engine detailing

[john1977]

Whats good to use to clean alum.intakes, just some gas stains? Also for just cleaning up the engine compartment (no heavy grease or gunk). Was restored about 2 years ago and just needs a little freshing up.

 

[lbitp37]

I use #0000 steel wool & Brasso metal polish. It really puts a great shine.

 

[john1977]

Its not a polished intake,just cast alum.finish?

 

[JJS]

I plan on using this (steel wool - no chems) on my valve covers this spring. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find #0000 steel wool around here!

 

[Aurora40]

Also for just cleaning up the engine compartment (no heavy grease or gunk). Was restored about 2 years ago and just needs a little freshing up.

One thing I do is use a gentle all-purpose cleaner, I personally use Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner Plus and dilute it to a gentle ratio like 8:1 or so. Then I spray it on a clean cotton towel and wipe everything carefully down. As a last step to make sure there is no cleaner left sitting on anything, I fill a garden sprayer with about a gallon of distilled water and I hose the engine down. This will help rinse off any remaining cleaner, and because it is distilled it will not leave any water spotting when it dries up.