How To Detail Engine Bay

you can hit it w/ black spray paint too. the hood liners love to soak up the paint


but i ripped mine out a few months ago

Anyone want tips from a professional detailer? I have detailed 1000's of cars and never used garbage bags lol or a paint brush to much work. If you want fast and easy the best stuff is purple power from Walmart or where ever its like 3 bucks for a gallon anyway spray wd40 on electrical parts then soak engine bay with purple power then wait start your engine and simply pressure wash grease off if need be do it a second time wait till dry then shine I use ardex details it's an aerosol detail spray any questions about anything pm me

I washed the car yesterday and opened the hood to find a white stained hood liner. I just used the hose and rinsed the liner and the entire engine bay. I left the hood open with the car in the garage over night. Liner was dry and white stains gone this morning! I have a spot where the belt is throwing crap from a leak that'll need some thing a little stronger. I need to degrease the engine so I can find the source of the leak.

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Snout seal most likely.

Or something is on the belt getting tossed up there, ala...axle grease?

To add...hood liner, throw it out...

Can't be snout seal.....as I am just a slow GT....lol.
Yeah, something is getting on the belt and is getting thrown everywhere. It does have a slight green tint to it so i was thinking LIM gasket or coolant elbows....stuff is on the firewall....coolant overflow tank. Even saw it down below when I was changing out my tie rid ends and wheel bearings. It's kind of thick though....like a gummy residue. I did the LIM gasket on my 00 GT a few years ago and made the mistake of not thoroughly cleaning the engine bay first. It would've made the job cleaner and easier.

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Gummy, green residue...I'm still betting axle grease.

I hope you are right. Over greased axle? I don't have any visible leaks anywhere but the engine is definitely much dirtier in the area around the coolant elbows.

Heres a pic:

After doing some reading, looks like i'm replacing an axle. This was on the same side as my bad wheel bearing.

yup axle boot and thats not bad at all so your lucky

I suggest removing both belts before you wash the engine bay and wipe down the pulleys and idlers with brake cleaner before reinstalling. Just to avoid getting anything on the belts or pulleys that might cause squeaks

This stuff etches engine enamel BTW just an FYI if you have anything painted under the hood

What would be the best way to wash everything down without a hose? If you're like me and live in an apartment you don't really have access to a hose. I suppose I could use a glass of water?

Originally Posted by RALM

What would be the best way to wash everything down without a hose? If you're like me and live in an apartment you don't really have access to a hose. I suppose I could use a glass of water?

best bet is a coin op car wash, the kind with the power sprayer. self serve deal. ive de-greased more then one cars engine and bay at one of those places.

Yea I was thinking either that or bucket of hot water. I figured since my 95 isn't moving right now I'd detail engine bay plus the 98 is REALLY bad because it was driven on gravel for most of its life

I'm a noob, what sensors and where are they that I have to cover before I start cleaning?

Just use common sense...don't spray alt, or directly on exposed wires/plugs.

The end.

Originally Posted by blueguy91

Just use common sense...don't spray alt, or directly on exposed wires/plugs.

The end.

I think I read somewhere I got to cover the fuse box as well and few other things..but what you said makes scents...I just get paranoid.

I never covered the fuse box.

It's good enough as is.

Originally Posted by blueguy91

Just use common sense...don't spray alt, or directly on exposed wires/plugs.

The end.

As a side note I have cleaned several engines for people and spray mine off once a month to keep it show ready lol. The only thing I cover is my open cone intake and I've never covered the alternator. I usually disconnect the battery but that's a personal choice. Then I'll wipe off spots I don't want winter spots on then hook battery back up and drive along about my day

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Originally Posted by marines542

As a side note I have cleaned several engines for people and spray mine off once a month to keep it show ready lol. The only thing I cover is my open cone intake and I've never covered the alternator. I usually disconnect the battery but that's a personal choice. Then I'll wipe off spots I don't want winter spots on then hook battery back up and drive along about my day

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You disconnect both terminal or just the negative one? Your way sounds 10x easier!