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Home > Visual / Audio Mods > Detailing > Engine Detailing

Engine Detailing

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L0st
Everett
Washington, US
  • Vehicle Designer
 I want to detail me engine. Any tips on what to cover? I've searched pon here but couldn't really find any tips.... From what i know of i should cover my CAI filter and distrubutor cap..anything else?. Can our engines handle the water?

Insert cool signature here_____

SL FTL
CSTC FTW
[#] Aug 13, 2008 09:51pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
 Distributor cap? You don't have one!

I would NOT recommend spraying high pressure, or any, water into your engine bay at all to clean it. Use a wet cloth and hand wipe it down to the best of your ability. Don't use any greasey products b/c they will just recollect dirt and make it harder to remove the next time.


Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
[#] Aug 13, 2008 10:26pm
java09
Honolulu
Hawaii, US
  • Godlike Advisor
 i concur and would add that i use those blue garage paper towels.. they are great for grease, dirt and what not.

grab a spray bottle and use straight water!

make sure your motor is not hot at all!

2008 Turbo Scion tCizzle
POWERED BY TURBOTOYOTAS!
310WHP, 272WTQ
more to come_..
[#] Aug 13, 2008 10:32pm
CadenceScion
Endicott
New York, US
  • Detailer
 If your going to detail your engine, I would look into having the engine cover painted, or go w/ a carbon fiber look. Secondly I would have a CAI installed. Thirdly if you have the funds, go w/ either a TRD supercharger, or turbo. Fourth, I would replace the oil cap, radiator car, and dipstick. There is a chrome dipstick handle you can get through scionpro.com that looks awesome. I would also upgrade the factory battery to an optima. You can also have the overflow bottles painted. There are air diversion panels that you can get that have fuctionability and look great. You can get rid of the cheesy prop rod, and get one that works on the same concept and the rear hatch. If you want headers you can get those as well. Finally and foremost, if your looking to catch peoples eyes, keep the engine area clean, and what I mean by that is no oil, dust, dirt and grime. A good degreaser works well, or even some simple green or fantastic works well too.

Your other concern pertaining to if our engines can take water, or not. I would so not suggest subjecting the engine or any of the vital electronics to any bit of water. The reason being is because you can ruin or wiring, cause unneeded oxidation and rust, and also cause yourself some costly repairs if something fails to work or shorts out. If you need to have the engine cleaned, take it someplace that specializes in engine steam cleaning, or you can do it yourself, if you have the time and are careful. Your Scion tC and as well as mine and many other people on here do not have a distributor cap/rotor. Sorry and what I ment to say is I have never owned an import till the tC and I am use to distributors caps and rotor and points, not what we have and I am sorry I said that and I so misspoke. I had to read my owners manual to educate myself. Sorry to have offended anyone and no I am not perfect and do not know everything!

[#] Aug 13, 2008 11:55pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
CadenceScion wrote:
Finally and foremost, if your looking to catch peoples eyes, keep the engine area clean, and what I mean by that is no oil, dust, dirt and grime. A good degreaser works well, or even some simple green or fantastic works well too.

From your post, this is the only thing he was asking about.

CadenceScion wrote:
Your Scion tC and as well as mine and many other people on here do not have a distributor cap/rotor. We have points, or also called a distributor-less ignition.


WHAT!!!??? This is a huge NO. Points are NOT what we have..we have a DIS system which is Direct Ignition System. This is where the coil is directly on top of the plug and is controlled by the ECM.

Points were used pre-1976 and after that, all vehicles went to electronic ignition systems. We do NOT have points or a system like what they used pre-1976. Also, a points system still needs a distributor for timing so I'm not sure what you're talking about.


Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
[#] Aug 14, 2008 12:09am
L0st
Everett
Washington, US
  • Vehicle Designer
 aww ok..so pretty much just wipe down no degreaser..if so probably not cover the whole engine bay..i just want to clean it up thats lall not mod it..well yea i actually do i already know what to do already but thanks anyways

Insert cool signature here_____

SL FTL
CSTC FTW
[#] Aug 14, 2008 02:24am
Dispatcher138
New Jersey, US
  • Master Mechanic
 You can use a high pressure washer just dont point the damn thing at your alternator.
I used the Invisible Glass on everything under my hood and kept everything very clean.

-Garrett H.

www.teamscionrg.com
[#] Aug 14, 2008 04:48am
krdshrk
New Brunswick
New Jersey, US
  • Godlike Advisor
 You don't want to use TOO High a pressure wash. Pressure washing would force water into seals and places it's not meant to go.

Use Simple Green degreaser, diluted (as directed) and spray down the whole engine bay. Cover your battery terminals and intake filter. Then spray it down with water lightly. Regular garden hose and spray is fine. If you have a pressure washer, back off from it a bit.


Scikotics NJ is sponsored by Lawrence Scion

2006 GReddy Turbocharged Automatic tC
220+ WHP - 14.044 @ 97.02 MPH
[#] Aug 14, 2008 01:29pm
hooligan
Salida
California, US
  • Detailer
 your engine can get wet people, its ok.

For as long as i have lived i have cleaned engine bays by hosing down the cold engine with simple green, waiting a minute, and rinsing off with water. I have never had a problem in my life caused by that. I've been doing it to my scion since i bought it brand new in 06, i recently had somebody ask me if the car was brand new because the engine bay looked so clean.

Here's my steps
1. make sure your engine is cold, basically wash before driving anywhere
2. mix up some simple green, when i buy concentrate i usually mix about 4parts water to 1 part green.
3. spray it all over everything in your engine bay, just dont drench electrical items. a little water won't hurt em, just don't flood them.
4. wait a minute, rinse it off with the hose. Not a pressure washer, just a hose maybe with a nossle on shower mode.

if there is still some grease, do it again. once you are done hosing it down, get a nice towel and dry off things like the battery, your shiny intake, your engine cover. then close the hood and wash the rest of the car.

If your engine bay is real dirty, it may take a little more scrubbing by hand, but once its clean some simple green about once a month is all it takes to keep lookin good. Just never ever spray cold water directly onto hot engine parts, ever.

Oh and if you have a short-ram intake where your filter is in the engine bay, it might be wise to cover that up. just wrap a plastic bag or something around it.



www.scionmilitia.com
[#] Aug 14, 2008 06:31pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
 Wet, yes....high pressure sprayed or steamed, DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

Seen first hand WAY too many (at least 1 in every 5) BRAND NEW Audis and BMWs come off the truck and go to get cleaned up. On the way back from getting their engine cleaned, CEL light!

Codes were for misfires on cylinders due to water ruining DIS coils. Not worth the risk so just use a spray bottle and a damp rag at most.


Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
[#] Aug 14, 2008 06:57pm
hooligan
Salida
California, US
  • Detailer
Web wrote:
Codes were for misfires on cylinders due to water ruining DIS coils. Not worth the risk so just use a spray bottle and a damp rag at most.


Thats why i always wash the car after cleaning the engine bay. Give things time to dry out. Wet electronics won't get hurt as long as there is no power to them. But they need to be dry before power is ran through them. Kinda like DIS coils getting water all up in them from high pressured water and then immediately being fired up and driven around front. High pressured water gets in places you didnt know your engine had.

oh and those are both german cars... everybody knows german cars always have trouble with electrical systems



www.scionmilitia.com
[#] Aug 14, 2008 07:37pm
Ryan8228
San Diego
California, US
  • Oil Changer
 Seems everyones covered everything... you CAN use water, but use as little as possible. and a random tip... if you have the stock engine cover... WD40. =) Shines that baby up!! I use it on the hoses and the top of the radiator. Gives a nice slick, wet black shine. Just dont use armor all.... not only does it tend to crack things in the long run, but when heated... it smokes. hahah whooops... lol. Trial and error. More error then trial sometimes... but either way, knowledge gained =)

[#] Aug 17, 2008 03:52am

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