Keeping engine clean

[blue_can]

Any tips on cleaning the engine area. I've never really bothered with this in any of my previous cars and when I've tried I find that after years of buildup it is quite hard to get everything really clean.

[Kamikaze]

This thread might help.. I didn't read the whole thing:http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...58440

[Whelan]

Simple Green is great for cleaning off the dirt and grease, but this stuff does not attract dirt at all. It almost acts like a wax on your plastic and vinyl. Therefore you could blow on it and the dust would come off. The good thing about #40 is that it does not leave a filmy residue if applied properly. Which requires working it in by rubbing repeatedly the same spot so it works the oils into the plastic/vinyl.In terms of product #'s. The Meguiars Professional Line of detail products uses the numbering system more heavily than their Consumer Line which you can find in local auto stores. I posted it before and Ill throw up another regarding the #'s they use in relation to the product name.#40 is Meguiar's Plastic and Vinyl Polish for use on tires, plastic trim, vinyl, cladding, interior, etc. I used it on the tires and it looks phenomenal. One other thing to note is all Professional Line products come in a tan colored bottle.Specifically this part that details the products used.enjoy the pics in that thread too

[kevera]

I guess I never replied on how things worked out.I have to give #40 a .It doesn't attract the dirt as I first thought and when it does get dirty,I just give it a wipe and it's shiny and clean again.I used it mostly on my hoses and stock air box and haven't tried it on my interior,which I have yet to this day,apply anything because I like the matte finish.Meguiar's FTW.

[Whelan]

I haven't applied it to my dash in two months and a quick wipe of the dust and it looks clean again.The #40 leaves no shiny residue, just a nice clean matte finish.

[blue_can]

Thanks - not sure how I missed that thread - my search only showed up one thread which did not have much info.So the #40 mentioned is mainly for cleaning the plastic areas of the engine. What about the metal areas especially if for example an oil spill then attracts dirt. In the past I've found that sometimes the black marks from the accumulated dirt in the oil spills is very hard to remove. I've been using Meguiars quick detail spray inbetween car washes for touchup but I noticed it hsa left some marks on the plastic cladding. Maybe the #40 is a better prodict to use for that.Keeping cars clean has never been my strong point

[Whelan]

I'll address these separately.Quote, originally posted by blue_can »So the #40 mentioned is mainly for cleaning the plastic areas of the engine. What about the metal areas especially if for example an oil spill then attracts dirt. In the past I've found that sometimes the black marks from the accumulated dirt in the oil spills is very hard to remove.The #40 is a plastic/vinyl polish and cleaner. It can be used on any plastic or vinyl interior, and any exterior cladding or rubber seals. It can also be applied to all plastic and hosing in the engine bay.For the oil marks, I would go with Simple Green. Spray it onto the area or onto a rag and wipe away. It is a cleaner/degreaser and not harmful at all. One thing I do when cleaning the engine bay is covering the air intake opening and the battery terminals with plastic baggies. Then I hose the engine quick with a light spray. Then I spray the whole thing down with Simple Green. This will allow it to penetrate other areas you cannot normally reach. Do this in the street of course, then let it sit, take a large bristle brush and scrub the areas you can reach. Then hose off lightly, dry everything with a towel and apply the wax and #40 to the specified areas. Also you may want to hit up your local auto store for a set of bristle brushes. They look like industrial toothbrushes, the nylon bristle is good for getting hard to reach areas and the brass one is good for small rust spots or white marks on manifolds and such.You can find #40 at http://www.autodetailingsolutions.comQuote, originally posted by blue_can »I've been using Meguiars quick detail spray inbetween car washes for touchup but I noticed it hsa left some marks on the plastic cladding. Maybe the #40 is a better prodict to use for that.Quick Detailer Spray is for painted surfaces, i.e the body. You could use it on the frame and subframing under the hood and strut towers, but I find that under the hood, Simple Green on the metal parts works best. If the area is painted such as the underside of the hood and strut towers, etc. Throwing a coat of wax by hand helps in keeping them clean and clear in the long run.

[blue_can]

Cool thanks. You sure seem to know your stuff on cleaning cars. I do have some metal brushes but they will probably be too agressive as I use them for cleaning metal prior to welding. Slightly off topic but maybe someone here can answer this one. Is it possible to repair scratches on the interior plastic. I put a gouge in the tailgate plastic and also a small scrape on the passenger side today. I was tramsporting a slab of granite in the Vibe today as I've decided to DIY fabricating some new granite countertops for the house and the local granite slab yard let me have some remnant granite for free. But it is really heavy - a small false move and the risk of serious damage is high. I was really careful but still...I've seen some plastic repair stuff - don;t know if anyone here has tried it.

[Whelan]

Gouges in plastic are harder than metal. The most effective way to fix these is to do the following.Get some colored or black plastic rods (similar to shade rods) and melt it down. Take the melted portion and melt it and fit it into the gouge. Then shape it while still warm (using a heat gun) and let it cool. Since plastic cools faster you can paint easier. Find a Duplicolor paint that matches and spray it in short bursts or spray the product onto a Q-tip and cover the molded area.It is harder cause typically interior plastic has a pattern to it, but you can at least match it closely by doing this method.If no colored plastic is available, get a plastic lexan curtain rod thing as mentioned, cut a section off and melt it, then form it into the gouge. Find a matching or closely matched paint color and spray onto a Q-tip or tiny brush and cover the are best you can with a few coats.

[blue_can]

OK thanks. I saw some places online selling plastic repair kits for this kind of thing. I'm sure it will never look like original but hopefully it will make it less noticable.

[Whelan]

Yeah those are essentially bondo for plastics.You could head to HD and pickup some plastic epoxy, glob it into the spot and hold it till it dries, then paint.Or head to a model/hobby shop for some kits and paint.