engine cleaning
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 2,494
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
The power washing under the hood debate must go on...LOL. I use to do it on my beaters just so I would be able to see what I was working on...LOL. Never had a problem there either, but I was "barely" smart enough to know not to point it directly at any electrical connections. But even if it needed it I wouldn't power wash under the hood on my C-6 simply because it makes such a mess all over the place. Blows all the crap from in the bay and down under all over the rest of the car....yourself.....and anything else that might be within a 50 square yards......
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 1,075
From: South Florida
I used to volunteer at a shop where they would get 80 used engines in a day. We would pressure wash every single one back to looking nice and shiny.
WD40 to be more specific is a given because it is very easy to apply. To be used successfully in my opinion however one needs to fully wipe it evenly, otherwise the result will look obvious and spotty. When done properly its what caused the engine bays in my photos to shine the way do for the most part. As a protective lubrication, however, it serves well just doesn't last long.
WD40 to be more specific is a given because it is very easy to apply. To be used successfully in my opinion however one needs to fully wipe it evenly, otherwise the result will look obvious and spotty. When done properly its what caused the engine bays in my photos to shine the way do for the most part. As a protective lubrication, however, it serves well just doesn't last long.
Last edited by Kingtal0n; Mar 22, 2018 at 01:48 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Sorry gang; I got called out! It is does not contain fish oil. I do know for sure the name stands for Water Displacer 40th formula, and it was designed for the military and is not technically a lubricant; it is to prevent moisture damage. I have not found anything better for under hood detailing. Yes Greased Lightning and the other degreasers are very good for initial cleaning, but to make things look new, you can't beat WD40. I have over 60 trophies in my trophy case to back it up! It would make a '78 look new under the hood. Armorall is OK; but tends to attract dust/dirt and doesn't hold up too well long term. Be careful with it on rubber/plastics as well. It used to be petroleum based and with that it would act as a solvent on those type of materials. A tire man once told me to never use it on tires, though I am sure today it is OK. The true test I was told was to test for petroleum, spray in some water and see what it does. Water based will mix in, petroleum based will bead. Before your next show, spray all the plastics, hoses, etc with WD40; Let it sit a bit and anywhere you have overspray or residue wipe it clean! I only learned this from a judge who had won and judged many a car show. Try it in dirty door jams. Doak them down and let it drip out; the only way I could ever clean there on my '78. I coated the wheel wells; makes them look factory fresh as well. I have never seen any ill effects using it for many years!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 169
Likes: 8
From: Suwanee Georgia
Wd40 msds
You were right: it does contain Fish Oil as the basic ingredient!..It was created in 1953 at the San Diego Rocket Chemical company for the Corvair Company that built the Atlas missiles it was used to protect their missile parts....I'm sure the military used it also....I always have a can because it is good for many things...
Ingredient CAS # Weight Percent
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 45-50
Petroleum Base Oil 64742-58-1
64742-53-6
64742-56-9
64742-65-0
<25
LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 12-18
Surfactant Proprietary <2
Non-Hazardous Ingredients Mixture <10
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
WD-40 has many great uses around the ol homestead and autos. Unfortunately the thing that it seems to be most famous for is a lubricant, which it really isn't very good at. At least not one that last very long.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
You were right: it does contain Fish Oil as the basic ingredient!..It was created in 1953 at the San Diego Rocket Chemical company for the Corvair Company that built the Atlas missiles it was used to protect their missile parts....I'm sure the military used it also....I always have a can because it is good for many things...
https://www.livescience.com/7818-wd-...cts-myths.html
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 252
Likes: 21
From: Meridian Idaho
Sorry gang; I got called out! It is does not contain fish oil. I do know for sure the name stands for Water Displacer 40th formula, and it was designed for the military and is not technically a lubricant; it is to prevent moisture damage. I have not found anything better for under hood detailing. Yes Greased Lightning and the other degreasers are very good for initial cleaning, but to make things look new, you can't beat WD40. I have over 60 trophies in my trophy case to back it up! It would make a '78 look new under the hood. Armorall is OK; but tends to attract dust/dirt and doesn't hold up too well long term. Be careful with it on rubber/plastics as well. It used to be petroleum based and with that it would act as a solvent on those type of materials. A tire man once told me to never use it on tires, though I am sure today it is OK. The true test I was told was to test for petroleum, spray in some water and see what it does. Water based will mix in, petroleum based will bead. Before your next show, spray all the plastics, hoses, etc with WD40; Let it sit a bit and anywhere you have overspray or residue wipe it clean! I only learned this from a judge who had won and judged many a car show. Try it in dirty door jams. Doak them down and let it drip out; the only way I could ever clean there on my '78. I coated the wheel wells; makes them look factory fresh as well. I have never seen any ill effects using it for many years!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
No it does not contain fish oil .... that is a myth, read this article:
https://www.livescience.com/7818-wd-...cts-myths.html
https://www.livescience.com/7818-wd-...cts-myths.html
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Absolutely not true. WD40 never gets sticky when dry; clean to the touch in an hour or so. I leave my hood up at every show and nothing ever clings to spots sprayed with WD40. In fact it seems to keep the dust to a min. The hoses and plastic look clean/new for quite some time, normally only have to do it every few weeks. As I said earlier this comes from detailers, judges and car show winners......and it works. I have turned many on to this simple trick; unbelievers at first, but once they do it are hooked! I didn't believe either.
Years ago when i would clean my engine i would start it up and let it dry,then use a small can of WD-40 and spray the complete engine bay and it was NOT sticky when dry and it is not to this day....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
FWIW: WD40 works great on "pots" (potentiometers) such as volume, tone, etc. controls on old guitar amps, radios, etc. when they get dirty and and sound scratchy.
Spray it in around the stem, rotate it from limit to limit numerous times, and it will be like new.
Attachment 48333511
Spray it in around the stem, rotate it from limit to limit numerous times, and it will be like new.
Attachment 48333511
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 1,075
From: South Florida
I use free publix bags to cover a couple electronics I am worried might get water trapped inside their connectors, such as the MAF and TPS. Often these devices will still work with a little water in their plugs but the higher pressure from spraying into the bay (as opposed to rain) causes more water than usual to collect in them, in since they are 'weather tight' sort of, the water can stay in the plugs for a looong time and rust them up
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 134
From: middle of nowhere WI
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 553
Likes: 79
From: Lexington Ky
I just blow mine off with air hose, clean with a damp detail brush and damp microfiber towel. Do this once a week when being driven in summer.
Mines never been in the rain and very dirty.
I would never use a power washer or even wash with a hose. Like Bobby said too many electrical gremlins.
Mines never been in the rain and very dirty.
I would never use a power washer or even wash with a hose. Like Bobby said too many electrical gremlins.