Engine bay and underhood cleaner reccomendations

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imported_RedlineIRL

New member
Usually I clean my underhood painted surfaces with a QD strength mixture, and it works pretty well. But some areas are starting to accumulate some dirt and grime where I can not reach them to clean with a MF and ONR. I have been hesitant to use just any kind of degreaser or APC, becuase I don't want to use something that will make the surface look dull after frequent use or make more off a mess than cleaning. What do you all reccomend for a product to use on the underhood painted surfaces that surrond the engine bay?
 
Depending on the severity, Simple Green usually the does the trick for most.



I personally use Meguiars APC (4:1) or Super Degreaser.
 
paco said:
Depending on the severity, Simple Green usually the does the trick for most.



I personally use Meguiars APC (4:1) or Super Degreaser.
Click to expand...



I wouldn't use the normal simple green, its known to cause issues with aluminum. there is a simple green PRO HD (or w/e) thats purple and says safe for use on engines and interior (at different dilutions). iirc, it was $15 for a gallon at home depot. it was the only one there that stated it was safe for engines and wheels, most of the ZEP products specifically said not to use it on engines or wheels and the others just didn't say anything...



otherwise, I've heard meg's APC recommended a lot, just no local places to buy it that I've found, too lazy to wait for it in the mail :)
 
I use Auto Glymn engine and machine cleaner and use old (or cheap) paint brushes to aggitate the heavy soiled areas.
 
....I use Meguiars APC+ as well but only when required. Most other times I simply use a car wash soap with a little agitation in the places the need it or just rinse. Since I keep my engine bays on my cars clean, they usually don't require much in the way of cleaning power.
 
paco said:
Depending on the severity, Simple Green usually the does the trick for most.



I personally use Meguiars APC (4:1) or Super Degreaser.
Click to expand...

I don't give it a chance to get to the point of needing simple green, I wipe everything down usually once a week.:) It's just a few areas where I can't reach in between with a my hands or a MF towel, and they are not overly dirty, just enough to annoy me when everything else is cleaned up.





I actually have a big jug of Meguiars APC, so I may have to try this and get a few brushes to reach in there also
 
RedlineIRL said:
I actually have a big jug of Meguiars APC, so I may have to try this and get a few brushes to reach in there also
Click to expand...
.....definitely an assortment of brushes will help. I have a habit of buying new ones of varying shapes and sizes when I run across them. I feel I can never have enough.
 
Yeah, brushes and swabs of all shapes and sizes.



To reach into tight spots, the "parts grabber" gizmos...long flexible shafts with a plunger-controlled "claw" on the end...can be good. Use one to hold a damp rag and you can get down into out-of-the-way areas. I often dampen the rag with a solvent that evaporates cleanly away to nothing.



For a must-rinse-off cleaner, the pricey P21s TAW is very nice.



Steamers are handy, and eliminate the need to rinse if you just use the plain steam.
 
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