Hey guys, have a quick question....I wanted to wash my motorbay tomorrow, but I dont have any appropriate dressing, and I cant find any around me. Is there anything over the counter I can use, like Armorall or something? Thanks a lot guys!

 

In the past, I have used a foamy engine degreaser to clean and then hose off. Obviously, protect electrical parts first and use on a cool engine!

Then, I use armor all foamy tire shine on EVERYTHING but the electrical stuff under the hood. Make it all white. Then shut the hood and let the engine cook it off. Aftr 10 minutes of engince running, open the hood and level and smooth out the product for a great shine. If you can get ahold of the CD engine detailer stuff it is great, but the armorall does fine for me. Gotta bee the foamy stuff though.

I will be doing this next week myself.

 

Battery Acid should do the trick. First, stab your battery with a screwdriver, then use your hands to apply the acid all over the engine bay. It works great on leather seats too

Engine degreaser for the tough stuff, and any type of quick detailer/interior cleaner/303 type stuff will clean up the rest. It's mostly rubber under there so anything that does well on rubber will do well UTH.

 

Well, I hope this a joke, as battery acid is good for nothing except eating holes in my jeans everytime I have to change one out. Indeed, this is not a good joke, as somebody may believe it.

To make the engine bay look nice after cleaning, I use spray detailer, and chose the one with the most wax content such as Turtle Wax "Wax as you dry." Use of a tire shine might work out well, also, but it might create a stench when you are driving and the engine bar heats up.

But I only try to clean the engine bay when it looks really crappy, as there is so much danger of getting electrical components wet and having a "no go" car that I aviod this job unless there is a REAL reason for doing it.

 

Yes I was joking - hence the smiley. If anyone actually tries it, they deserve a Darwin Award

 

I use Diluted megs' APC for degreasing and the foamy Armor All trick for the beautification. I haven't needed to go that far though with this car. Once a month during a wash the car gets an engine bay wipe down with 303.

 

i always stay on top of the engine bay about once every two weeks(trying to keep it looking like the day i drove it off the lot) with eagle 1 nano protectant. the same stuff i use on the interior. i like using this stuff, cause it doesnt leave a very glossy/oily finish behind and makes everything look brand new.

what would you guys use on the aluminum parts, ie: head, block, intake manifold, etc. possibly never-dull?