what are the best products to keep the engine bay on my 2010 showroom clean? and by clean i mean do dirt everywhere with shiny plastic. because i would like to know how to properly clean the plastics and rinse the engine. many thanks.

 

Most of the commercial products that are degreasers for cleaning an engine compartment are way too harsh for most of the plastic surfaces on our engines.
I use a 40% solution of Simple Green in a spray bottle, then rinse it off with a LOW pressure water rinse. If I really want the engine plastics to look good, I spray some no touch tire shine on a paper towel and wipe the plastics and hoses down with that.....

 

I've heard Simple Green on bare aluminum is a no-go, it stains it...

 

this is gonna sound pretty bad....

but i used to be a lot foreman on a dodge dealership and i would always clean a new dodge like this.

ANY automotive car wash soap.

at full strength... and i do mean, non diluted.

to clean your tires, just wipe it on your tires.... and leave it! wash the rest of the truck before you pressure wash the tires.

for under the engine bay, i would use an old armor all bottle of spray shine, and fill it with car wash soap, and spray 2 maybe 3 bottles all over the engine bay. no scrubbing nothing.

lower the hood, wash your truck and then, pressure wash the tires then pressure the engine bay.

hope this helps you buds.

when i buy car soap, i always buy two bottles. i would rather have a really sudsy good time with the gf washing the truck, than making it feel like it's a chore.

 

Any areas to stay away from? Like that big electrical connection area up on the firewall?

 

well, remember.... i said i worked at a dodge dealership, and we would almost never get a ford traded in. the owner just didn't like the resale on them at all so i can't say anything for sure on a ford.

but on a dodge, i didn't touch anything or cover or protect anything....

just lots of car soap, a pressure washer, and some confidence.

 

I wipe it down every two weeks with a barely soapy rag. Looks like new same with every car/truck I have owned. Simple green is Very bad for aluminum. Pressure water bad for lots of stuff, hose pressure form the end itself and heavy dish soap is max I would recommend. Had 8 year old vehicles with engine bays that looked like show room, never used any shine or slime.

 

Ive used Simple Green and tire shine for years on my engines, they all look new.




NOTE: Spray the tire shine on a rag and wipe it on, dont go after your engine bay with a can of spray shine. Your belt while squeal like a piggy if you get tire shine on it.

 

I've always wondered this...because I've heard both ways. Engine running? Or not? Does it matter?

I used to be the detail kid at a body shop back when I was 15 or 16...I remember doing it, but I can't remember for the life of me HOW we cleaned the engines...must be all the paint fumes I've inhaled since then

 

I clean a cold not running engine. I avoid direct water contact with the PCM on the firewall and alternator.