Clean Engine Bay - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

anth331 · 02-14-2018, 03:07 PM

What’s the best way to clean your engine bay? I don’t want to mess anything up

ChibiBlackSheep · 02-15-2018, 09:49 AM

It's more resilient than you would think. I start with a degreaser, and soak everything and hose it down (nothing too high pressure).

Then for the fine cleaning, I like simple green / mean green, and a lot of paper towels.

Just take your time and it goes pretty smoothly. After you get it clean, if you just give everything a wipe down everytime you wash the car, it's a piece of cake to stay on top of.

Stewart · 02-15-2018, 11:20 AM

Exactly what ChibiBlackSheep said. I spray my engine down and wipe like every other car wash. (I wash the car myself). Just another helpful hint, after you wash it, and dry it off wait a while before starting it. I say this because any moisture or water that is in your fan area or on the belts, etc will fling all over the place. You will not be a happy camper, I know I have done it.

Adam's Polishes · 02-15-2018, 03:37 PM

Here is a video with a lot of good tips.

PeteD · 02-15-2018, 05:36 PM

Very cool and nice seeming guy . And no disrespect but,,,,,,much rather watch this one. For obvious reasons....LOL

anth331 · 02-15-2018, 05:38 PM

Thanks for the help everyone

HAMBO · 02-16-2018, 11:42 AM

All the methods above certainly work, but depending as to how dirty your engine is (based on where you are, weather, road conditions, etc) they strike me as potentially overkill.

I'm out in SoCal, so we don't get a lot of real grime. Personally I have never flushed my engine bay with APC and water. If I don't have to, I'd prefer to not. I use waterless wash and some black microfiber towels to clean off dust and light dirt, then use a combination of products to dress the different parts of the engine bay. My two favorites are Adams In & Out spray, and Chemical Guys VRP. Below are results I get:

Before

After

Hope that helps.

DrkPhx · 02-16-2018, 06:48 PM

^^^ Well done. I like it.

Stewart · 02-16-2018, 08:15 PM

[QUOTE=HAMBO;10079083]All the methods above certainly work, but depending as to how dirty your engine is (based on where you are, weather, road conditions, etc) they strike me as potentially overkill.

I'm out in SoCal, so we don't get a lot of real grime. Personally I have never flushed my engine bay with APC and water. If I don't have to, I'd prefer to not. I use waterless wash and some black microfiber towels to clean off dust and light dirt, then use a combination of products to dress the different parts of the engine bay. My two favorites are Adams In & Out spray, and Chemical Guys VRP. Below are results I get:

Impressive, I just drove from NJ to move to PS Cali, my bay was nasty, spent 5 hours cleaning the entire car inside and out. I will check out the products that you mentioned for sure Thank you

BRZN · 02-17-2018, 06:06 AM

Today's vehicles have water tight electrical connectors. You pretty much have to try to get water into them. Just use common sense; don't spray water into the alternator, or exposed air filters/air boxes. Our daily drivers get their engine bays cleaned at least once a year by hosing down with water, spraying down with Adam's All Purpose Cleaner and scrubbing with every possible brush I can find to get into every nook and cranny. Once clean I'll dry with my Master Blaster Side Kick or Revolution set on it's lowest speed, then start the car, close the hood and let it run for five minutes so so to finish drying. I don't apply any type of dressing, as I find they just collect dust.
Here's Michelle's Camaro cleaned last spring when I installed her CAI
Remove the engine cover and clean it

Nasty

What it's supposed to look like!

Jayjellyfish212 · 02-18-2018, 08:07 PM

Good advice on cleaning the engine bay from everyone above. I personally use UD-40 and microfiber rags and wipe everything down twice a year. I use the non-aerosol can WD-40 now and like it better.

Tom And Cheryl · 02-19-2018, 03:36 PM

I use detail spray or a little bit of car shampoo if needed, I clean under the hood on a regular basis.

Ace0751 · 02-22-2018, 09:40 PM

It’s not easy keeping the alternator dry when washing the inside bay since it sits below the engine so water will find a way while washing. I pretty much do what everyone else does, use APC once or twice a year and then VRT when it’s all dry. Makes future cleaning much more simpler, it’s basically wipe the edges and you’re good.

BRZN · 02-23-2018, 04:39 AM

The alternator's actually pretty water tight on its own. Think about where you said it's located; below the engine. In that location it can possibly get hit with water if you go through a large puddle.
Don't deliberately spray it with a forcible stream of water and you'll be fine. If that concerns you, cover it with some plastic wrap.
Modern engines and their components can take some water without harm.

02-14-2018, 03:07 PM	#1
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	Clean Engine Bay What’s the best way to clean your engine bay? I don’t want to mess anything up

02-15-2018, 09:49 AM	#2
ChibiBlackSheep Drives: 2012 2SS/RS, 1968 SS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeast, PA Posts: 2,093	It's more resilient than you would think. I start with a degreaser, and soak everything and hose it down (nothing too high pressure). Then for the fine cleaning, I like simple green / mean green, and a lot of paper towels. Just take your time and it goes pretty smoothly. After you get it clean, if you just give everything a wipe down everytime you wash the car, it's a piece of cake to stay on top of. __________________ LS3 Crate Engine Swap \| CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3 \| Stainless Power LT Headers \| Z28 Intake \| Borla S-Type Exhaust \| FTI Triple-Disc Billet 3200 Stall 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 1968 Camaro SS \| 2020 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury \| 2021 Spark LS

02-15-2018, 11:20 AM	#3
Stewart Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS RS & Ground effects Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Lower Desert Cali Posts: 1,229 View My Garage	Exactly what ChibiBlackSheep said. I spray my engine down and wipe like every other car wash. (I wash the car myself). Just another helpful hint, after you wash it, and dry it off wait a while before starting it. I say this because any moisture or water that is in your fan area or on the belts, etc will fling all over the place. You will not be a happy camper, I know I have done it. __________________ Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead; Walk beside me, and just be my friend. MY BUILD LINK: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=484260 Last edited by Stewart; 02-16-2018 at 08:11 PM.

02-16-2018, 11:42 AM	#7
HAMBO Drives: Supercharged 2013 AGM 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 786	All the methods above certainly work, but depending as to how dirty your engine is (based on where you are, weather, road conditions, etc) they strike me as potentially overkill. I'm out in SoCal, so we don't get a lot of real grime. Personally I have never flushed my engine bay with APC and water. If I don't have to, I'd prefer to not. I use waterless wash and some black microfiber towels to clean off dust and light dirt, then use a combination of products to dress the different parts of the engine bay. My two favorites are Adams In & Out spray, and Chemical Guys VRP. Below are results I get: Before After Hope that helps. __________________ 2013 AGM 2SS/RS SLP TVS2300, Edge CAI, 3" Magnaflow catback, BC Racing BR series coilovers, HRE FF15's (20x10 square) with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's, GM STB, BMR front and rear sway bars and toe links, Prothane subframe bushings and front control arm inserts, JDP rear upper control arm bushings, Elite Engineering catch can. Tuned by Cunningham Motorsports. 1967 Bolero Red 396 SS/RS Convertible

02-16-2018, 08:15 PM	#9
Stewart Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS RS & Ground effects Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Lower Desert Cali Posts: 1,229 View My Garage	[QUOTE=HAMBO;10079083]All the methods above certainly work, but depending as to how dirty your engine is (based on where you are, weather, road conditions, etc) they strike me as potentially overkill. I'm out in SoCal, so we don't get a lot of real grime. Personally I have never flushed my engine bay with APC and water. If I don't have to, I'd prefer to not. I use waterless wash and some black microfiber towels to clean off dust and light dirt, then use a combination of products to dress the different parts of the engine bay. My two favorites are Adams In & Out spray, and Chemical Guys VRP. Below are results I get: Impressive, I just drove from NJ to move to PS Cali, my bay was nasty, spent 5 hours cleaning the entire car inside and out. I will check out the products that you mentioned for sure Thank you __________________ Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead; Walk beside me, and just be my friend. MY BUILD LINK: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=484260

02-15-2018, 05:38 PM	#6
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	Thanks for the help everyone

02-16-2018, 06:48 PM	#8
DrkPhx Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 / 2006 TB SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MN Posts: 2,250	^^^ Well done. I like it.

02-17-2018, 06:06 AM	#10
BRZN Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Denver, PA Posts: 450	Today's vehicles have water tight electrical connectors. You pretty much have to try to get water into them. Just use common sense; don't spray water into the alternator, or exposed air filters/air boxes. Our daily drivers get their engine bays cleaned at least once a year by hosing down with water, spraying down with Adam's All Purpose Cleaner and scrubbing with every possible brush I can find to get into every nook and cranny. Once clean I'll dry with my Master Blaster Side Kick or Revolution set on it's lowest speed, then start the car, close the hood and let it run for five minutes so so to finish drying. I don't apply any type of dressing, as I find they just collect dust. Here's Michelle's Camaro cleaned last spring when I installed her CAI Remove the engine cover and clean it Nasty What it's supposed to look like! __________________

02-18-2018, 08:07 PM	#11
Jayjellyfish212 Drives: 2014 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,050 View My Garage	Good advice on cleaning the engine bay from everyone above. I personally use UD-40 and microfiber rags and wipe everything down twice a year. I use the non-aerosol can WD-40 now and like it better. __________________ Car mods: never enough!

02-19-2018, 03:36 PM	#12
Tom And Cheryl Drives: 2013 SS Convertible, ThumperII Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 411 View My Garage	I use detail spray or a little bit of car shampoo if needed, I clean under the hood on a regular basis. Attached Images

02-22-2018, 09:40 PM	#13
Ace0751 GEN5 Detail Drives: 2011 Synergy Series 2SS Convertible Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Northeast, OH Posts: 1,986	It’s not easy keeping the alternator dry when washing the inside bay since it sits below the engine so water will find a way while washing. I pretty much do what everyone else does, use APC once or twice a year and then VRT when it’s all dry. Makes future cleaning much more simpler, it’s basically wipe the edges and you’re good. __________________ Roto-Fab CAI, Borla ATAK Exhaust System, Stainless Power Headers, RX Performance Catch Can, ACS T4 Splitter, Oracle side markers, Dyno Tuned by RDP Motorsports

02-23-2018, 04:39 AM	#14
BRZN Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Denver, PA Posts: 450	The alternator's actually pretty water tight on its own. Think about where you said it's located; below the engine. In that location it can possibly get hit with water if you go through a large puddle. Don't deliberately spray it with a forcible stream of water and you'll be fine. If that concerns you, cover it with some plastic wrap. Modern engines and their components can take some water without harm. __________________