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Engine Cleaning Help
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
The backside of my hood needs a good cleaning and detailing:
And I've got paint overspray on my wheel wells from the PO. So, I'll have to figure out how to get that off. Maybe paint thinner?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
What I have found works great on black plastic is the turtle wax ice car wax. It makes the plastic look new, not greasy or wet like CD2 can.
That CD2 stuff will hide dirt on a dusty engine, but it won't be a clean "dry" look. It's basically an Armour All for engine bays.
That CD2 stuff will hide dirt on a dusty engine, but it won't be a clean "dry" look. It's basically an Armour All for engine bays.
If you touch a plastic part that has that CD2 on it, does it come off on your hand?
And what are you using to dress your hoses and other rubber parts?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 374
Likes: 4
From: Nevada Missouri
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 374
Likes: 4
From: Nevada Missouri
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Pinellas Park Florida
I wipe the entire engine compartment and the inside of the hood down about once a month. It doesn't take that much work if you keep up with it.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento Tennessee
What did you use to clean the back of your hood, control arm area, and in the engine bay? And what dressing did you put on? It looks really good.
The backside of my hood needs a good cleaning and detailing:
And I've got paint overspray on my wheel wells from the PO. So, I'll have to figure out how to get that off. Maybe paint thinner?
The backside of my hood needs a good cleaning and detailing:
And I've got paint overspray on my wheel wells from the PO. So, I'll have to figure out how to get that off. Maybe paint thinner?
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
I've been looking at your pics close up. Are you sure that white stuff is paint? The underside of the hood has spots that look like it was left after something evaperated away. Do they use salt or deicer on the roads where you live? I would think even if it is paint in your wheel wells you would be better off swapping out the inner splash guards. That would remove more than 90% of the work and would look great. Copper
Those spots on the wheel wells is chips in the paint. The PO had the car repainted. It does look a little worse than it did as a year ago, I sprayed some bug and tar remover on it and power washed it, and that caused more of the paint to chip off. I'd like to just strip the paint off and then see what it looks like. If it still looks crappy, then I may paint it with something that is rock chip resistant. I could swap them, but that would be several hundred, as also the wheel wells on the hood is in the same condition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento Tennessee
I think the spots under the hood were that way when I bought it a couple of years ago. What would be good to clean that off without damaging the paint under the hood?
Those spots on the wheel wells is chips in the paint. The PO had the car repainted. It does look a little worse than it did as a year ago, I sprayed some bug and tar remover on it and power washed it, and that caused more of the paint to chip off. I'd like to just strip the paint off and then see what it looks like. If it still looks crappy, then I may paint it with something that is rock chip resistant. I could swap them, but that would be several hundred, as also the wheel wells on the hood is in the same condition.
Those spots on the wheel wells is chips in the paint. The PO had the car repainted. It does look a little worse than it did as a year ago, I sprayed some bug and tar remover on it and power washed it, and that caused more of the paint to chip off. I'd like to just strip the paint off and then see what it looks like. If it still looks crappy, then I may paint it with something that is rock chip resistant. I could swap them, but that would be several hundred, as also the wheel wells on the hood is in the same condition.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
I just didn't want to use something that would damage the paint.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento Tennessee
No, I haven't tried anything. I say it will come off easily as there is similar small white spots in the engine compartment that rubs off. Like around the injectors, compressor housing, etc. Probably salt I guess, I did drive it some in the winter.
I just didn't want to use something that would damage the paint.
I just didn't want to use something that would damage the paint.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento Tennessee
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
And any recommendation on what to use to strip paint off of plastic?
Tommorrow I'll start on cleaning the engine bay. I've got aluminum safe Simple Green for my degreaser and general cleaner. I'll have wrags, tooth brushes, wheel cleaner brushes, etc. to try and clean most of the gunk off. The worst is the front of the engine, caked on black grim.
I've got me a flexible water blaster that will help some. And for what grease I can't reach and get all the way off, I'll use some brake cleaner.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 657
Likes: 1
From: Sykesville Maryland
Thanks. What do you normally use to clean the back of the hood?
And any recommendation on what to use to strip paint off of plastic?
Tommorrow I'll start on cleaning the engine bay. I've got aluminum safe Simple Green for my degreaser and general cleaner. I'll have wrags, tooth brushes, wheel cleaner brushes, etc. to try and clean most of the gunk off. The worst is the front of the engine, caked on black grim.
I've got me a flexible water blaster that will help some. And for what grease I can't reach and get all the way off, I'll use some brake cleaner.
And any recommendation on what to use to strip paint off of plastic?
Tommorrow I'll start on cleaning the engine bay. I've got aluminum safe Simple Green for my degreaser and general cleaner. I'll have wrags, tooth brushes, wheel cleaner brushes, etc. to try and clean most of the gunk off. The worst is the front of the engine, caked on black grim.
I've got me a flexible water blaster that will help some. And for what grease I can't reach and get all the way off, I'll use some brake cleaner.
I have few white spots on the back side of my hood too but haven't attemped to clean it up yet.
I had black undercoating sprayed overtop of road dirt on my upper and lower fender wells. I found good old Brake-Kleen, a scotch pad, and a little elbow grease cleaned them up pretty good. I applied a few coats of Meguiar's Natural Shine to the uppers and it looks like new and use this stuff on my tires too. It doesn't last as long as the glossy stuff but IMO looks better.
I still have the driver's side to do yet-too much rain here in MD = to much yard work this spring. I wish it meant more garage time to get more detailing done!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Josh,
I have few white spots on the back side of my hood too but haven't attemped to clean it up yet.
I had black undercoating sprayed overtop of road dirt on my upper and lower fender wells. I found good old Brake-Kleen, a scotch pad, and a little elbow grease cleaned them up pretty good. I applied a few coats of Meguiar's Natural Shine to the uppers and it looks like new and use this stuff on my tires too. It doesn't last as long as the glossy stuff but IMO looks better.
I still have the driver's side to do yet-too much rain here in MD = to much yard work this spring. I wish it meant more garage time to get more detailing done!
I have few white spots on the back side of my hood too but haven't attemped to clean it up yet.
I had black undercoating sprayed overtop of road dirt on my upper and lower fender wells. I found good old Brake-Kleen, a scotch pad, and a little elbow grease cleaned them up pretty good. I applied a few coats of Meguiar's Natural Shine to the uppers and it looks like new and use this stuff on my tires too. It doesn't last as long as the glossy stuff but IMO looks better.
I still have the driver's side to do yet-too much rain here in MD = to much yard work this spring. I wish it meant more garage time to get more detailing done!
I'll try the brake clean on the fender wells. But I say mine will be a little harder as it has multiple layers of paint vs. undercoating out of a can. I may try a Urethane safe paint stripper. I say that is probably the safest stripper.
If they still look like crap, I may have them sprayed with that rhino lining or something.
