When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My 2001 C5 is now pretty much a daily driver. I also have a couple of trucks, but my millennium yellow baby is just so darn much fun to drive that I am having to force myself to rotate the trucks into the mix. I bought my Vette in mid-February and now have some 3,500 miles added to her original 20,000 miles. The six-speed transmission is a blast. It reminds me of my early days of driving, rivaling the enthusiasm I had back then.
Everyone's engines look so perfect...and I am wondering what you folks do to keep them looking so good. Any particular cleaner? Maybe light vacuuming first?
Yesterday I drove her 125 highway miles...averaging 70 mph. At that speed in 6th gear I was getting 30 mpg!
Everyone's engines look so perfect...and I am wondering what you folks do to keep them looking so good. Any particular cleaner? Maybe light vacuuming first?
Here is what I do. Used a compressed air spray, then vacuum, use simply green to remove stubborn smudges, remove excess by whipping, then use a hose protectorate on rubber stuff, BUT do not spray engine with water. The C5's electrical stuff in the engine bay and the whole car does not like water.
I daily-drove my Mini Cooper S 100k miles for 5 years and now have daily-driven my C7 for 20 months and 30k miles. IMO, it's all about staying on top of it. I wash/detail almost every weekend. (Doesn't hurt to be a "little" OCD either. ) Here's what the bays look like (outsides look just as good).
Mini
Vette
This is my C5 engine but it doesn't count as it only has a few thou original miles on it.
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
After each drive I go over the engine bay with a Swiffer duster to remove any dust that has accumulated, then follow up with a moist Absorber (synthetic chamois) to pick up dust from places the Swiffer couldn't get to. If there is some grease or oil I use a rag with some Simple Green on it to remove the mess.
Detailing the engine each time helps keep the job easy. I have never used water under the hood for cleanup.
Everyone's engines look so perfect...and I am wondering what you folks do to keep them looking so good. Any particular cleaner? Maybe light vacuuming first?
Here is what I do. Used a compressed air spray, then vacuum, use simply green to remove stubborn smudges, remove excess by whipping, then use a hose protectorate on rubber stuff, BUT do not spray engine with water. The C5's electrical stuff in the engine bay and the whole car does not like water.
I use an assortment of brushes, rags and sponges with the Simple Green. I learned the hard way a long time ago not to hose down engine compartments with all the new electronics.
I lightly mist with the hose and then spray on some simple green. Then I lightly scrub with a soft brush and wash mit. This is followed by a thorough rinse. I then typically start the car and let it run a few minutes and then blow off with the Metro Blaster or leaf blower (if I am being lazy and do not feel like rolling up the hose). The final step is a liberal spraying of 303 protectant that I simply let sit with the hood closed as I wash the car. Once I have finished drying the car I take a microfiber to gently wipe the engine bay down and to remove any excess 303.
BUT do not spray engine with water. [/COLOR] The C5's electrical stuff in
the engine bay and the whole car does not like water.
I have to disagree with this. Just don't be an idiot and spray the hell out of it. I Gunked my underhood area, gave it a gentle rinse with water, and finished it with a spraying of distilled water from a clean bug sprayer, to reduce the chance of water spots.
After it dried, I hit it with 303 Aerospace Protectant. Since that time, almost three years ago, all I've done is periodically wipe it down, and/or hit it with some paint brushes to remove the road dust that gathers. Here are some shots.
I spray down with water at the car wash. Then spray Simple Green and let it sit for a few minutes. Then rinse with low pressure water. Drive to evaporate water. Then wipe down plastic surfaces with Adam's Polishes VRT.
Last edited by Spaceme1117; Aug 31, 2017 at 06:46 AM.
Rinse it with water, shake it out, spray Lemon Pledge on it................then it will clean way down in the cracks and crevices that are so hard to reach.........repeat.....
A lot of good suggestions. One question about using THE SWIFFER duster, which I have no experience with. In view of the fact that the "dust" on the top of my engine really appears to
be grains of sand, etc., would the Swiffer attract said particles or just brush them off to fall lower down in the engine compartment? I am still thinking maybe vacuuming initially might be an option.
The key as mentioned is to simply stay on top of cleaning it. I don't clean the engine weekly as that's a little too much but I do set some time aside every month to go through it.
I have an assortment of soft bristle brushes and rags. I don't spray anything with water. If I use any water I dip my brushes into it and scrub everything I can reach. For hard plastics and trim pieces I use tire shine sprayed on a rag. Not only will that help to keep dust away but when it dries it'll give it a nice clean matte type finish with a little sheen. For soft hoses and the like I just give them some light scrubbing.
There are more than simply cosmetic implications to keeping your engine clean. Debris that accumulates on the outer lying gaskets and such can eventually eat away at them, and if you've ever emptied a vacuum you'd know that accumulated debris actually has some weight to it which you help to alleviate.
A lot of good suggestions. One question about using THE SWIFFER duster, which I have no experience with. In view of the fact that the "dust" on the top of my engine really appears to
be grains of sand, etc., would the Swiffer attract said particles or just brush them off to fall lower down in the engine compartment? I am still thinking maybe vacuuming initially might be an option.
A leaf blower can get the larger sand/dirt grit particles off the surface. All the guys in my Corvette club swear by the SWIFFER - thats all they use for their engines.
If you're lazy, get a can of Armor All Tire Foam, which is a terrible tire dressing, but pretty good for cleaning and dressing engine bays and wheel wells. You can basically spray on, wait for it to break down the dirt, and wipe off. If you're starting with heavy grease and gunk, spot clean with some degreaser first. You don't need to wipe down if used for wheel wells.
Cleaning Engine Compartment
) Here's what the bays look like (outsides look just as good).
