Engine bay detail step by step

DieHard4rd · #1 05-13-2010, 10:44 AM

I have used this with great results. Erin May from Moddedmustangs wrote this how to. Everyone seems to swear by it so I thought I'd share.

Here's a quick way to take that daily driven engine bay to show room look with minimal effort:

Best way ever is the following, take it for what it's worth, it's tried and true..

Products needed: Simple Green, Turtle Wax F-21 tire dressing, several rags.

Here's a link to F21 so you know what it looks like:

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,3,5

Here's the simple green for those that have never used it:

http://www.simplegreen.com/products_...se_cleaner.php

Start engine, get it warm, not hot, just nice and warm. As an example if the car was fully cooled, run it for 5-8 minutes. Turn off engine.

Cover the alternator and air filter on your intake, Aluminum foil works great since the motor is warm. Everything else can be subject to light rinsing type spray, including the covered fuse panel. All of these areas get hit by water when driven in the rain.

Lightly spray entire engine bay with water from hose, you will see some light steaming, this is good.

Spray the entire engine bay, including firewall, plastic parts, metal parts, loom, coils and hoses with Simple Green. Set the hood down, not fully closed, just to it's safety catch point, and go find something else to do for 15 to 20 minutes. Let the simple green do it's work. Closing the hood let's the simple green interact with the steam you created with the warm motor. This loosens the tough stuff up so you don't have to work so hard in those heavily soiled areas.

Open hood, look for heavily soiled areas, wipe them with a rag, use more simple green if necessary. Rinse lightly with hose.

Spray entire engine bay with F-21, it foams, coat everything just like the simple green coating you did.

Close hood again, walk away for 10-20 minutes or until nearly all the foam has dissipated.

Open hood, Wipe up any areas that water settled and such. Wipe up any areas that the F-21 didn't dissipate on it's own.

You will note that the F-21 restores the black plastic parts to the same oem flat black color they were when new.. It leaves the paint shiney with no streaks on the fenders and fire wall. Best of all, it is not greasey to the touch.

RangerTruck · #2 05-13-2010, 11:02 AM

another thing to do this weekend!

05RangerEdge · #3 05-13-2010, 11:38 AM

F-21 is good stuff but any particular reason for that one and not another foaming tire shine product? I am gonna try it this way I was just curious...

DieHard4rd · #4 05-13-2010, 11:53 AM

It doesn't leave a greasy residue behind to collect dirt.

dan24 · #5 05-14-2010, 12:27 AM

great little guide there! I've been wanting to tackle my engine bay but I wasn't exactly sure what the best way was. I'll post some pics of before and after for you guys

DieHard4rd · #6 05-14-2010, 08:06 PM

^^That will be great

05RangerEdge · #7 05-14-2010, 08:26 PM

Picked up some simple green today

hopefully I can get to it this weekend

Frez1812 · #8 05-15-2010, 07:11 PM

Did mine today and followed these instructions. I used Purple Power instead of Mean Green and I also used MEGUIARS Vinyl protector for the final step.

2004 Ford Ranger 4x4 with 67,000 miles. Just got the truck 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love it! Truck was pretty dirty when I got it but I knew I could shine her up.

STL · #9 05-15-2010, 07:15 PM

This link does not take you anywhere.

http://www.simplegreen.com/products_...se_cleaner.php

This is the simple green I like to use
Extreme Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Degreaser

DieHard4rd · #10 05-15-2010, 07:16 PM

Looks very nice Frez

Mayguy · #11 05-15-2010, 10:13 PM

Nice Frez! You have the before photos??

Thanks for the tips Snow. So far i just spray water in mine, but I may do this next week wen I'm off.

aaron_ariens · #12 05-29-2010, 07:51 PM

I just did the first part, now waiting the 20minutes to let the S.G. soak.

wangbungal · #13 08-01-2010, 10:38 PM

i tried this on my honda accord, only surface dust was remove from the engine, but the hard grease spots where never remove, ill probably try something harder than simple green but the f21 works fine and shined the parts

01RangerEdge · #14 08-02-2010, 07:29 AM

Nice, I need to do this

FX4 · #15 08-02-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wangbungal

i tried this on my honda accord, only surface dust was remove from the engine, but the hard grease spots where never remove, ill probably try something harder than simple green but the f21 works fine and shined the parts

I use simple green all the time even for hard oil stains.... the key is to let the engine warm up so it's not too hot but warm enough (If you have put your hand on the block and feel that it's warm, you're good) and you will need agitate those spots with a brush, I suggest a small detailing brush because that what there is less of a chance you will damage something. I detail cobras with valve breathers all the time and those tend to spit oil overtime with hard boost, and this method worked every time also, make sure you spray your bumper and fenders and even windshield with clean water before applying any degreaser to not damage any paint.

Rafal