How do you keep your engine compartment clean?
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Naples Florida
How do you keep your engine compartment clean?
This month I bought my first Corvette, a '98 C5 convertible, and was wondering what you guys use to clean the engine compartment without causing any problems. Mine is starting to look a little sandy (being a Florida car), and don't want to use the wrong cleaning product.
Thanks
Chuck
Thanks
Chuck
Melting Slicks
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From: Orlando,Fl,USA
Welcome to florida sand. I sometime use my air compressor with a blower attachment to blast out the junk that builds up in the crevices. I also used a rag with some cleaner such as blackmagic spray and lightly rub out the plastic parts. It gives it a nice sheen but also attracts some dust after awhile so you have to keep up with it. Some people think I'm a lttle overboard with this engine compartment cleaning but they don't own vettes either.
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From: Missouri Ozark's
Just a little elbow grease!
After owning and cleaning a C4 engine bay for a few years the C5 seems to keep its own engine bay clean. 
Last edited by 6 Shooter; Dec 18, 2005 at 11:32 AM.
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While a lot of people joke about the horsepower gains, I do recommend the hood seal available from most of the major vendors. It does seem to keep the road debris down to a minimum. As far as cleaning goes, I just wipe down the interior after I wash the car. I'll use shop air on the sand that gets on the frame rails and a wipe with armorall cleaning then protectant wipes to put the shine back.
Paul
Paul
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From: LV NV
I use a regular garden hose and nozzle to spray down the engine bay, then use a blower to dry everything real good, dosent take long and I do this right before I wash it so it will have a little time to dry, after that I go back w/those handy armor all wipes and wipe everything down, takes about 10min. max and looks ****.. I do this often so no worry about water damaging anything, just try not to spray directly into the alternator or if you have an exposed air filter also...
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From: Mustangs are like Tampons.. Every P*$$* has one!
dust off
I've never personally tried this but take a can of the computer dust cleaner, Dust-Off, or any brand im sure would work and just blow off everything. I'm thinking it would work kind of like an air compressor for a fraction of the price.
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From: Naples Florida
Thanks for the very good idea's. I previously had been thinking of some kind of engine cleaner in an spray can... Can't remember the brand name. My main concern is damaging electronics.
Chuck
Chuck
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From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by talon90
While a lot of people joke about the horsepower gains, I do recommend the hood seal available from most of the major vendors. It does seem to keep the road debris down to a minimum. As far as cleaning goes, I just wipe down the interior after I wash the car. I'll use shop air on the sand that gets on the frame rails and a wipe with armorall cleaning then protectant wipes to put the shine back.
Paul
Paul
I also installed weather stripping along the fenders where it meets the hood line. My enging compartment stay real clean. My $.02Rsty
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Originally Posted by SailHo
Thanks for the very good idea's. I previously had been thinking of some kind of engine cleaner in an spray can... Can't remember the brand name. My main concern is damaging electronics.
Chuck
Chuck
Simple green works awesome and will not hurt the electronics or paint
Drifting
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From: Iowa
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How to keep the engine compartment clean?
Don't drive it
Just kidding. That Hood seal idea is ok I guess, but I've found that the dirt, dust and grass clippings are brought up from the space between the front of the engine block and the radiator; not through that little crack between the bonnet and the nosepiece.
And unless, you can figure a way of blocking that point of entry, all the hood seals in the world aren't going to keep that crapola out of the engine compartment.
Don't drive it
Just kidding. That Hood seal idea is ok I guess, but I've found that the dirt, dust and grass clippings are brought up from the space between the front of the engine block and the radiator; not through that little crack between the bonnet and the nosepiece.
And unless, you can figure a way of blocking that point of entry, all the hood seals in the world aren't going to keep that crapola out of the engine compartment.
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From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by 6 Shooter
After owning and cleaning a C4 engine bay for a few years the C5 seems to keep its own engine bay clean.
And, man, are the car show judges tough on cleanliness for this particular model Vette. Frankly, there is just so much more you have to clean on the C4 than the C5. But, I sure miss how more accessible all the internal engine parts and suspension were on the C4.
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First I vacuum as much of the sand and dust as I can with my shop vac with a soft bristle dusting brush. Then I get my air hose and blow the entire under hood area. I then go back over it with the shop vac. By doing it this way it minimizes the amount of dirt your are redistributing under your hood. I have never put water under my hood and everything still looks like new on my '02.
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If it is just sand, use an air compressor with a long nozzle on it to spray the dust off. Every time I wash my car I end up taking an old Absorber and wiping down the engine compartment. Keeps the dust and grime off. If you have some oil or grease, use a little Simple Green on a rag to wipe it off.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Just North of Buffalo NY
Clean? Lots of dusting, polishing, wiping, etc.
The first time my brother-in-law saw my engine compartment he said it was cleaner than most rooms in his house. I believe him cuz I know how my sister is.
The first time my brother-in-law saw my engine compartment he said it was cleaner than most rooms in his house. I believe him cuz I know how my sister is.
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Originally Posted by 6 Shooter
After owning and cleaning a C4 engine bay for a few years the C5 seems to keep its own engine bay clean.