Cleaning the Engine Bay of a BA BOSS 260

[AAXR8]

Hi guys, Look I need to ask if any one has run into any trouble cleaning the engine bay and the Paint under the Bonnet with a BOSS 260 in it!
I Need to wash the Paint Under the Bonnet badly and I know water and chemicals will drip all over the top of the Motor,
So I was Hoping anyone could recommend anything for cleaning products that will be ok for paint under the bonnet and the Black Plenum, engine cover, and the rubber piping because for some reason that's turning whitish! That's also another thing what's the best product that I can use to bring it back to black after washing it? And that's safe for the colour of the plenum & Heads also? And can handle the heat of the Motor! I know there's the car wash engine cleaner?? But I would like to do it at home!
Cheers, any info would be great on what to look out for! And chemicals that bring the engine bay shining again!!

[Legit290]

Be careful with pressure washers. You dont want water under the coil covers or near the electrics I have taken paint off a plenum with a car lovers one. Warm soapy water, rags, an old toothbrush and LOTS of patience and elbow grease works a treat
The black piping can be cleaned with tyre shine and a rag and then a light spray of tyre shine will make it look great. Your radiator hoses can be cleaned using this method too.

Whack a couple of garbage bags or a tarp over your motor and wash underneath the bonnet with normal carwash and warm water like the rest of the car. Dry it with rags.

Mine is pretty clean under the bonnet using this method.

[AAXR8]

Thanks Legit290!! I was thinking to put a tarp over it!
Have you heard of Bowdens engine cleaner??
I saw that today and was wondering if you had used that before on the block?
Or has anyone?
My main problem is when using chemicals do you have to worry about engine heat??
Also the Plastic engine cover? Anything to shine that plastic?
And the tyre shine, I have Meguires endurance tyre gel do you think that will be fine for the piping?
So can you put anything on the Plenum to protect it?
Does Anyone put anything on it and the Black Heads that gives them a good shine that lasts and protects them?
Cheers guys!!

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

The car cleaning section of the forum would probbaly be te ideal place for this post.

Initially use engine bay cleaner/degreaser.

You can use rubber conditioner on rubber (who would have thought), and plastic conditioner on plastic, paint cleaner on paint, then spray detailer to detail the engine bay.....by now a pattern should be developing.....

[AAXR8]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

The car cleaning section of the forum would probbaly be te ideal place for this post.

Initially use engine bay cleaner/degreaser.

You can use rubber conditioner on rubber (who would have thought), and plastic conditioner on plastic, paint cleaner on paint, then spray detailer to detail the engine bay.....by now a pattern should be developing.....

Sometimes you just want to talk to series people who can give you advice on what product is good for different sections of your car and so on! Because every day learning something different is great and this is a Ford Car Advice Website!
But then sometimes you get an answer like that! When I am actually wanting to know what is the best for my Car and what to be careful off,
And You say
By Now A Pattern should Develop
I know how to degrease and wash a car!
But XB GS 351 Coupe Can you tell me what I am actually asking and what is the best product (an actual name of products) for the cleaning and dressing and protecting the plenum? And products (an actual name of one) to make the Black heads look really good After they have been cleaned?
And have you XB GS 351 Coupe had anything go wrong when washing a BOSS 260?

So Please people I just want HELP in Learning what's Best for my Car! so if you can't help with what questions I ask just don't put a comment!

[pursuit57]

Mate, XB GS 351 Coupe was just trying to point out the topic has been posted several times and the cleaning section has a lot of posts by lot of members & will probably be quicker than waiting for members to repeat their recommendations.
In saying that, if you stick to the well known brands for degreaser's you won't go wrong - just read the warnings on the cans as some act like paint stripper if on too long (especially some of the cheap $2 can's).
Everyone has their preferences, if you find one not mentioned on the forum and it's good let us know !
Cheers

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by AAXR8

Sometimes you just want to talk to series people who can give you advice on what product is good for different sections of your car and so on! Because every day learning something different is great and this is a Ford Car Advice Website!
But then sometimes you get an answer like that! When I am actually wanting to know what is the best for my Car and what to be careful off,
And You say
By Now A Pattern should Develop
I know how to degrease and wash a car!
But XB GS 351 Coupe Can you tell me what I am actually asking and what is the best product (an actual name of products) for the cleaning and dressing and protecting the plenum? And products (an actual name of one) to make the Black heads look really good After they have been cleaned?
And have you XB GS 351 Coupe had anything go wrong when washing a BOSS 260?

So Please people I just want HELP in Learning what's Best for my Car! so if you can't help with what questions I ask just don't put a comment!

Any reputable brand will do, they all do the same thing.

It's more about putting the time in rather than the product you use.

Engine bays of my past daily drivers, Never really used degreaser as such when I do it's the $2 spray can from Supercheap.

A photo of my BF GT engine bay, used to drive that car to work every day, and looked like this day in day out:



Engine bay in my XB Coupe when it was still driven regularly, ie driven to work at least 2-3 times a week in Sydney traffic, currently getting rebuild:

[kypez]

Almost 14 years of just spraying some degreaser and then using my Karcher has seen no issues with Coil Packs or anything in the engine bay. Never had an issue.

[Papou]

Under my bonnet was disgusting. I used Windex once and now whenever I wash the car I use my 'spare' chamois and do that area.. keeps it a treat!

[xr8cam]

Two things help me a lot. The search feature on this site & Ebay. I can always find what I want on Ebay for the best price. I try to buy local as much as I can but it is not always in stock or available so online often wins out.

[AAXR8]

Originally Posted by xr8cam

Two things help me a lot. The search feature on this site & Ebay. I can always find what I want on Ebay for the best price. I try to buy local as much as I can but it is not always in stock or available so online often wins out.

Same! Sometimes I like to have the bottle in my hand and read it because that's the only thing with the internet is you Miss things sometimes! But I
shop exactly like yourself!! I try Ebay first to get Base prices! Now Supercheap is on there too!
But there not being as Supercheap any more! Sometimes there normal prices are dearer then Repco etc

[ebv8]

CT18 truck wash for me. spray it on without water let it soak in for 10 mins, keep spraying if it dries out, then scrub with a brush and rinse off
i'd avoid anything with hash chemicals and acids
i don't bother with shinning up the plastic parts as its attracts more dirt
i'd probably try the bowdens engine cleaner, i use their wheel cleaner and its great

[xr8cam]

Originally Posted by ebv8

CT18 truck wash for me. spray it on without water let it soak in for 10 mins, keep spraying if it dries out, then scrub with a brush and rinse off
i'd avoid anything with hash chemicals and acids
i don't bother with shinning up the plastic parts as its attracts more dirt
i'd probably try the bowdens engine cleaner, i use their wheel cleaner and its great

Is the CT18 safe on paint do you know?

[ebv8]

its safe to use on paintwork it just cleans all the wax off so would not recommend on the outside of a car unless you re-wax after every wash
i use it on my 4x4 just not my good cars

[Professor Farnsworth]

Damp cloth, elbow grease & time. Never spray your engine bay.

[AAXR8]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

Damp cloth, elbow grease & time. Never spray your engine bay.

Cheers, So do you mean no degreasers? Or sprays after you have washed the car!

Originally Posted by ebv8

CT18 truck wash for me. spray it on without water let it soak in for 10 mins, keep spraying if it dries out, then scrub with a brush and rinse off
i'd avoid anything with hash chemicals and acids
i don't bother with shinning up the plastic parts as its attracts more dirt
i'd probably try the bowdens engine cleaner, i use their wheel cleaner and its great

I have the Bowdens wheel cleaner and wow I nearly died the first wheel I did it's the worst smelling stuff I have used! So I have to use a mask for that stuff now! I just bought the Autoglym wheel cleaner (Blue Label) & you can clean your tyres with it also! I'll let you know what it's like! I have been usuing the vinyl cleaner on the interior of the XR8 and it looks amazing and I used 303 for years but I do like Autoglym at the moment!

[Struggo]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

Damp cloth, elbow grease & time. Never spray your engine bay.

This, you'll also be surprised what baby wipes can remove.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

BBQ wipes go well as well, I just use spray detailer and an old T shirt most of the time..

[blackf6]

I used to use meguires quick detailer on my old GT, with a microfibre towel.

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by blackf6

I used to use meguires quick detailer on my old GT, with a microfibre towel.

For the engine bay ??

[AAXR8]

Originally Posted by blackf6

I used to use meguires quick detailer on my old GT, with a microfibre towel.

Do you just mean all the paint or plastic also?
Cheers

[AAXR8]

I'm just curious? You know the engine Bay Cleaner at the Car wash, if that gets on your outside quarter panels does that strip wax and polish off your paint?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by AAXR8

I'm just curious? You know the engine Bay Cleaner at the Car wash, if that gets on your outside quarter panels does that strip wax and polish off your paint?

ANYTHING in those places will wreck the paint

One of our AFF members deals in hydraulic hose repairs and replaces the carwash stainless ones about every two years.

[pursuit57]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

ANYTHING in those places will wreck the paint

One of our AFF members deals in hydraulic hose repairs and replaces the carwash stainless ones about every two years.

Have always stayed clear of those joints except to use the vac and high pressure rinse on wheels/trailer etc.
Geez s/steel after 2 yrs ! like Coke on teeth...

[blackf6]

I used meguires quick detailer on every surface in the engine bay. Paint, hoses the lot. It gets all the watermarks off the underside of your bonnet. Obviously I Would use degreaser first to clean up the worst grime on the engine.

[AAXR8]

Wow Black F6!!! That is beautiful the 290 Motor!! May I ask what's that in?
Where did you get the rocket covers! And the Plenum! Can you buy them like that still or did you have to get them done yourself? I see you have the ford racing cover's to! I have been looking at them! Are they the ones from USA?
Awesome job! One of the best motors I have ever seen the 290!

[blackf6]

The 290 is my old BF GT. The plenum and rocker covers were sandblasted and polished by a mate. And yes the coil covers are from America. Miss that car.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11347819

[AAXR8]

Originally Posted by blackf6

The 290 is my old BF GT. The plenum and rocker covers were sandblasted and polished by a mate. And yes the coil covers are from America. Miss that car.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11347819

The F6 looks nice and neat! Have you kept it stock?
So did you spray it with water first? That Polished Motor and after the degreasers, Did you use the Ultimate spray detailer in the Black spray bottle or the Maroon spray bottle?

I found this shop that's on ebay that do covers in QLD so I thought you might want it! They do Hydrographic covers and paint them also so here's the link! I don't know these people but they showed up when I was looking the other day!

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/concept_c...item1c71edbca2

[Express]

I’m a bit like blackf6 and do everything by hand.

Some degreaser for bad spots, toothbrushes, paintbrushes, long handled artists brushes and an assortment of different types of brushes, paper towel, microfiber cloths, old rags, some polish, detailer, 303 Protectant, metal polish, bath towels or a sheet to lay across the engine bay while I do the bonnet, a high pressure sprayer for lowdown and under the engine, an air compressor with long and short nozzle guns and about a day if it’s a real mess.

I only use water when I have too and that would be the high pressure down low or a bucket of carwash and a sponge cut into a few different sizes.

Once it’s done look after it by wiping the engine bay down every time you wash the car, it only adds a few minutes to the carwash and if necessary target any spot that accumulates grime and every now and then apply some plastic protectant.

Nice job blackf6, those bays look fantastic.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by AAXR8

The F6 looks nice and neat! Have you kept it stock?
So did you spray it with water first? That Polished Motor and after the degreasers, Did you use the Ultimate spray detailer in the Black spray bottle or the Maroon spray bottle?

I found this shop that's on ebay that do covers in QLD so I thought you might want it! They do Hydrographic covers and paint them also so here's the link! I don't know these people but they showed up when I was looking the other day!

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/concept_c...item1c71edbca2

Yes maroon bottle. And keeping F6 stock. Went overboard on the BF GT. And it lost all it's originality. Turned into a molested GT.