Best engine cleaner

[IgottaBug!]

My engine looks like it was dipped in an oil and dirt bath, so I need some advice on what to clean it with. I tried using Gunk and a pressure washer, but it doesn't bring it back to the same shine that it had when I bought it. I specifically want to clean under the engine cover without damaging anything. Is there some dressing that I can put on the hoses to make them shine as well?

[detailstation]

any orange cleaner or simple green works very well to clean the engine compartment! after you have cleaned and is all dry get a can of armour all tire spray in the can and spray it on the entire engine compartment,let it dry and you have a shiney nice looking motor,and the hoses look brand new! it might sweak alittle because the belts get it on them but after a few seconds your good! works really well.

[hyakugojyuuichi]

Amen on the Simple green and tire spray. I use this method on my engine and have a "Best Engine" trophy to show for it.

[detailstation]

Thats great,I have a detail shop and when people ask and I tell them they don't believe me! and if you rinse the motor off every so often and re spray it just gets better looking, also if you clean your inner wheel wells and spray with armour all tire spray they look great too!

[IgottaBug!]

Originally Posted by detailstation

any orange cleaner or simple green works very well to clean the engine compartment! after you have cleaned and is all dry get a can of armour all tire spray in the can and spray it on the entire engine compartment,let it dry and you have a shiney nice looking motor,and the hoses look brand new! it might sweak alittle because the belts get it on them but after a few seconds your good! works really well.

Is there anything under the engine cover that should be covered up and not sprayed by water or the chemicals you mentioned?

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by detailstation

Thats great,I have a detail shop and when people ask and I tell them they don't believe me! and if you rinse the motor off every so often and re spray it just gets better looking, also if you clean your inner wheel wells and spray with armour all tire spray they look great too!

Shhhh! You're giving away all my secrets!
J/K - I agree...I've been showing the car since I got it 4 years ago and an occassional steam cleaning of the engine with a little degreaser keeps it looking like new. I also do the wheel well trick - shoot them with water pretty hard to knock off the big stuff then follow it up with the Armorall Foam Tire spray when I am doing my tires to make them shiney new looking again!

[Breez]

Great advice... I get so nervous cleaning the engine area... I don't know why ?!?!?! I just don't want to hurt my baby. Sometimes I would get lazy with the Jetta and take her to the dealership for the 99.00 detail... They cleaned and treated my leather seats, steamcleaned the capets, "armored all" everything else, waxed the car and then steamcleaned the engine and then treated it. I trust them because the car ALWAYS looks great and they never miss anything... but sometimes I want to do this things myself... and the engine always ALWAYS intimidates me.

Thanks for the advise, my Blue Beetle is going to meet some Simple Green LOL

[detailstation]

steam cleaning the engine isn't the best thing to do because steam gets into all the electrical fittings and causes corrosion.Its best to just use simple green and moderate pressure washer,costs less in the long run!

[oneighturbo]

bookmark it
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-engine.html

[Breez]

Originally Posted by oneighturbo

bookmark it
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-engine.html

LOL I totally remember reading that site... I can never forget a quote like " If you have compressed air available, this is the best way to remove old leaves, dead cats and such. "

[IgottaBug!]

Originally Posted by oneighturbo

bookmark it
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-engine.html

Thank you very much!