire Shine in the engine bay.

[Chayton]

See^^^...im telling you guys, its not "dollartree" quality crap. Its worth a dollar to give it a shot, you wont be dissapointed. When i worked there years ago a lady would buy it by the boxes for her professional carpet cleaning buisness. I dont even bother with simple green anymore. On a side note, I wouldn't use it to wash my car, unless your going to wax it again.

can you clean your rims with that stuff? I bought some a few days after I bought my marauder, just because you mentioned how good it worked. My engine bay was filthy when I bought the car, that awesome stuff did a good job of cleaning it up!

[whitey]

can you clean your rims with that stuff? I bought some a few days after I bought my marauder, just because you mentioned how good it worked. My engine bay was filthy when I bought the car, that awesome stuff did a good job of cleaning it up!

For normal washing I wouldnt, your wheels are clearcoated, just like the paint. You could though as long as you reapply a wax...or better yet a sealant afterwards.

[Chayton]

For normal washing I wouldnt, your wheels are clearcoated, just like the paint. You could though as long as you reapply a wax...or better yet a sealant afterwards.

best recommendation on what to use for cleaning the wheels before polishing?

[fastblackmerc]

best recommendation on what to use for cleaning the wheels before polishing?

Whatever you wash the body with... use on the wheels.

[whitey]

What fbm said, you shouldn't have to polish your wheels at all really, unless the clearcoat is in poor condition. Just wash them regular like you would your car, and if anything use a paint sealant. I use 'optiseal'from opt. You can buy it from autogeek.net, about $25 a bottle. Very little is needed and its super easy to apply.

[Dave2]

What fbm said, you shouldn't have to polish your wheels at all really, unless the clearcoat is in poor condition. Just wash them regular like you would your car, and if anything use a paint sealant.

Yep...

I use Zaino Clear Seal after they get shined up and it helps keep the brake dust off...

[RubberCtyRauder]

Maybe you know, maybe you don't, but apparently CD2 Engine detailer spray has been discontinued. Every where I read it has been, you may still find some old stock in various stores and I see it going for higher dollar on ebay too.
ANyone have other choices they use?

[whitey]

Cd2 has been discontinued, i found some at big lots.$4 a can

[Mebot]

Cd2 has been discontinued, i found some at big lots.$4 a can

You mentioned this in Louisville. I've yet to go to my local Big Lots and check for some