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-   -   D.I.Y. - Engine shampoo (https://www.civicforumz.com/civic-diy-tutorials-info-13/d-i-y-engine-shampoo-170750/)

Climax_R 09-Jun-2010 11:08 AM

D.I.Y. - Engine shampoo
 
So it was suggested I do a DIY on my way of shampooing engines… and here it is.

(i will do a step by step with pics later on down the road when i do my next engine shampoo)

The steps are actually very simple, but be prepared to use a bit of elbow grease and have the patience to get on all the tight spots as well for the best results.

Here is what I suggest for this DIY.

-be at a coin wash where you have a power dryer available
-gunk engine degreaser (for heavy dirt build up)
-spray nine (for mild dirt build up)
-brushes (old toothbrush, medium size paintbrush, a stronger bristle brush for agitating metals like valve covers etc…)
-towels, old rags and some microfiber
-grocery store bags (keep at least 6 handy)
-rubber bands (keep at least 6 handy) you’ll see why I use these later in the steps
-wd40 or some kind of your preferred lubricant/grease for hinges etc.

This is for the optional steps…

-a good vinyl/rubber protectant (the stuff you would use on dash and trim)
-car polish
-car wax (synthetic preferred)


Keep your engine cool before doing this....

1. seal the alternator, distributor, intake filter (if you have a short ram or cold air, otherwise you don't need to since the filter would be in the box) also cover up the battery. Use the bags for these and you would seal off the part where the opening of the bag is with a rubber band (be creative of how you close it off just make sure its dry... few sprinkles of water isn't gonna kill the car though so don't worry) also tie some bags around the sensors to be safe... oh and also cover up your “expensive JDM gimmicks” like if you have a new shiny strut bar with a powder coat or something… leave that for gentle tlc

2. spray the engine down with some water to get loose debris/dirt off

3. spray the gunk engine cleaner/spray nine over the dirty areas, try your best to keep that stuff off the car's exterior paint. let the solution sit for about 10 minutes.

4. start agitating where dirt build up occurs.. for example.. valve cover.. intake manifold.. exhaust manifold.. you know the drill. use a cloth to rub down the firewalls, painted areas in the engine bay.

5. spray some more of the solution to where you have agitated/rubbed down.

6. spray again with water... until the soapy stuff is gone....

7. use the air dry to blow off all water from washing the engine.. (careful not to knock out any wires or anything)

8. wipe the rest of the engine bay down with a towel so its bone dry.. as much as you can...

9. air dry again if you want to be extra like me..

10. remove all the bags/rubber bands.

11. spray some chemical on to a cloth and remove the dirt left on the areas that didnt get sprayed.

12. start the car and let it run for a bit.

13. spray lube/grease on hinges/joints to drive away moisture and to keep it greased.


Optional steps.

14. i like my car components looking fresh.. so use a vinyl/rubber conditioner spray and spray all the black rubber pieces with this stuff ( for components like distributor cap... spray on a cloth and wipe it so the liquid doesn't leak into the gaps in a distributor - same goes for plastic around electrical) yea so just spray up... shut the hood... and start the car... open your hood after like 5 minutes... and the vinyl conditioner would have evenly covered all the hoses and all.. use on black plastic as well it gives a nice shine.


15. polish your painted areas under the hood down, and if you’re super serious you can clay bar it first as well… but give it a good polish with your favourite stuff

16. wax the painted areas under the hood to protect and make it shiny :smile:


There you go... an easy way to freshen up the engine bay

Hope this helped :smile:

MPR 09-Jun-2010 11:21 AM

Talk about going all-out! lol

Nice write-up Roshan! :)

stev 09-Jun-2010 12:46 PM

the coin wash by the meet site has a spray option called degreaser... i'm gonna try it on friday n let y'all know... also would u advise doing seafoam before or after the engine shampoo?

Climax_R 09-Jun-2010 12:58 PM


Originally Posted by stev (Post 1461282)
the coin wash by the meet site has a spray option called degreaser... i'm gonna try it on friday n let y'all know... also would u advise doing seafoam before or after the engine shampoo?

yoyo the degreaser at the coin wash is actually no different from the pre soak stuff lol... it's weak you won't get much off... if i was you i'd just stop by crappy tire and pick up a can of gunk its like 5 bucks or something that **** takes grease and grime off nicely!!!

I'd seafoam... oil change and tune up the car before the engine shampoo goes down :rockon:

MPR 09-Jun-2010 01:18 PM


Originally Posted by Climax_R (Post 1461283)
yoyo the degreaser at the coin wash is actually no different from the pre soak stuff lol... it's weak you won't get much off... if i was you i'd just stop by crappy tire and pick up a can of gunk its like 5 bucks or something that **** takes grease and grime off nicely!!!

I'd seafoam... oil change and tune up the car before the engine shampoo goes down :rockon:

:nod:

Silentblizzard 09-Jun-2010 02:48 PM

great write up +++

Xscorpio 10-Jun-2010 03:56 PM

great write up and with nice detail, thanks for sharing your industry secrets haha

next time you do this, take pics and edit your post and add pics, always a good idea :)

stev 10-Jun-2010 06:47 PM

oh i'm for sure gonna add pics to his thread as soon as i do it

stev 12-Jun-2010 09:03 AM

k so i had some time yesterday, ended up by the coin wash... had some supplies in my trunk, went and got some more...

picked up a few toothbrushes, rubber bands, plastic bags... i used simple green as a degreaser because that's what these guys on a chevy forum all use... also wd40 from the other diy... i'd have used gunk but i didn't feel like spending more money
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo001.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo002.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo003.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo005.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo006.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo007.jpg

couldn't take the battery tie off b/c i had no wrench with me... took the fuse box off but it was wired deep through the firewall so i said screw it and just wrapped the whole thing in 2 bags. this is the bay covered in simple green and the spray degreaser
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo008.jpg

sprayed down the underside of the hood, it was disgusting before
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo009.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo011.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo020.jpg
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo012.jpg

not sure what this is, but why is it rainbow coloured? that's weird...
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo014.jpg

hit it with the air dryer and wipedown with a microfiber towel... job done!
http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/a...shampoo016.jpg

not bad i think for my first time... i was nervous but it had to be done.. when it comes time to seafoam i'll grab some gunk and some new brackets, bolts, etc and do a more complete job

all in all this cost me like $17 and an hour and a half. when i get a wrench i'll do the battery and the tie-down.

Climax_R 12-Jun-2010 10:24 AM

hey man that looks good!!! i see you didn't cover the distributor... you didn't have any problems with that? but all in all its looking good... now all you gotta do is spray them black hoses/plastic parts with the vinyl/rubber conditioner it will look HYPE! but job well done stev!

stev 12-Jun-2010 11:15 AM

thanks man... yea i'm gonna do the hoses and replace the rusted out rad brackets later on... and naw i didn't even think about the dizzy but it was no problem at all

Climax_R 12-Jun-2010 12:15 PM


Originally Posted by stev (Post 1461735)
thanks man... yea i'm gonna do the hoses and replace the rusted out rad brackets later on... and naw i didn't even think about the dizzy but it was no problem at all


nice nice!! i'm gonna do my engine shampoo today!! hopefully i can find my camera battery to snap some shots!

HabaneroRed06Si 12-Jun-2010 05:03 PM


Originally Posted by stev (Post 1461735)
thanks man... yea i'm gonna do the hoses and replace the rusted out rad brackets later on... and naw i didn't even think about the dizzy but it was no problem at all

Well done Stev. All that's needed is a paintjob on the valve cover. I think a Loius Vetton pattern suits you best.

stev 12-Jun-2010 06:29 PM

lmao i'm gonna go where roshan went an pick up like 20 lv stickers for it an make the pattern myself :p


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