How do you detail your engine? Any special areas that cannot get wet? I am detailing a P-Car this WE and I think he may want the engine compartment done. I have done plenty of engine compartments but this is my first P-Car. I am pretty mechanically inclined so I am sure I won't run into any issues but figured it could not hurt to ask some porsche people for any tips or any special situations to watch out for. Thanks.

 

Cover the air box with foil. Run the engine for about 5 minutes, before putting foil on. Spray the engine bay with a natural cleaning agent, I use Zymol Strik. Let the product sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse. If it's really dirty, spray down engine again after rinse and soak, use a soft brush to aggitate things, then rinse again. Wipe dry using a microfiber towel.

 

i use WD 40 and Pledge in the engine compartment of my 360....(no joke).

 

Once the engine has been cleaned, do you not have to protect it? I read somewhere (I think it may have been the manual) that cleaning the engine removes a protectant that the factory puts on in order to inhibit corrosion. Is there an after market engine protectant or this only available at the dealer?

 

The protectant you're talking about is cosmoline. It is a yellow, sticky substance that is shot under your engine. You can sometin=mes also see the overspray on the rear wheels. It looks like burnt brake fluid. AS far as removing cosmoline by washing, you can't. If you use a mild wheel cleaner, I use Zymol Wheel Cleaner, it cleans all the rubber and plastic without hurting anything. If you do want to remove cosmoline safely, use Zymol's Strik. You can use Strik to get the cosmoline inside the wheels as well.

 

WD40 is prbably a good cleaner and the pledge has silicone in it. Over time, it will actually accelerate the aging process of the rubber and plastic. The other aspect of putting on oil-based products is dirt gets attracted to all surfaces quickly. I usually clean and leave it be. Once a year, a good conditioner, I use Zymol Tyre, will keep things looking new.

 

So the air box is the only thing that needs to be covered? I'v read that's it's good to cover other things (like alternator). I need to get in the bays of a few of my cars one of these days and clean 'em out.

 

Run the engine for about 5 minutes to warm everything up. Then go about cleaning, dry, and run again for another 5 minutes. Cover the intakes with foil.

 

I put straight Simple Green in a one gallon pump garden sprayer. You can get anywhere you want with it, it works great, and isn't harmful enough to hurt anything. Rinse with the same sprayer. Overall uses very little water and doesn't hurt anything. Piece of cake.

 

I use P21S Autowash for my customers, of course like Moe said use a brush if you can get everything the first time. Then I follow with Adam's VRT (dressing) and Adam's In and out (for the hard to reach areas)

Check out some engine shots.

 

top side is a breeze, its the bottom of the engine that takes some toll. small dental mirrors and prophy picks and alot of elbow grease.

 

very very nice...

 

try using Wurth cockpit cleaner for a protectant it is anti static and silicone free. after the engine is degreased and dry spray it on everything and let it sit for about 30 min, after that wipe down the whole compartment with a dry mf towel.

 

Wow Oak, very nice. So clean you can eat off it. LOL

 

thanks adrian, it only looked like that once. I just cleaned a small area after an oil change next thing I know I became obsessed. I'm afraid to say, at the moment it is cleaner than my kitchen table.