tips on detailing the engine anyone?

[pearldrum]

anyone have any tips on detailing an engine?

[Wayne 962]

Tom Sharpes did a tech article on this subject for our site:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/tom_sharpes/911_engine_comp1.htm

-Wayne

[epbrown]

I recommend a book called "Ultimate Auto Detailing" by David H. Jacobs (also wrote "How to Paint Your Car")- by far the most thorough book I own on car detailing. One of the many cars used for examples in the book is a 1985 944. No matter how much you think you know, you'll learn someting from this book. It features a lot of serious concours competitors, though you don't have to get that deep. It's an MBI book (Wayne's publishers, I think) and runs around $20 at B&N, but can be tough to find as it's out of print.

Avoid "Engine and Chassis Detailing" by Jim Richardson. It's more for people doing a frame-up resto, and talks mostly about beadblasting and powdercoating car parts. The Don Taylor book "Auto Detailing: The Complete Car Care Guide" is too general, imo.

HTH,
Emanuel

[craign]

I find that "Simple Green" is a great non toxic cleaner for engine compartments and parts. You can find it at any parts store, Target, Kmart etc.

I occasionally will use Isopropyl Alchol to clean up grease spots etc.

Craig

[Emission]

I've been using Simple Green for a long time. Mix 50/50 with water and spray on the engine. You can use a brush (even a toothbrush) to get off embedded dirt. Spray off with fresh water - avoiding electrical parts (cap and rotor).

[Don Haney]

All I use is Simple Green and have so for years without any problems....

Don

[Andyrew]

i use simple green and water and some other wax stuff. but mostly just sit there and clean for hours, actually im still cleaning my 914. been doing that for 3 days and i dont think ill ever stop. well good luck.

[epbrown]

Andrew, what are you going to do about the paint oxidation? Try polishing it out yourself or go to a detailer? Or do you not think it's salvageable?

Emanuel

[Andyrew]

i cleaned up the oxidization, that is a pic of before i bought the car, actually the paint looks real good now. but still working on the car. ill take some pics tomarrow when i get my riviara's.

[Don Haney]

Im checking to see if I can get the book. Heck , I will get one for myself and maybe correct all those self taught ways.

I asked our Concour winning bookkeeper what product she likes to clean the engine. She like the Citrus products. She says it cleans better and smells better. Who ever thought about the smell ? Guess the citrus cleaner helps that too. I found it in our catalog.

PORSCHE Insect Remover $10.70, part number K-901-019-41 -Porsche Tequipment Insect Remover uses natural citrus cleaners to remove even the most stubborn bug remains. Porsche includes a special scrub sponge for especially tough bugs. Available as a 500 ml. spray bottle w/sponge

Hope this helps,
Don

[mscott911]

I've also had good luck with citrus based cleaners for engine and suspension. For most stuff, P21S Total Auto Wash works really well and leaves virtually no residue.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/DWKS/POR_DWKS_P21SCL_main.htm

For heavy duty cleaning Wurth's Citrus Degreaser does a great job on grease, adhesives and even the cosmoline in the wheel wells and on the bottom of the engine.

Mike Scott
'87 911 Targa

[kenny]

I just spotted this forum after posting on the 944 forum. It's funny 'cause I was just touting the use of simple green for the harder to clean stuff. I works great with a light brush in the engine compartment!

[Don Haney]

Originally posted by epbrown
I recommend a book called "Ultimate Auto Detailing" by David H. Jacobs (also wrote "How to Paint Your Car")- by far the most thorough book I own on car detailing.

Hey Guys,
I just heard back from MBI, and the book is No longer in print.
Too bad, I was hoping to get one too !
Don

[jjboncik1]

hey guys,
i usually use castrol super clean (diluted), or the degreaser from home depot-cant remeber the name but they have an extensive line of cleaning agents. make sure engine is not too hot, especially intake, etc. i rinse it off, spray it down with degreaser, rinse it off again and then let it dry completely. if your engine is really bad you can use a big brush and put some elbow grease into it. then you can take wax to the painted areas to shine it up really nicely and lastly, i spray down all the hoses and plastic with a generous amount of armoral and let that dry without touching it. after all that engine looks like it just came off the production line

armoral wont damage or dry your hoses. i've been using it for years without a problem.

[Emission]

Home Depot was out of Simple Green the other day so I picked-up another 'citrus' de-greaser. Upon further inspection of the label, it says "...do not use on painted surfaces, including wheels."

I almost did my wheels with it (I use Simple Green - diluted - on wheels).

Make sure you read the label if you are trying a new product.

[kenny]

jjboncik1,
Did I tell uyou about my Armorall experience? I bought a new Nissan Sentra (while going to college) back in 1983. I took such good care of that car, washing, waxing, oil changes every 3000 mi etc. I drove it to 140K mi. untill a texas hail storm (hail nearly as big as a baseball) took it out.

One of the things I did was to treat the vinal dash and sets with Armorall. Two years after I bought the car the entire interior was hard and cracked -- I had to replace the dash, and all the seat covers with new ones. Since I stopped using Armorall I've never had it happen again. I personally would never use Armorall because I've heard that it contains (or used to anyway -- and I haven't heard about any change) some petroleum distillates that break down the vinal over time.

Having said that, your engine hoses and such are not exposed to the sun (which I believe exacerbated the problem) and are pretty thick rubber so maybe you won't have this problem. I've swiched to 303 aerospace protecterant for all my interior needs (except leather), but as of yet, have not tried it on the engine compartment.

Anybody using something else on the engine compartment?

[jjboncik1]

i think i'll try that 303 protectant out kenny. i think ardex and care kare sell engine coats but the only problem is finding where to buy them. you mihgt be able to pick up a bottle from a car dealer

[kenny]

the one thing I really hate is the stuff that makes everything all greazy -- yuk!! That 303 will make your dash etc. look new! but not greasy -- spray on and wipe off! 303 also has UV inhibitors as well.

[Emission]

I have heard Armor-All uses alcohol as a 'carrier agent' for their protectant. This will dry out the plastic/rubber/vinyl over time. I don't use it.

For my car, I use Lexol Vinyl. It doesn't feel greasy, and isn't as glossy. It contains a sunscreen too!