Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 10:37:59 -0700
Reply-To: Rusty Zarse <rzarse@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rusty Zarse <rzarse@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Cleaning the engine bay...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
YO AL!
You'll need: degreaser (gumout or...), two small towels, two plastic grocery bags, a large towel (for drying the engine), a soft bristle brush (such as a wheel brush) and a change of clothes :>)
As a professional auto detailer once in a former life (about a decade abo, more accurately), here are a few tips...
Do not clean a hot engine, you could crack something from the temperature changing too fast.
Most importantly, cover the coil and distributor. I usually cover the coil, distributor and a couple of inches of the wires from it with a hand towel (one each side), wrapping it around as best I can, and then place a platic bag over the towel. The goal is to keep any water from spraying with significant force into the coil or distributor. It can get wet from the towel getting wet, that's ok, just no pressure. Now avoid spraying these parts, the towel could come off..
Get some engine degreaser from the parts store. I don't like the red stuff as it can discolor plastic. I prefer gumout or some such can degreaser. First, spot test on some plastic. If everything looks ok (no gray or green result) Spray everything down with this.
Use a soft wheel brush. A long handle helps reach the tight spots. Just help move the stuff around, be careful not to knock hoses off. Get in the crevices, it makes a big difference when you are done...
Now you can spray the engine off with reasonable pressure. We used a pressure washer, never had any trouble. But, if it isn't necessary, don't risk it.
Now, your engine should be sparkling!
Before you dry it, if you are like me and get silly, unreasonable joy from clean car parts, spray all the hoses and black plastic lightly with some armour-all or tire-dressing. Take it easy because too much will hasten dirt attraction later but a little will keep it even cleaner.
Now dry everything as well as you can without, again, pulling any hoses off.
DON'T FORGET to remove the towels and plastic bags. Yeah, that makes for a mess. The covered areas will be dirty, wipe them down with your damp, slightly armour-all-moistened towel.
I'm getting all flsuhed just thinking about it, I'll have to wash Billy-bob this weekend. Have fun.
Another tip: wash your vehicle in the rain. If it rains, throw on a swim suit, grab your bucket full of hot water and your car soap, lather it up and go inside. The rain will rinse the soap off and won't spot. Then you can dress the tires and go pick up chicks.
L8r
Rusty
Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 22:56:18 -0700
From: Al Ferguson
Subject: Cleaning the engine bay...
Hi All,
Just got my new (to me) ’89 Syncro camper… the first
thing I want to do is clean the heck out of it… it
isn’t in bad shape but hey, detail it from the start,
right!
Anyway – question about cleaning the engine bay…
This engine is really coated with road grime and dust…
yes, I know if I clean it, it will get dirty again
but… I gotta do it.
The local car wash has a engine cleaner setting… it
sprays some degreaser, then you’re supposed to wash
the out side of the car while the engine soaks, then
spray the engine bay with low pressure water to rinse
off the gunk… I use it on my other cars (Toyota and
Subaru) just fine every spring but anyone offer any
warnings or cautions (I know ~ use LOW pressure).
Anything, like vulnerable wiring/connections/computers
that I should avoid? Their location in the engine
bay…?
Alternate method to clean the engine bay?
Thanks,
Al
Rusty_Zarse___..._.
HPCInteractive :
rzarse@yahoo.com :
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