Engine Compartment Detailing   Basic Degreasing and Engine Compartment Detail from A&K Auto Detailing  Engines are typically viewed as focal points for most automobiles. Just about every car show will feature entries with hoods up. Engine detailing is the way to go here. So if the automobile is a daily driver or a regular used car arena, owners must also be keenly aware of what they are doing when detailing engine compartments in the antique, classic, and specialty car segments. This is critically important for owners of machines, especially if they have ever had intentions of entering concourse competitions. At A&K Detailing an engine compartment is different from washing the exterior of a vehicle. Dirt, grease, and oil are more difficult to remove. This calls for stronger cleaning solutions and different methods. On the other hand, knowledge of the engine components material, surface, which is sensitive to these stronger cleaning solutions are a critical part of cleaning an engine. Major damage can occur to the engine, which could end up being a great cost to you, so it's worth taking extra caution, and time for preparation and using the correct chemicals for the vehicle at hand. Many different materials and chemicals are needed to detail an engine and the engine compartment. The selection of the materials really depends upon the amount of dirt there is. The following list is commonly used to clean and degrease an engine. But keep in mind this is your basic detail and not specialized concourse which requires altogether different materials and detailing procedures. • cosmoline remover • heavy-duty engine degreaser (water-based) • citric extract cleaner • plastic bags • toothbrush (brass) • plastic wrap • zip ties • hand towels & clean rags • metal polish • masking tape • (2) 1-gallon hand pump chemical sprayer for the proper chemicals and one for water • duct tape • freezer bags • 50/50 water & baking soda • rubber dressing • aluminum foil Get with A&K Detailing (Concourse Pro) to determine the best products for you. Visit us for the products we use on Show and Concours Autos. Degreasing motors and parts no longer require harsh solvents and wire brushes. Citric-extract cleaners have revolutionized grease removal. The use of cosmoline remover, citric cleaner and water based degreasers accompanied by a selection of specialized detail brushes and water will efficiently maintain every square of the engine compartment, including the plastic and rubber. Most automobile owners and even professional detail departments have always relied on pressurized steam for quick, intensive grease removal but this method leaves a lot to be desired. Forced steam removes oil and grease without discrimination. It can cause all kinds of electrical problems by seeping into wiring harnesses, ignition caps, spark plug leads and battery connections, just to name a few . Most people do not realize that steam cleaning can actually remove the paint from the engine block, structural braces and surrounding fire wall parts. It is not uncommon to have to re-apply glazes, sealant and gasket material. There is no easy way out. Strong solvents, household bleach, acid and steam heat are not solutions for degreasing the engine or undercarriage of the car. The above mentioned products can also pit and damage the surface of the metal. A number of spray-on engine cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and even plain soap and water all do an excellent job in detailing under the hood. They tend to degrease the engine and its components, rather than strip them of paint. When you chemically clean under the hood (rather than steam clean), repainting is minimized. With chemicals, you do the degreasing largely by hand. That, in itself, poses an environmental problem. Driveway detailing, involving engine degreasing, is illegal in some areas-unless, of course, you have some way of disposing of the grease, solvents, and oily wastewater other than letting them drain to the curb. We need to look at the work site considerations. The fundamental cleaning of engine compartments most often require use of high water pressure and potent cleaners, you must be concerned about greasy, polluted run-off into store drains and sewers. With this in mind, consider a drain mat prior to greasing. This is done very simply by a heavy mil plastic mat with a raised edge approximately 4” boarder and at least 2 foot larger than the car. Drive onto the mat. Now all degreasing can take place. When the wet work is done, a shop vacuum can remove the liquids which can then be transferred into containers for proper disposal. Protecting the electrical and fuel systems is a critical part of cleaning an engine compartment. Major damage can occur if components are not protected. Use the above material list to aid you. Use a freezer bag or seal a plastic bag with duct tape to have complete water protection on such items as carburetor, distributor cap, and other electrical parts. Valve cover breathers should be removed, and holes in the valve covers can be covered with duct tape. The hardest components to wet-proof are the spark plugs. One way to make quick work of wet-proofing spark plugs is to shape an aluminum foil barrier around each plug or coil connector, then overlay the foil with two or three layers of towels or diapers. Or you can disconnect the electrical harness around each plug. But be absolutely sure you number each harness wire and the plug it belongs to with masking tape and waterproof marker. An important thing to remember on fuel-injected vehicles,is to seal the engine air intake. Seal the open end of the air box with a towel and a plastic freezer bag. We are here to help bring your car in today!