Cleaning Engine

[ZMARKUS]

I would really like to return my engine to that sweet clean condition it was in when I bought it. I'm assuming the car dealer just sprayed it with degreaser, pressured washed it and sprayed it with silicone to beautify it as they all do. Can't I just do the same ( maybe excluding silicone) as the dealer did without harm? Who cleans their own Q engine up in here and how?

[qship96]

Get a can of Gunk or 2,spray warm,not hot engine-let it dwell for 5-10 minutes and rinse well -easiest to do at the local coin wash bay-then go for a long drive to dry out engine and all connectors.Might need to start with brake-cleaner on cold exhaust manifolds if they are stained from leaky valve cover gaskets.

I would skip spraying down the engine with a protectant when done,as it only causes dust/dirt to stick to everything....if you must,just apply protectant to a small sponge and go over hoses and all rubber/plastic bits to add some bling.

[AlabamaDan]

I don't think I'd do my Q engine that way. I do my Jeep, but I dunno about my Q. I just use simple green, rags, sponges, a toothbrush, brake cleaner and elbow grease.

[qship96]

Be careful using Simple Green,especially full strength,as it severly etches and pits many of the aluminum components under the hood-permanently!

[AlabamaDan]

Noted. I dilute it to about 15% strength.

[Q451990]

I clean mine warm with degreaser and then let it idle up to hot with the hood open to cook off the moisture. Leaving the hood open should let it dry out better than leaving it closed and driving it.

Heath

[ZMARKUS]

No

Be careful using Simple Green,especially full strength,as it severly etches and pits many of the aluminum components under the hood-permanently!

Now would that be the case with other cleaners like Mean Green, Greased Lightning or the Gunk cleaner previously mentioned?

[ddrumman]

So I'll be detailing the Q tomorrow. What should I tell them to NOT do inside the engine bay?

[qship96]

Just tell them no "shine" product to be used after cleaning,to keep dust from sticking all over-you can carefully apply a rubber protectant with a sponge/cloth yourself later to hoses/rubber trim-what you DONT want is them SPRAYING protectant all over under the hood!

It was 52 degrees here in maryland today...washed car in driveway and applied another coat of Klasse sealant glaze!