Fr0z3N

How do you get your engine bay ready for a show? I've gone through about 4 bottles of brake/parts cleaner, a spray bottle of orange degreaser and it's no where near completely clean.

I took off the front bumper/hood/fenders, I also took out all my intercooler piping, cleaned and repainted it, took out the intercooler, took out my hid's the list goes on, gone through a hundred rags lol

RDub

I haven't done it yet lol

Fr0z3N

I've been working on it constantly the past few days, I find the best method is to spray and wipe with a rag but I can't get my hands everywhere so you can see where I've cleaned and not, and my firewall is rediculously dirty.

spike

It just takes time.

Fr0z3N

busted out the pressure washer, sprayed on some of the orange degreaser and powerwashed it, did it in my garage cuz the car is on stands so I got myself and the garage soaking wet but I think it helped a lot, I'm going to try and get some simple green degreaser and use that

spike

We use kleen flo engine degreaser at work, and it works well. I will be using it on my car when i can it the engine bay.

Nova_Dust

It is a task I am also having trouble with. Sometimes, it is not the grease, but the little scratches that shows after the cleaning.

I did find that after a general cleaning, spray the bay with tire shine will help bring out the glow.

Buddah

Personally, I use Simple Green and Engine Degreaser from Honda. If you go to any Honda Dealership Parts Department, they sell Engine Degreaser - a product labeled by Honda. Use the degreaser first but, do not use powerwasher as it may cause more damage than you think it would...plus if you're using a powerwasher, you gotta cover the alternator and distributor cap and wires etc. I just use a regular hose. The key is to let the degreaser sit for a while...then respray...then rinse after about 5 minutes for really dirty engine bays. Then repeat the same steps with Simple Green if your engine is REALLY dirty. Try that.

Gallagher

My bay was clean.

Power washer....degreaser.....scrub....etc...

I used WD40 as well....

Cantonagod

Tire shine is okay once in a while, I also do it at shows. But it can cause all your hoses and wires to dry out and crack.

Buddah

I like to use silicone spray on a clean towel and just wipe it on...it doesn't leave a crazy thick layer like tire shine does and it helps to moisten the rubber hoses and stuff to keep it's elasticity. And it still allows the rubber to breathe. As soon as you paste on a think coat of tire shine even if you wipe off the excess, the rubber doesn't breathe and that leads to cracking. Think about it - tire shine itself is pretty thick but, silicone spray is very liquidy. WD40 is good also but, tends to dry out the rubber and doesn't stay around for very long as one of it's main ingredients is only water - hence WD40 = Water Density 40.

Nova_Dust

Didn't know that about WD40

I suppose silicon spray can be bought at CT?

Fr0z3N

yes it can, I'll be trying that.


BTW, holy ****ing **** **** mother ****er wire tucks are hard.

Cantonagod

I found it time consuming but not that hard.

szuberi

simple green plus an odor less degreaser is what i use also. i dont get why you have to take so much stuff out of the engine bay...cuz you really dont have to.

Fr0z3N

k so put it all back together and 1 HID is flickering, I think the alt died to the cleaning as I forgot to cover it, and the check engine light is on, and my intercooler is crooked. damn it.

Buddah

Ya...WD40 is only good for a quick fix but, because there is water in it, it's really important NOT to use it on hinges etc as it will dry out and rust out the hinge. I use Lithium Grease on hinges and locks - it builds a semi hard white goo that keeps salts and moisture out. Lithium an be bought at CT.

Silicone spray can also be bought at CT too but, becareful where you spray it. Because it is silicone based, if exposed to a bare raw metal, it is known to speed up the rust process. How it does it I do not know but, this is what I've been told by detail shops. So, I suggest using a clean terry cloth - spray it on the cloth and wipe on to desired areas. Do not be concerned about getting it on the engine itself - move over the body is where you should be concerned.

Froz3n, you should never have to use a power washer on your engine bay to clean it. Most reputable degreasers are quite corosive as it is and will remove most of the dirt. If you really want it clean like crazy, use a light abrasive material like an SOS sponge or those dish washing scrub pads and lightly agitate the desired area...be sure to use more detergent in that area that you are agitating to provide lubrication. Don't scrub it too hard or you'll scrub the protective layer right off the engine lol.

Froz3n, by the sounds of it, it certainly sounds like your alternator shorted out. You gotta cover that sucker up when using any kinda of water or otherwise on the engine bay but, more carefully if you must use a power washer. I've had a similar experience with one of the lube techs i use to work with back in the day and it was on a 2002 Civic...same situation with the power washer and it had to be replaced. I hope it's not the same situation here but, it certainly sounds like it.

Fr0z3N

that's the last thing on my mind, I'm just pissed about my HID's now

civicekbrad

try using gunk i used on a z24 i had got the strut towers clean in 5 mins spray on let sit few mins wipe off with a little scrubbing and voila works great

Nova_Dust

So Lithium > Silicone > WD40

Got it.