Show & Shine Detailing, washing, waxing, paint care, wax, etc.

engine bay dirty... need help

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Old Mar 18, 2016 | 11:43 AM
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engine bay dirty... need help








what can I do for cleaning that?
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Old Mar 18, 2016 | 09:28 PM
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engine bay dirty... need help

What you are seeing is not really cleanable. Its basically... Oxidation? The solution that most people take to amend that is to remove parts and paint them lol.

However before going that route it does help a little to get a wire brush and some brake/engine cleaner and get with it
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Old Mar 18, 2016 | 09:36 PM
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^^^


I like simple green, and simple green max automotive degreaser


Both work amazing, they are also both great for cleaning dirty tires and fender wells.


Also works great on stubborn brake dust, but brake dusts a bitch.
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Old Mar 21, 2016 | 07:28 AM
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I'd use simple green before brake cleaner....
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Old Mar 21, 2016 | 08:21 PM
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ok i will try with simple green
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Old Mar 21, 2016 | 08:39 PM
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I'm going to give this a try my bay is terrible
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Old Mar 21, 2016 | 09:52 PM
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Pretty sure you can dilute simple green. Still works well and lasts longer.
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 04:14 AM
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Simple Green is a good engine bay cleaner though remember that it can speed up the corrosion process on aluminums.
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by mjcarls
Simple Green is a good engine bay cleaner though remember that it can speed up the corrosion process on aluminums.
I think a lot of people miss this, which is why it is extremely important to only do the engine cleaning on a cool engine and you don't let it dry on there. Rinse the engine, apply cleaner, scrub engine then rinse off.
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 09:25 AM
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I have the same issue on my ss/tc. ive been curious if vinegar will work similar to how it works
on steel. haven't tried it yet though.
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Kolt
I have the same issue on my ss/tc. ive been curious if vinegar will work similar to how it works
on steel. haven't tried it yet though.
CLR might work on the oxidation, but dont leave it on past 2min
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 10:28 AM
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I've always used a 50/50 mix of simple green.

My bay looks like the day I drove her home new 9 years ago.
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 01:40 PM
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im coming to JP's Auto Detailing for a complete detail ... exterior and engine bay ... i wont be satisfied until my car looks better than yours lmao
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Old Apr 19, 2016 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by yellowsupercharged06
im coming to JP's Auto Detailing for a complete detail ... exterior and engine bay ... i wont be satisfied until my car looks better than yours lmao
Bring her on down!!
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Old Feb 9, 2019 | 12:21 PM
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Over the summer I had an experience with this and I found a way to brighten the blower up, but it stained some of the plastic like the engine cover and etched spots into the clear coat on the coil cover.

What I did was cover the engine and used mag wheel cleaner on the blower housing – I don't recommend it.

Were I to do it all over again, I would just accept the blower corrosion, clean the bay, and call it done.

I'm still hunting for a good engine cover to replace my stained original.

Here are some links to the posts I wrote about it:

Cleaning the Cobalt's Go Parts

Engine Cleaning Oopsie

Day 6: More Clay Barring for the Cobalt

Down the Homestretch

If you're interested, I documented the rest of ordeal as well.

The blower did end up looking nice, but it wasn't worth the damage or potential damage to everything else under the hood.

Last edited by hrspwrjunkie; Feb 9, 2019 at 01:39 PM. Reason: Didn't mean to come across as laughing in anyone's face.
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Old Sep 14, 2019 | 07:47 PM
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The absolute best way I’ve found to clean my blower is simply goin at it with a steel wire brush. Got one from autozone for $3 and had that thing sparkling. As for the block, I haven’t really done the best with the brush, it doesn’t work the same, so the above mentioned products are probably better to use.
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