Engine detailing

Hey Steve, I've been using Griots engine cleaner. Has worked great with some elbow grease.

 

Is there a way to spray some cleaning agent like simplegreen or somethig in there and hose it all down with hot water?

 

On my 360 I've used Dawn dish washing liquid applied and agitated with a 2" paint brush and could reach most areas. I then rinsed it with a hose using low pressure. No issues. The engine compartment does get wet anyway. I would just avoid using a high pressure nozzle so water does not get forced into an area where it should not go.

Of course.......do all this at your own risk!

 

Take off airfilterbox and exhaust, and you can do a good cleaning jobb. I will not use pressured water.
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Doesn't water just flow in there through the vents along the window when you wash the car? Is this another "melts when wet area"?


Seriously, light flow of water or spray won't hurt, just blow it out with your leafblower to dry it.. then polish stuff.

 

Light flow of water from a garden hose is no problem, but i dont like high pressured water all over the engine bay.

 

I wash the entire car with this bucket sprayer and power brush. I wet out the entire car with distilled water followed with the power brush. The brush has a container for soap, I use a few drops of dawn, it is enough for the entire car. I then wash the entire exterior down with more distilled water, usually the entire wash is done with 3 gallons of water total, including extra attention to the wheels and brake dust. The water in Central Texas is very hard and leaves water stains that are very difficult to remove. I will wet out a blue shop rag with distilled water and knock out the engine compartment with a wipe down, it is never too dirty to begin with. I finish up with another shop rag coated with a small amount of Boeing-Shield, it is electrically neutral and was designed for aluminum so I think it is pretty safe to use. I don't dare tell anyone outside of the car culture my extreme ways for fear of being involuntarily committed for "Ferrari Insanity".
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Spray and wipe off. I'm not hosing down my engine no matter what anyone says.

 

Dawn has detergent and shouldn't be used on your paint. It will strip away the protective waxes and polishes that are on your paint to protect it. Detergent soaps will also leave a residue when dried. If you check the ingredients of specific car wash soaps you will find there are no detergents in it for this reason.

 

Yep....not using it on the paint.

 

As has been said by a few, be careful how much water you use and how you use it in your engine bay. I had my engine detailed professionally. Apparently, too much water was used, messing up my F1. It immediately began to shift in and out of gear at any speed. It took 3 weeks for a complete dry out and normal shift patterns to return, although the problem began to improve somewhat in about a week.

 

The electrical connectors are not sealed/mil spec and will allow water in, any water will degrade the connector over time. I would not use running water.
Spray on wipe off, less water better. Ask a challenge car owner how his electrical connectors are doing. CH cars a more susceptible to connector failure as theirs are more exposed then street cars.

 

Here you go, see my post number 5 and 22 here.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/442834-how-clean-engine-bay-sides-360-a.html

Dan

 

You can still spray on your cleaner of choice and use another spray bottle of just water, that way you can control how much gets sprayed in said area, wipe and be done.
Something like this can be used also, maybe much for some, but very versatile. http://www.detailersdomain.com/Kwazar-Venus-Pro-Compression-Sprayer-1-Liter_p_428.html

Also keeping a bucket for the purpose of rinsing out your dirty cloth/rag and wiping those areas in the engine will also help.

 

Dan, have you used Scrubbing Bubbles on any carbon fiber parts? If so, is it gentle enough to not harm them?

 

Dan, in addition to my previous question on cleaning carbon fiber parts, which version of Scrubbing Bubbles do you use? There are multiple types according to the SC Johnson website. Thanks.

 

Here you go.

As you all know its not a good idea to get water inside the electrical connectors as it can cause intermittent connection or short circuit so my vote is to cover all electrical connectors with saran wrap prior to washing and detailing the engine bay.

Carbon Fiber parts are coated with clear coat so its just like a paint job. My experience with scrubbing bubbles is it has no detrimental effect in CF parts.

I have used Scrubbing Bubbles on my other cars many times and I was always pleased with the results.

Dont use Gunk engine cleaner as it will stink you car for days.

Scrubbing bubbles is very good for cleaning grime, grease and very friendly to plastic and painted parts. It makes aluminum very clean and shiny.

I like to use Lemon scent.

Kindly share your experience with Scrubbing bubbles should you decide to try my method.

And yes, its good to use on valve covers, and anything inside the engine bay area. Again, just avoid spraying water directly to any electrical connection.

Also when rinsing the engine bay after spraying scrubbing bubbles to it use a stream of water, dont use high pressure as we dont want to inject water or moisture to any electrical connections that can get wet.

Dan

Hope that helps.
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I think that people are a little overly paranoid. Do you people mask off the engine vents when you wash the car?

I have driven in the rain many times. I have also, on more than one occasion, rinsed the dust and stuff off inside the engine bay using a hose. I didn't spray I just let the water run over things to rinse them off. It isn't all that delicate. Don't use pressure spray but you should be fine.

Oh yea, I like the scrubbing bubbles idea.

 

Dan I feel like the spirit of the one and only legendary Billy Maze is being channeled through you!! Bam!! Into the matting, into the padding!! You want CLEAN, I got your CLEAN...how about this!!!!??? It's like it was NEVER there!

 

Exactly, don't take a pressure washer or a 30 PSI garden hose to it, a light fan spray to rinse it off is no more than will come in the vents parked at a light in the rain..

 

To Dan's point on electrical connections. When you are dealing with inaccessible areas (e.g. engine bay, motorcycle), I always use deionized water. These things are a bit pricey but you don't have to think about masking anything and can comfortably walk away from wet connectors or what not. Using regular tap water once could be enough to leave some residue and bridge an electric connection. The alternator is one of those particularly vulnerable components. You could also use distilled water which is very inexpensive and rinse the engine with that after using your degreaser of choice. Both of these solutions leave no residue whatsoever.

While rain and other water can get in there, it won't be in the same quantity and location as when you are washing it.

 

Thanks for the help Dan. I'll be in touch after trying it.

Chris