Detialing a Commodores engine?

[vz23kq]

hey guys just want to know what i should be using etc to detial my engine, mostly because the bonnet was left open last sandstorm we had and its pretty dirty
what should i be using for the engine, the engine cover etc?

[Car Care Products]

Hi,

We are putting together a guide on this very soon (2-3 weeks) to make it easy.

But basically you need somthing like:
Mint APC
Spray Bottle
Brushes
303 Protectant
A couple of plastic bags or cling film
Pressure Washer preferred if not fine spray nozzle on hose

Then:
Open bonnet and cover anything delicate, alternator, electrically boxes etc with plastic bags
Spray lightly over the engine and front guards.
Use the APC at a dilution of 1 to 3 parts water and spray all over the inside bonnet first
Aggiitate with brushes and rinse lightly off
Spray over motor and aggitate with brushes
Lightly rinse off and guards as well
Take away plastic bags and start motor
Run for 5 minutes and then switch off
Spray 303 liberally over the hoses, plastics etc and work into all areas with an old cloth

Clean, dressed and shiny engine!

Always keep the pressure washer or hose nozzle about 60+ cms away from the motor.

Watch out for video but in the meantime but hope this helps.

[Cashaz]

I am interested but you have no video.

Link me when you got it, and would'nt mind having a look at some before and after results of this engine bay cleaning kit you have assembled.

[a1k3m1]

what would you suggest if the motor is somewhat oily? .. some kind of degreeser?

[STEEV888]

to clean my motors i would just own the engine bay (alternator and all) with 2 - 3 bottles of degreaser then hit it with the pressure washer.. never have any problems cheap and easy and SHINY

[Jacko84]

to clean my motors i would just own the engine bay (alternator and all) with 2 - 3 bottles of degreaser then hit it with the pressure washer.. never have any problems cheap and easy and SHINY

+1 for 3bucks worth of degreaser and a pressure washer, but i usually keep the engine running while i do this

[VSteve]

to clean my motors i would just own the engine bay (alternator and all) with 2 - 3 bottles of degreaser then hit it with the pressure washer.. never have any problems cheap and easy and SHINY

I don't use any bags either but just be mindful of where you spray the degreaser as you can wash the grease out of things like idler pulley bearings and the alternator bearings and then have a noisy engine! Also make sure the engine is cold enough to touch before you hose it as rapidly cooling a hot engine is not a good idea.

[VLC86]

+1 for 3bucks worth of degreaser and a pressure washer, but i usually keep the engine running while i do this

Why do you leave it running while your cleaning it? I have never heard of this before

[STEEV888]

Why do you leave it running while your cleaning it? I have never heard of this before

so he knows when he has F@#&ED it and can stop hahaha.

[maldotcom2]

Do not have the engine running. Disconnect the battery and don't let water into the alternator!

[Car Care Products]

Turn the engine off while cleaning / degreasing otherwise it is too hot and the degreaser will dry instantly and permanently stain most metals, rubbers and plastics.

And like a couple of guys have said cover the alternator, just to be safe.

After you have rinsed the engine off, then start it up and run it for 5 mins.

Stay away from Silicone spray, it might look good for a day or two but ultimately will perish yuor hoses try somthing like 303 Protectant to add some gloss to the plastics and hoses and actually protect them.

[Little Red VZ Go-Kart]

I once pressure-cleaned my 3.8L V6 (Toyota Lexcen). Period. Drove home and noticed an engine rumble and stutter; drove into garage for the night.
Next morning: dead coil pack and a shorted alternator!! "Water penetration", sayeth the Wise Man with Sidchromes stuck in shorts.
Bang goes $700 in fitting new bits. "Not happy, Jan!" (mechano man is a Pole and name pronounced "Yarn").

Jan: What'd you put on the engine? This is bad.
Me: Pressure wash at the drive-in up the road.
Jan: Ah—, you know what...?
Me: Hmmm?
Jan: That did it!
Me: *stunned mullet expression*

Moral: No pressure blasting!

Fast forward to a gleaming Alloytec (however did they get it so clean?), I give it the Mr Sheen treatment by hand (alloy bits respond well with Mr. Sheen) once a month. I use Maquires black plastic polish rejuvenator for the plastic bits. Experimented with Armoral spray inside and out but found it attracted dust and a disagreeable pong that reminded me too much of my old girlfriend.

Curiously, I've observed early morning cleaners in local car yards using pressure cleaners on modern engines (the V6 I mentioned was from 1993, not an Alloytec wunderkind). Curious about that. Presumably they know what they are doing...?

[VR028]

i have pressure washed many engines and theyre all fine. as long as u cover the alternator and be careful about spraying around the electrics its all fine

[Little Red VZ Go-Kart]

Well, there's the behemoth of the alternator to cover, but no exposed contact electrics I can see, if that's what you mean. Big fat cables / connectors that fit exquisitely into places... the usual Holden prettiness. Anything under the black plastic covers that can be affected e.g. spark plugs, injectors et al? I'll experiment with putting a heavy weight canvas square draped over the alternator before I squirt the beastie, but would first want to wise up on anything that definitely should be avoided in terms of exposed electrics, visible or hidden.

[JoshSvc]

I have been using Silicon spray in my engine bay for years and have never had any damage done to any plastics or rubber, I did the gf's car around 3 months ago and everything still looks great under the bonnet, Don't go nuts with it though give it a wipe over after afew minutes just to get the excess off which will stop dirt sticking to it as well.

[toey@carfx]

hey there mike, whats the go........no vid yet, anyone would think you are busy or something

[undar8ed1]

I am also waiting for the vid

[Car Care Products]

Hi guys,

We have not done the full write up yet but the video is listed here: How to - Engine Clean

The full info will be on our How To Guides section on the website

[TMM]

Cover the alternator, coil pack, fuse box, intake snorkel and battery. Try not to get too much water in the spark plug recesses when rinsing. It might help plugging them up with paper towel or some small rags. I think a regular hose on a fine mist setting is safer then a pressure washer.

[maka5]

helpfull video... thanx

[LowerSpasm]

Cover the alternator, coil pack, fuse box, intake snorkel and battery. Try not to get too much water in the spark plug recesses when rinsing. It might help plugging them up with paper towel or some small rags. I think a regular hose on a fine mist setting is safer then a pressure washer.

This is what im looking for however im not too mechanically minded and im unsure what things to cover, if anyone has a picture of a engine bay with the delicate parts that should be covered. would help out a lot

[tdirago]

i googled each part, just unsure as to what the coil pack is.

[Adds_05]

top of the motor on the front of the passengers side,3 black square things next to each other with 4&1, 2&5, 3&6 written on the top

[FstStig]

top of the motor on the front of the passengers side,3 black square things next to each other with 4&1, 2&5, 3&6 written on the top

Or in simpler terms, they have the Spark plug leads coming off them. Don't know what spark plug leads are, then you probably shouldn't be cleaning under the bonnet.

[Car Care Products]

I would cover up your coil pack, and airblow to dry the engine to avoid any arcing from your plugs/leads.