Maybe a year or so ago I made a post similar to this with a different car. Today I took my "work car" to the shop and left it there for some "preventive maintenance". I signed out one of the spare cars, a 2004 Crown Vic with 80,100 miles. When I got home I took a peek under the hood and was ecstatic to see the challenge that lay before me on this 37 degree day. (Yes, I am well aware that I have a problem and there is something wrong with me. Isn't that why we're all here? ) I will only have this car for today and tomorrow most likely, but I still couldn't help myself. I had to clean this engine.
Step 2, take pictures of the engine in all 80k miles of it's filth:
Step 3, with the engine running I gave it a once over light misting or "spring rain" effect:
Step 4, spray APC over the dirt and watch the ensuing battle as the filth is brought to it's knees as the mean green overwhelms it:
Step 5, Using the boar's hair brush, take sides with the APC and scrub away the grime that has held your motor siege for all these years. Reapply APC and repeat as necessary: (Edit: If you decide to scrub away at the engine and leave your engine running as I did, be careful. I accidentally had some bristles torn from my brush as I got a little careless near the moving belt. )
Step 6, Spray the APC on the underside of the hood as well. No dirt is safe! Using the fender brush once again go on the offensive scrubbing away. The dirt won't stand a chance:
Step 7, Blast away the water on the underside of the hood, then go back to a "spring rain effect" on the motor to remove the dirt that has no doubt surrendered by this point. Dry the engine off. In my case I let it run for a little bit them used an old Absorber and wiped away any remaining water.
Step 8, Apply the VRT (or SVRT) either directly onto the areas to be brought back to life, or directly onto the block sponge, or both! Watch in amazement as your engine is returned back to how it probably looked when you first bought it. Or in most cases, probably even better than that. Also included in step 8, using the Adam's In & Out Spray get those hard to reach areas... I tried getting a few pics of this but was unsuccessful, I think my hands were shaking so much from the cold that the camera wouldn't focus and take a pic of the spray in action.
Step 9, Stand back and survey your work (yes, I said your work. If you look at mine you'll see the spots I missed). Be the envy of the manliest of men, knowing that with the help of Adam's dirt and grime can run, but never hide!
Step 10, Profit!
In all seriousness, I hope this helps some people. When I do the engine in my Vette, I cover the alternator with a plastic bag, but didn't feel it necessary with the CV. When I was much younger, I attempted to clean the engine bay on my 1995 Z28, and I ended up messing up some air pump sensor or fuse... I was fortunately covered under a recall, so maybe I didn't mess it up and the timing of it going bad just happen to coincide? In any case, the important thing is this, and I believe Adam himself has said it: If you don't feel comfortable cleaning your engine, then don't do it. Having said that, if I can do it anybody can.
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Mysticine
Maybe a year or so ago I made a post similar to this with a different car. Today I took my "work car" to the shop and left it there for some "preventive maintenance". I signed out one of the spare cars, a 2004 Crown Vic with 80,100 miles. When I got home I took a peek under the hood and was ecstatic to see the challenge that lay before me on this 37 degree day. (Yes, I am well aware that I have a problem and there is something wrong with me. Isn't that why we're all here?
) I will only have this car for today and tomorrow most likely, but I still couldn't help myself. I had to clean this engine.
Step 1, obtain quality detailing supplies: Adam's All Purpose Cleaner, Adam's VRT (this was an old bottle of the regular VRT that was mixed 50/50 with water), Adam's block sponge (these can all be purchased in a low priced kit), Adam's In and Out Spray, Adam's Boulder Blonde Boar's Hair Wheel Brush, and Adam's Fender & Tire Brush. Now the fun part.
Step 2, take pictures of the engine in all 80k miles of it's filth:
Step 3, with the engine running I gave it a once over light misting or "spring rain" effect:
Step 4, spray APC over the dirt and watch the ensuing battle as the filth is brought to it's knees as the mean green overwhelms it:
Step 5, Using the boar's hair brush, take sides with the APC and scrub away the grime that has held your motor siege for all these years. Reapply APC and repeat as necessary: (Edit: If you decide to scrub away at the engine and leave your engine running as I did, be careful. I accidentally had some bristles torn from my brush as I got a little careless near the moving belt.
)
Step 6, Spray the APC on the underside of the hood as well. No dirt is safe! Using the fender brush once again go on the offensive scrubbing away. The dirt won't stand a chance:
Step 7, Blast away the water on the underside of the hood, then go back to a "spring rain effect" on the motor to remove the dirt that has no doubt surrendered by this point. Dry the engine off. In my case I let it run for a little bit them used an old Absorber and wiped away any remaining water.
Step 8, Apply the VRT (or SVRT) either directly onto the areas to be brought back to life, or directly onto the block sponge, or both! Watch in amazement as your engine is returned back to how it probably looked when you first bought it. Or in most cases, probably even better than that. Also included in step 8, using the Adam's In & Out Spray get those hard to reach areas... I tried getting a few pics of this but was unsuccessful, I think my hands were shaking so much from the cold that the camera wouldn't focus and take a pic of the spray in action.
Step 9, Stand back and survey your work (yes, I said your work. If you look at mine you'll see the spots I missed). Be the envy of the manliest of men, knowing that with the help of Adam's dirt and grime can run, but never hide!
Step 10, Profit!
In all seriousness, I hope this helps some people. When I do the engine in my Vette, I cover the alternator with a plastic bag, but didn't feel it necessary with the CV. When I was much younger, I attempted to clean the engine bay on my 1995 Z28, and I ended up messing up some air pump sensor or fuse... I was fortunately covered under a recall, so maybe I didn't mess it up and the timing of it going bad just happen to coincide? In any case, the important thing is this, and I believe Adam himself has said it: If you don't feel comfortable cleaning your engine, then don't do it. Having said that, if I can do it anybody can.
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