How To Quickly & Easily Detail Under The Bonnet!

[MRT11]

Howdy folks,

I'm copying this article I wrote last night from another forum (VWGolf.net.au).

How to Detail Under The Bonnet!

This is something I've done on cars from Skoda Fabia's, to Audi's and more. Its very simple, easy and delivers such a nice end result.

Say you've already cleaned the engine bay beforehand, via soap, degreaser of whatever you've used.

You will need the following:



Very simple stuff you need that can be found about the household. Windex, Paper Towel, Clean Cloth & your Brother's Toothbrush (I mean a old one or one with a old head).

First of all wet down the part of the bay your detailing sparingly with Windex.



Wipe over the part with a paper towel.



Then once that is completed get your toothbrush and in all the little crevasses and tight spots, rub it so it cleans them out.





Then buff the surface with a clean cloth to get rid of the excess and to remove any fibers from the paper towel, and there you go!



All clean and ready to go

This can be used on plastic, metal, alloy etc. Its just a simple easy little touch up job.

How that will help and assist some people in the future!

Cheers

[carcareproducts]

You can alternatively, use an APC (all purpose cleaner) and say the Vikan Engine & Surrounds Brush and clean your entire engine bay at the time time.

How to Detail your Engine

To finish with, use some 303 Aerospace Protectant to add some depth and also protect your plastics/rubbers - this product is water based and will not affect or damage any wiring, hoses, or rubber/plastic areas.

[MRT11]

You can alternatively, use an APC (all purpose cleaner) and say the Vikan Engine & Surrounds Brush and clean your entire engine bay at the time time.

How to Detail your Engine

To finish with, use some 303 Aerospace Protectant to add some depth and also protect your plastics/rubbers - this product is water based and will not affect or damage any wiring, hoses, or rubber/plastic areas.

My write up states this is something to be done after degreasing etc. This is a detailing job.

Some people dont want a greasy looking engine bay, I dont and I want it looking how it came out the day I bought it. And I get that result. And I use NO water.

And I also believe if the engine bay does not need hosing etc, why do it.

[fuzion]

I clean the engine bay on my S3 quite regularly.. Probably every month maybe if i remember. And thats on all 3 cars, the passat, the mk6 gti and the s3.

I use myself an all purpose cleaner, spray the engine bay and use brushes to clean around through everything getting rid of any grease and dirt/debris from daily driving and whatever else..

But i do use a high pressure washer to finish off the rest to clean it up - its definitely the best way to clean the engine bay with the right cleaners.

Just be sure that you don't use a acidic based cleaner or something that could be corrosive. Be sure to check that it isn't before you use it.. Do not use heavy degreasers as they are petroleum based and they are definitely no good and not needed on later model cars unless they have never ever been done and really are covered in heavy grease and even then a good cleaner will still remove this. Degreasers can damage your paintwork and other things in the engine bay!

And if you wanted to "Detail" your engine i would say myself use 303 Aerospace Protectant or something a like thats water based that will leave a nice deep finish which isn't glossy and looks factory. They main thing is no silicones in your engine bay as it could damage/affect your hoses/plugs and of course your electrics :p

Plus, who the hell uses windex on plastics? Domestic glass cleaners are not the best for auto use full stop, especially windows as they can damage your tint and cause colour/dye transfer from certain tints.. be careful And they cost more than most automotive based ones lol!

By the way, your engine bay gets wet when you drive in the rain. You do realise this? lol

the mk6

[Silver dub]

My write up states this is something to be done after degreasing etc. This is a detailing job.

Some people dont want a greasy looking engine bay, I dont and I want it looking how it came out the day I bought it. And I get that result. And I use NO water.

And I also believe if the engine bay does not need hosing etc, why do it.

Have you ever used 303 aerospace MRT11?

I'm with Fuzion 100%.

303 Aerospace is one of the best products that i have ever used on my plastics and other applications.

It does not leave a greasy finish because its water based and not silicon based like others on the market......aka armorall.

As for hosing the engine bay, i don't think you can truly get a good clean finish unless you do.

[MRT11]

I clean the engine bay on my S3 quite regularly.. Probably every month maybe if i remember. And thats on all 3 cars, the passat, the mk6 gti and the s3.

I use myself an all purpose cleaner, spray the engine bay and use brushes to clean around through everything getting rid of any grease and dirt/debris from daily driving and whatever else..

But i do use a high pressure washer to finish off the rest to clean it up - its definitely the best way to clean the engine bay with the right cleaners.

Just be sure that you don't use a acidic based cleaner or something that could be corrosive. Be sure to check that it isn't before you use it.. Do not use heavy degreasers as they are petroleum based and they are definitely no good and not needed on later model cars unless they have never ever been done and really are covered in heavy grease and even then a good cleaner will still remove this. Degreasers can damage your paintwork and other things in the engine bay!

And if you wanted to "Detail" your engine i would say myself use 303 Aerospace Protectant or something a like thats water based that will leave a nice deep finish which isn't glossy and looks factory. They main thing is no silicones in your engine bay as it could damage/affect your hoses/plugs and of course your electrics :p

Plus, who the hell uses windex on plastics? Domestic glass cleaners are not the best for auto use full stop, especially windows as they can damage your tint and cause colour/dye transfer from certain tints.. be careful And they cost more than most automotive based ones lol!

By the way, your engine bay gets wet when you drive in the rain. You do realise this? lol

the mk6

1. I use windex on a car ONLY for this reason, I use AMMO product for the rest.

2. I live in a fairly dry region and engine bays dont always get wet at all. Today it has been pouring and my A3's bay has not a bit of water in it.

3. This is a quick and easy way of detailing. Something to be done after a wash etc. Windex is a commonly available product as many people dont have other cleaners.

4. I dont actually decrease my engine bays as I never let them get to a state that needs that sort of attention. I wrote this originally for someone who uses degreaser. And thats why I have stated that.

5. No I have never used 303 but have herd mixed results about it. I just prefer no sort of coatings but with the praise you guys give it I may look into testing it.

Have you ever used 303 aerospace MRT11?

I'm with Fuzion 100%.

303 Aerospace is one of the best products that i have ever used on my plastics and other applications.

It does not leave a greasy finish because its water based and not silicon based like others on the market......aka armorall.

As for hosing the engine bay, i don't think you can truly get a good clean finish unless you do.

I will look at trying some as stated above. I hate those silicon based crap that so many people use and it drives me insane. I just like a clean, as it came out of factory engine bay.

Cheers