Engine Cleaner

[Wags38]

I just bought an 02 A4 and the engine bay is pretty dirty...What is the best way to clean it up? What kind of cleaner works the best? Thanks!

[Overboostin]

Degreaser, a brush, and a good rinse. Don't forget to cover the air intake (if you have an open element, and any exposed electronics.

[n7plus1]

if you can find it...automotive simple green...little more concentrated.

[EErie B6]

yes, the Automotove Simple Green is good stuff.

when its done, if you want to give it that new engine look... like you see from used car dealers... just lightly dust the engine bay with plain ole' Armor All.

you might not want to do step 2 if you do all your own work, as it is 1 more greasy thing to deal with.

[A4ringedONE8T]

A clean engine bay is a happy engine bay, good luck!

[n7plus1]

yes, the Automotove Simple Green is good stuff.

when its done, if you want to give it that new engine look... like you see from used car dealers... just lightly dust the engine bay with plain ole' Armor All.

you might not want to do step 2 if you do all your own work, as it is 1 more greasy thing to deal with.

i cant find that shit anywhere anymore. Where do you get it?

[CO AVANT]

CRC makes good engine cleaning products. I use the engine/brake/throttle body cleaners all the time. Simple green does wonders though.

[rxrep]

What they said... simple green works wonders. I found this stuff at Pep Boys (not sure if that's a national chain), it's called "Trim Detailer". I think it's Meguirs or however you spell that. It comes in a spray can and is always near the tire wet stuff. Spray it everywhere. It makes everything shiny and doesn't attract dirt like some of the other stuf does. Makes my bay look friggen brand new. Can't live without it so much so that I bought a case of it. I even spray it in my wheel wells and over the belly pan and all the underside plastic. It makes all the plastic trim look brand new.

[djs]

I used to mix Dawn dish soap with water, shake it up and apply using one of those hand-pumped pressure sprayers. Let is soak on a warm engine for 5-10 minutes breaking down the grease and grime, then gently spray off with a hose. I always kept the car running while rinsing off the engine as you would notice a change in revs if you were hitting electronics, wiring or intake more than you should; you could quickly back off on the spray

[jokas]

i've found these instructional videos to be helpful.

http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-videos.aspx

all products can be purchased through phil@detailersdomain on az, with of course an az discount...

[SlappyB6]

What they said... simple green works wonders. I found this stuff at Pep Boys (not sure if that's a national chain), it's called "Trim Detailer". I think it's Meguirs or however you spell that. It comes in a spray can and is always near the tire wet stuff. Spray it everywhere. It makes everything shiny and doesn't attract dirt like some of the other stuf does. Makes my bay look friggen brand new. Can't live without it so much so that I bought a case of it. I even spray it in my wheel wells and over the belly pan and all the underside plastic. It makes all the plastic trim look brand new.

I used to use Meguiar's Interior Quick Detailer on my engine bay, it may be somewhat the same thing. Worked well, not too shiny, and it wasn't real greasy. Good for the interior, too.

*On a side note rxrep...sad day for Penguins fans. I'm originally from the Picksburgh area myself.

[CyberPMG]

Adam's In-n-Out spray is absolutely briliant! I'll first do a quick spray down with water. Then I'll use Simple Green (picked up at WalMart in the automotive section) to go after the hoses, plastic, and metalic parts. I'll let it sit for a while, then go in with a brush. I'll then rinse everything off and let dry.

After drying, I'll blast everything in side with the in-n-out spray. Brought back like new apperance. It's just that simple. It's just that good!

[EErie B6]

i cant find that shit anywhere anymore. Where do you get it?

AutoZone, or K-Mart... i cant remember for sure

stuff i found was in a spray bottle, like Windex comes.... i want to say it had a gray label, with green words

[EErie B6]

What they said... simple green works wonders. I found this stuff at Pep Boys (not sure if that's a national chain), it's called "Trim Detailer". I think it's Meguirs or however you spell that. It comes in a spray can and is always near the tire wet stuff. Spray it everywhere. It makes everything shiny and doesn't attract dirt like some of the other stuf does. Makes my bay look friggen brand new. Can't live without it so much so that I bought a case of it. I even spray it in my wheel wells and over the belly pan and all the underside plastic. It makes all the plastic trim look brand new.

hard core fan right there!

[rxrep]

*On a side note rxrep...sad day for Penguins fans. I'm originally from the Picksburgh area myself.

Good that you escaped. I'd kill to get out of this place, and the NC area is my number one place to move to. Anyhow, it's not too sad to me on the loss. A loss to the Flyers would be sad, lol. Detroit, however, was obviously the better team this time around. I'm not a fan of winning ugly. I am a fan of winning because I'm better. And in this series, Detroit was everything better, and I can't argue that. Faster, crisper-er, better-er/faster line changes and match-ups. The only thing I'd argue that the Pens did better was goaltending, even though Ozzy did what he needed to do when it counted. But to be out-shot like 2:1 and to go 16 minutes with no shots on goal at all.... the list goes on and on. Penguins didn't play to their potential but for a few desperate shifts, and I really question their dump and chase game plan.
I don't mind losing to Detroit, because even though some of their fans are morons (but what town doesn't have that?), their team and coach where very professional and classy. They didn't trash-talk, and didn't play dirty hockey (if anything can really be called "dirty hockey"). They didn't whine or complain; they just played their game and did it well. Hat's off to them.

/threadjack. Sorry 'bout that. Go clean those bays, lol. And don't forget what you can see underneath, too! Just cleaning the top side is like cleaning your arms and legs but leaving your armpits and ass and 'taint all dirty. True satisfaction comes from getting up under that bitch on your back with shit dropping in your eyes, lol. Once you clean the BOTTOM side, then you truly feel you've accomplished something and aren't hiding anything.

[SlappyB6]

Good that you escaped. I'd kill to get out of this place. Anyhow, it's not too sad to me on the loss. A loss to the Flyers would be sad, lol. Detroit, however, was obviously the better team this time around. I'm not a fan of winning ugly. I am a fan of winning because I'm better. And in this series, Detroit was everything better, and I can't argue that. Faster, crisper-er, better-er/faster line changes and match-ups. The only thing I'd argue that the Pens did better was goaltending, even though Ozzy did what he needed to do when it counted. But to be out-shot like 2:1 and to go 16 minutes with no shots on goal at all.... the list goes on and on. Penguins didn't play to their potential but for a few desperate shifts, and I really question their dump and chase game plan.
I don't mind losing to Detroit, because even though some of their fans are morons (but what town doesn't have that?), their team and coach where very professional and classy. They didn't trash-talk, and didn't play dirty hockey (if anything can really be called "dirty hockey"). They didn't whine or complain; they just played their game and did it well. Hat's off to them.

/threadjack. Sorry 'bout that. Go clean those bays, lol. And don't forget what you can see underneath, too! Just cleaning the top side is like cleaning your arms and legs but leaving your armpits and ass and 'taint all dirty.

Very good points on both accounts. I won't thread jack further, so how about some pics of some clean engine bays?

[rxrep]

You had to go there. Probably more proud of this stuff than any of the mechanical mods I did. Let the pic whoring begin. Someone stop him, lol...









This one is my money shot, I think:




And the 'taint of the car:





This is all done with simple green, toothpicks, detail brushes, and Meguir's Spray/Trim Detailer. No expensive gotta-have shit.

[wolfdog]

^^^ it's like a rainbow sticker underneath your hood


j/k

[n7plus1]

AutoZone, or K-Mart... i cant remember for sure

stuff i found was in a spray bottle, like Windex comes.... i want to say it had a gray label, with green words

i initially bought a gallon jug of it at a local autozone...went back and they no longer carry it...maybe ill have to try k-mart, i havent been there in YEARS

[Wags38]

Thanks for all the info!! And your engine and car are CLEAN!!! Looks great.

[Maverick]

my engine bay is never as clean as Lee's
god damn it
where do you find all the time to do that shit? weekends?

[rxrep]

where do you find all the time to do that shit? weekends?

Some guys golf. Some play in softball leagues. Others do fantasy football/baseball. Some play xBox all damn night. Others drink a lot. I, on the other hand... clean my car. It's an OCD thing. It's pretty much all I do. I've taken most of it apart, cleaned it, and put it back together again. I need to see a therapist.
Don't forget though that my car isn't a daily driver. If I took pics of THAT engine bay, you'd all laugh. It's nasty. You guys that keep a DD in any sense of cleanliness (more points if you live up north... Florida people don't count, Shawn) have my vote.

[EErie B6]

Some guys golf. Some play in softball leagues. Others do fantasy football/baseball. Some play xBox all damn night. Others drink a lot. I, on the other hand... clean my car. It's an OCD thing. It's pretty much all I do. I've taken most of it apart, cleaned it, and put it back together again. I need to see a therapist.
Don't forget though that my car isn't a daily driver. If I took pics of THAT engine bay, you'd all laugh. It's nasty. You guys that keep a DD in any sense of cleanliness (more points if you live up north... Florida people don't count, Shawn) have my vote.

you need a fresh "canvas" to work on your art... when should i drop off my car?

[EErie B6]

i initially bought a gallon jug of it at a local autozone...went back and they no longer carry it...maybe ill have to try k-mart, i havent been there in YEARS

lol, same here, cept the last 6 months... i have been there 2x... thats right 2x, and its like a whole new world of shopping.