Got a car show coming up.
Won't have my hood open but if they ask for me to open it I want it to look O.K. (not immaculate just not dirty as hell)

I've never cleaned my engine bay before.
I was wondering what is the quickest method to do so without having to tape up things I don't need to get wet? What products should I use?

I was just thinking of wiping the hoses, then going over the metal parts and other parts with something and avoiding the sparkplug area etc.
A damp towel came to mind but I thought it might not quite work.
(Or would it?)

Products and suggestions on method is greatly appreciated?
BTW. How long will this take me?

I already am going to have to do a detail. (Wash, claybar, polish, wax)
and being the show is all saturday I only have Friday afternoon to get all of this done including the engine bay clean.
Before anyone says it... no I'm not gonna pay for a detail.
Last time I did that I ended up with a big scratch on my bumper.
I'd rather save the money too hehe.

Thanks!

 

i use a spray detailer and microfiber on the painted parts, spray it on the microfober 1st to avoid overspray. on engine parts i use a degreaser and rag or wd40 and rag to get the greasy dirt off. use a rubber/plastic shine or tire shine on hoses, the tire shine will be more shiny. use a soft brush or new paint brush to reach by the sparkplugs to get dust. and just gotta be creative to get into those spots that are hard to reach. i even use q-tips to reach in certain areas. the honeycomb grill is a SOB.
mine is not the shiniest, but its pretty clean.

 

Since I wipe down my engine bay in the Stang every wash, it's pretty clean. Although, I got dinged at a car show (9 pts out of 10) for the engine bay. Had I used Q-tips to get the nooks and crannies I'd have scored a full 10. Maybe just wipe it down, armor-all (or similiar product) the hoses and plastic, q-tip those nooks.

I use a pressure washer on the SUV's engine bay.

 

Just cleaned the engine bay in my DD 05 for the first time the other month. Followed this guys write up: https://mustangforums.com/forum/deta...hoot-also.html

Took maybe 30 mins tops. Looks a gazillion times better now.

 

Thanks.

P.S.









GIB ME DAT WHIPPLE!

 

good luck in the show, btw!!!

 

Thanks!

Oh and one more question...
I remember someone saying somewhere that you can crack your engine block when you clean the engine bay so the engine has to be cold when you clean it.
Is this true?

 

You never want to spray cold water onto hot metal parts. Always let your engine cool before attempting to wash it... for your safety and your engines.

 

I use something called "Simply Green" it is an engine degreaser, and wipe down the painted/plastic parts.

 

not sure about that. some people spray their engines with simple green and run the engine to let it heat up so it disolves the grease better then wipe it down after. here's a write up from Emay who is a member here too, he's got one of the cleanest engine bays and mustangs that i've seen.

http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums...look-here.html