Engine shine

plowhand · Jan 21, 2021

I'm giving my truck the
annual clean up what do
you guys use to make the
engine sparkle/shine that
I see dealers do.

gab · Jan 21, 2021

I think the dealer detailers just spray tire shine all over.

bmack95hd · Jan 21, 2021

I use Simple Green or Purple Power. Works good for me.

JD Dave · Jan 21, 2021

I've detailed many old cars for show. You don't want to go in there with great force with a hot-water power washer. Just clean off the recent mess and get some heat going and wipe off most of the crud. Then get something like Simple Green on the surfaces, - let it work and clean and start to scrub, wipe and clean, even with an old toothbrush.
The time-tested method is to wet the engine bay down lightly with plain water, even with a spray bottle (depending how dirty it is). Then proceed with some light detergent.
Many people, - dealers! Here we go! take shortcuts with severe and very caustic detergents which will ruin the paint under the hood. Then the job looks like crXp.

RedGreenGuy · Jan 21, 2021

I have used scrubbing bubbles. Spray on let soak about 15 minutes and hose off.

wrenchere85 · Jan 21, 2021

Use the cheapest black spray can paint you can find, it is mostly clear and not much black pigment. Clean and dry everything, than spray everything that is black. Spray lightly or until glossy, don't worry about over spray onto other colors because it's mostly clear anyhow. We always sprayed the golf cart floor mats, and made them look brand new. On cars we sprayed the engine compartment black plastic, hoses ect.

DoubleO7 · Jan 21, 2021

I swear some used car dealers powerwash and then spray everything with vegetable oil.

used red MN · Jan 21, 2021

A lot of detailers use an actually use a “clear coat” under the hood, see example in link. If you are just giving m oki good annual cleaning I would not recommend using it. It does probably make everything shine, but I have seen it give everything a cracked appearance after some time and being exposed to high under hood temps. Just apply some protectant to the most prominent rubber and plastic parts like the top radiator hose and the plastic wire loom housings and maybe the visible parts of the valve covers.
Under hood clear

Fordy20 · Jan 22, 2021

Spray with tire foam - no washing or rinsing required - just leave it sit. Will come out looking like new. If grease, you may have to take that off separately. Saw it on YouTube and tried it on a couple of my vehicles. Works great!

Engine shine

plowhand

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gab

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bmack95hd

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JD Dave

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RedGreenGuy

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wrenchere85

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DoubleO7

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used red MN

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Fordy20

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