using "tire shine" for under-hood detailing?

[GMCTruck21]

this may be a stupid question.. but detailing under my hood is sort of a pain in the ass. I usually wipe it down with armor all to get it to shine.. But I've used the spray on tire shine and that cleans my tires up really nice.. would that be possible to spray under the hood? It doesn't really say too much on the can itself about putting it on anything else. but i don't want to spray it and have it eat some sensor connectors or eat through holes in any hoses or anything.
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/products/product_G13815.jpg

[Ghastlyone]

Don't spray that **** in your engine compartment. Unless you like that greasy, grimy, dirt on every part of your engine.

Engine bays look best freshly power washed with a Foamy Engine Brite, that's it.

[TheBigBlackHD]

don't spray that **** in your engine compartment. Unless you like that greasy, grimy, dirt on every part of your engine.

Engine bays look best freshly power washed with a foamy engine brite, that's it.

this!

tire shine is for tires. Engine detailer is for engines.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

Like said above, dust and dirt will just stick to that. What we do at work is spray the compartment down with water, squirt a concentrated degreaser (like purple power or simple green) on everything, scrub it, and rinse. Works great every time

[Ghastlyone]

I like Simple Green ^

And if you don't feel comfortable spraying it directly on plastic parts, etc. in your engine, then just dampen a rag down and do it that way.

[GMCTruck21]

thanks everybody! definitely would've probably made the mistake of doing it.

[GMCTruck21]

my other question.. I went to a quarter wash here in town. and they have an engine greaser. they say to spray it on and wait 5 minutes and then use high pressure rinse to get rid of it. with engine running.
is that a good idea? I don't want to get water all over my alternator and destroy it. My alternator sits right on top of the engine (5.3 vortec)
and I have an aftermarket airbox and plus the huge fuse panel box is right there too.. I don't want to try and save myself some time and screw it all up.

[TheBigBlackHD]

I've never had a problem doing it at the car wash. With the engine running the water doesnt sit and collect in spots. The heat from the engine and the air from the fan keep it moving.

[Ghastlyone]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/ghastlyone13/7040326_gun_feb1_pri_larg.jpg

:read:


I've never used the degreaser at a car wash. I wouldn't trust it.

Don't worry about water getting on electrical when you're using an emulsifier. Just don't spray a power washer directly into your alternator. Spray the whole engine compartment down with the degreaser, let it sit a minute or two and then power wash away. Letting the engine run isn't needed. You can do it, but it's not needed.

[kemble]

We use silicon spray on engine compartments.

[canuckz71]

Use this stuff. http://www.carbrite.com/Products/Exterior-Care/Dressings/Aerosol-Dressings/Inside-Out-Detailer.aspx

It's not greasy at all but leaves a nice shine to black plastics.

[GMCTruck21]

Use this stuff. http://www.carbrite.com/Products/Exterior-Care/Dressings/Aerosol-Dressings/Inside-Out-Detailer.aspx

It's not greasy at all but leaves a nice shine to black plastics.


Thanks! i'll check it out

[AFoster]

i dont really care about having a "detailed" look in the engine compartment but i would like to powerwash it off, since it is dusty, muddy etc.
am i misinformed when i am told spraying a hot engine is bad? could crack the block? it makes sense logically since spraying any hot item with cold water leads to breakage, crackage, shattering, etc.
is thisjust a myth or what?

[clkordsm]

Take some mean green, an old wash cloth, spray the hell out of it and go to work. Do the process about 2 or 3 times until all the dirt is gone then put some back to black on all the plastics.

[GMCTruck21]

i dont really care about having a "detailed" look in the engine compartment but i would like to powerwash it off, since it is dusty, muddy etc.
am i misinformed when i am told spraying a hot engine is bad? could crack the block? it makes sense logically since spraying any hot item with cold water leads to breakage, crackage, shattering, etc.
is thisjust a myth or what?


this, I am also curious about it. Would it be best to do after just firing it up when it's cold? or after driving down the road to a quarter wash and doing it there?

[DylanC]

If you do it while it is Warm it is fine, Dont drive 400 miles and then do it

A lot of things that people do not consider is spraying water on say "the block" in the same area for 4 minutes then you may crack somthing but going in a motion back & fourth the heat basically turns the "h2o" into steam

[Z71Sierra]

Before you use a silicone based spray, try a water based first. Water based will give you a nice shine without the slimy feel or have any crap stick to it.

[oktain]

If you're that gun ho to get your underhood plastic shrouds black and shiny Adam's sells "Super VRT", it's not greasy like tire shine but repels water.

If you're really worried about your alternator I just use a plastic shopping bag and an elastic... problem solved (unless you drove 400 miles and the bag melts)

[JJGarcia]

I've always used a degreaser on the engine, power washed it off, then soaked the whole engine bay with Meguiars' Hyper Dressing.

Hyper dressing comes in a gallon jug and a spray bottle applicator. You basically mix how every many pumps out of the jug with water to make the shine you want. Ex. Natural, Semi Gloss, Gloss. I've had the same jug for YEARS and it is still 3/4 or more full.

Nice thing about it is that after the water evaporates it leaves the protectant on all the plastics. Makes great for getting those hard to reach places and does no harm to anything.

[skylark]

Simple green with a brush and rag. Hose off. Let it dry then use CD2 engine detailer.

[94chevyfan]

I would have to agree with this. Dont use that stuff on your engine.

[yip]

We use silicon spray on engine compartments.

X2

I always use a couple of coats but wipe it down good so there is no residue for the dirt to stick to.

[dagen_1]

If you're that gun ho to get your underhood plastic shrouds black and shiny Adam's sells "Super VRT", it's not greasy like tire shine but repels water.

If you're really worried about your alternator I just use a plastic shopping bag and an elastic... problem solved (unless you drove 400 miles and the bag melts)


I agree, Adams Super VRT works great under the hood. it's water-based, has a nice shine without looking greasy, and repels water.

[GMCTruck21]

thank you everybody! I am going to try and find some "Super VRT" and try this out hopefully this weekend.