D.I.Y. - Engine shampoo
09-Jun-2010, 11:08 AM
#1
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
There you go... an easy way to freshen up the engine bay
Hope this helped
(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
There you go... an easy way to freshen up the engine bay
Hope this helped
09-Jun-2010, 12:58 PM
#4
I'd seafoam... oil change and tune up the car before the engine shampoo goes down
09-Jun-2010, 01:18 PM
#5
Inactive
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Where my car is.
Posts: 5,460
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
I'd seafoam... oil change and tune up the car before the engine shampoo goes down
12-Jun-2010, 09:03 AM
#9
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
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
sprayed down the underside of the hood, it was disgusting before
not sure what this is, but why is it rainbow coloured? that's weird...
hit it with the air dryer and wipedown with a microfiber towel... job done!
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.
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
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
sprayed down the underside of the hood, it was disgusting before
not sure what this is, but why is it rainbow coloured? that's weird...
hit it with the air dryer and wipedown with a microfiber towel... job done!
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.
12-Jun-2010, 10:24 AM
#10
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!
12-Jun-2010, 12:15 PM
#12
nice nice!! i'm gonna do my engine shampoo today!! hopefully i can find my camera battery to snap some shots!
12-Jun-2010, 05:03 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississauga and Woodstock
Posts: 616
Well done Stev. All that's needed is a paintjob on the valve cover. I think a Loius Vetton pattern suits you best.
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