Engine Cleaning Before After

[Drake]

Had a chance to get out and clean my engine today.

Big thanks to grijo for the write-up.

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjYzOTkwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjYzOTkxNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjYzOTg5NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg


My brother did his 89 Probe at the same time
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjYzOTk0NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjYzOTk1NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[VtwinVince]

Nice work, guys.

[royalflush313]

looks awesome!

I will have to give that a try too.

[motoyen]

That looks so damn good I'm going to try it on my car.

[royalflush313]

yah at my old work, I had couple detailers teach me how to clean the engine bay, never heard of the wd40 thing.
They say use rubber dressing for the hoses and such, but they tend to deteriorate the material. There are also rubber/trim protection, but then you don't get that kinda shine with the wd40.
I wonder if there are any long term effect with using wd40 on plastic and hoses?

[grijo]

Is that a new engine you put in over the weekend? :)

I am glad the instructions worked and that you are happy with the end result.

Guido

[motoyen]

I wonder if there are any long term effect with using wd40 on plastic and hoses?

Yeah I wonder about that too. I have clients who put Armor All on rubber parts and over time it seems to dry out. I would hate to have to replace all my hoses.

[royalflush313]

Yeah I wonder about that too. I have clients who put Armor All on rubber parts and over time it seems to dry out. I would hate to have to replace all my hoses.

yep. Armor all and the like products are usually for momentary glory. Cracked up dash and vinyl interior pieces isn't too uncommon - it's probably got to do with the exposure to the sun in addition to the chemicals. I'm not chemist, so I don't know the scientific reasons, from cars I've seen, and pictures I've seen, I try to avoid all 'dressing' type chemicals on the car.

[Beau]

It's the silicon in the products that is particularly bad... I read a lengthy article about how terrible Armorall is since its basically nicotine. Once you use it, you have to continue using it or else it will dry up. Not sure what happens exactly, but I know I don't use any sort of shine creating stuff on my synthetic bits and pieces. The WD40 trick is odd... I think I'll stick to soap and hot water.

[Drake]

I was super hesitant to do anything to the rubber components

I think next time I do it I'll use a citrus-based degreaser which is supposed to be easier on rubber rather than the regular GUNK stuff.

As to the WD40, I did some looking around, and the general consensus seems to be that WD40 will only damage rubber and plastic after a very long period of time. I saw one test where the soaked pieces of a tire in WD40, gas, water, and oil. Of the 4 the WD40 showed the least wear (unnoticable) after 90 days. I think the little amount of WD40 that I put on should be fine. If anyone reads otherwise let me know.

[motoyen]

I wonder if the heat of the engine will affect the WD40. As the rubber parts heat up, does that affect the chemical compound of the WD40 sprayed rubber?

[motoyen]

I emailed WD40 and asked them about how their product affects rubber. This was the response.

There are applications involving rubber and some plastics which should be
approached with caution or avoided when using
WD-40. Clear polystyrene and polycarbonate will stress crack in the
presence of WD-40. Polyethylene, polypropylene and natural rubber will
swell upon immersion in WD-40. Most situations involving WD-40 with these
materials does not call for immersion. A light surface spray is harmless.

[Drake]

Clear polystyrene and polycarbonate will stress crack in the presence of WD-40... A light surface spray is harmless.

I'm not totally sure what polystyrene and polycarbonate are. Is there any in the engine bay? I would assume not as I didn't see any cracking or adverse effects at all.

[Initial D.oug]

polystyrene is styrofoam.
polycarbonate is like pvc plastic piping.

[grijo]

As I mentioned in my write-up, after I finish drying the car I use the same damped rag to wipe the engine. The engine still looks clean with a satin or semi-gloss like finish (not as shiny as when I first cleaned it). I like this look better. I doubt there is that much WD-40 left on the rubber parts.

grijo

[Spencer]

Where is this write-up?

-Spencer

[royalflush313]

Where is this write-up?

-Spencer

http://www.bimmerclassics.net/forum/showthread.php?t=455

[Drake]

Speaking from experience, be very cautious about where you spray the WD-40, or you'll be smelling traces of it for days through your ventilation system hehe

After a few days wipe the engine down with a damp cloth as Grijo suggested and it loses the fake shiny look, giving a more natural shine.

[Spencer]

That link doesn't work.


-Spencer

[motoyen]

http://www.bimmerclassics.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2768&postcount=8

[FrustratedMunky]

Which electrical components did you guys cover up before doing this?

[Drake]

Pictures are always the best. I found out afterwards that I went a little bit overkill...better safe than sorry. The parts that are covered you can easily clean with a toothbrush or rag afterwards.

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjk1MDY3NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjk1MDY4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[datsunfreak]

polystyrene is styrofoam.
polycarbonate is like pvc plastic piping.

FYI polystyrene is polymer used to make rigid plastics (like fuse box covers), in addition to styrofoam insulation.

As an aside, it's also what scale model cars are made from. :)