Do you detail your engine?

[98 'Bird]

I've been thinking that my car could use a good engine compartment detail. It really makes the car look new. I've never done it before; I'm afraid of messing something up. I've seen it done using aluminum foil to cover the electrical components, and something for the air cleaner also. Then brushing off loose dirt, spraying with water, and degreasing, etc.

I'm wondering what certain components I should be cautious (I have the 3.8 L). Or I'm considering just cleaning only the area of the compartment around the engine. I've noticed that my exhaust manifold appears rusty too... can't do much for that... so I just want to make things look nice.

Thanks guys...

[Trash man]

simple green, a brush and low water pressure. take ur time and make sure u let it dry out afterwards

[BrdWAtti2d]

"Gunk engine brite" works real well on gunky build up, if you have any. Just spray it on, let it sit, brush the thick areas and hose off. But like 88bird5spd says, just be very careful with the water and let it dry throughly. Not a good idea on any pre 98 f-bodies with an optispark. Water = Death

Oh, and disconnect the battery

[ToplessFormula]

For degreasing use non flammable brake cleaner.

For general cleaning use glass cleaner or soap and water.

Many heavy duty cleaners etch the aluminum.

[98 'Bird]

So basically make sure everything is clean and dry before I reconnect the battery, right? Is it necessary to keep the electrical covered if I take this precaution? Thanks.

[ToplessFormula]

So basically make sure everything is clean and dry before I reconnect the battery, right? Is it necessary to keep the electrical covered if I take this precaution? Thanks.

Never spray any electronics directly.

There is also no need to disconnect the battery.

[00 Ragtop Z]

Never spray any electronics directly.

There is also no need to disconnect the battery.

On my 2000 ragtop (non-opti), my preferred method of cleaning and detailing the engine is to give it a good washing at the high pressure car wash whenever I wash the outside of the car. After seven years and 118,000 miles I have NEVER had any type of problem electrically, and constantly get WOWS at car shows when I tell people it's a daily driver--they can't believe it's that clean under the hood after that many miles on the car.

I have always used the high pressure wash on my cars this way, and the only time I ever had a problem was when my 92 RS had a cracked distributor cap. But based on everything I have read, I would not advise if the F-body has an Opti-spark.

[BrdWAtti2d]

There is also no need to disconnect the battery.

This is why they have to put a warning on hair dryers not to use while showering.

[97Bandit]

Well if ya think about it, arent cars ment to be in rain as well as just dry weather?? So anything electrical under the hood that needs protect from water is a sealed component, all automotive connectors use those rubber "o rings" if u will so no water gets inside anyway, to prevent corrosion. I also pressure wash my engine and have never had a problem.

[ToplessFormula]

This is why they have to put a warning on hair dryers not to use while showering.

They put a warning on hair dryers not to use in the shower because you don't need to disconnect the car battery when cleaning the engine?

That's a really smart reply.

[98 'Bird]

I just don't want to mess anything up for the sake of making the engine look pretty; mechanical comes first.

[BrdWAtti2d]

They put a warning on hair dryers not to use in the shower because you don't need to disconnect the car battery when cleaning the engine?

They put a warning label on hair dryers because some morons don't have enough sense to not to use them in the shower.

Yes, it's true that the components under the hood are sealed with a rubber o-ring and designed to repel a small amount of moisture, however a garden hose is not a small amount of moisture. How hard is it to disconnect the battery? If one minute of your time is worth more than frying something under the hood, then by all means leave it connected.

[Performin Norman]

I don't detail mine. However, every time I wash the car, I use the damp towels to wipe down under the hood, the door sills, the gas cap and the trunk areas. Therefore, it never really needs to be detailed.

[ToplessFormula]

I don't detail mine. However, every time I wash the car, I use the damp towels to wipe down under the hood, the door sills, the gas cap and the trunk areas. Therefore, it never really needs to be detailed.

I do the same thing. The engine compartent of my Formula is just as clean as the engine compartment in my one year old car.

Non flammable brake cleaner works the best as far as I'm concerned. When I do maintenance that's what I use to clean up everything that gets oily. Simply wiping something off won't get rid of the residue that collects dirt and dust.

Advance Auto sells the stuff cheap too.

[Dave M]

This is why they have to put a warning on hair dryers not to use while showering.

There's a big difference between 110 AC houshold current and 12 v DC automotive current. I've never disconnected the battery when washing my engine in any of my cars. Even spraying the battery directly has no (shocking) effect. You do have to be careful not to over-saturate electrical components/connections or they may not function correctly afterwards. But that's not what I took your comment to mean.