Detailing Your Engine Bay

The first step in cleaning your engine is to remove the excess debris that gets trapped in your bonnet, grille and vent openings.  A detailing brush will be suitable for this, or the DMD Detailing Car Drying Machine is also an excellent choice.

The next and a very important step is to prepare your engine for getting wet.  You must cover all sensors, the distributor, spark plug openings and any electrical devices that have the potential for water accumulation (which could cause a short).  Use plastic bags to cover these items.  Be sure to use tape or use rubber bands to hold the plastic bags in place.  You're only trying to prevent the majority of the water from getting in; it does not need to be watertight.  The engine environment should already be waterproof.  The bags are just a precaution.

Next start your engine and allow it to warm up for a few minutes not long. Make sure its just luke warm just enough soo that you can touch it without burning your hands. 

Applying Degreaser

After warming the engine and protecting sensitive areas, you're ready to apply an engine degreaser. A great product for this is Sonus All In 1 Total Auto Cleaner.  It’s an environmentally safe cleaner that makes a great alternative to those harsh and cheap cleaners. 

When you have applied Sonus All In 1 Total Auto Cleaner, be sure to wash any excess cleaner from the exterior painted surfaces of the wings, bonnet and grille area.

Depending on the amount of accumulated grease, allow Sonus All In 1 Total Auto Cleaner to soak on the engine for 3 to 5 minutes.  Do not allow Total Auto Cleaner dry on the surface.  For light to mild levels of grease, you will not need to use a detailing brush on the engine and other surfaces.  For heavy soil, you can use a long-handled brush such as the EZ Detail Brush to provide additional cleaning action prior to rinsing off the degreaser.

Rinsing The Engine Off

When you are ready to remove the degreaser, rinse down the entire engine bay and surrounding surfaces with plenty of water.  If you're using a high-pressure nozzle, be careful that you don't get the nozzle too close to the covered electrical connectors.  Allow your engine to air dry for several minutes before using a microfibre detailing towel to wipe down all accessible parts.  Remove the plastic bags. When dry, start your engine and allow it to run for a few minutes.

After your final rinse use the Car Drying Machine to blow water off the engine for a spot-free finish. 

Enhance The look And Protect Rubber And Vinyl Trim

When everything is dry, and your engine has cooled,  you should apply a coating of engine protectant. One of the few products available to do a proper job is Sonus Trim & Motor Kote  It is a spray-on and walk away product. Sonus Trim & Motor Kote protects and restores a fresh, new apperance to textured plastic, rubber, cast aluminum, vinyl and paint. Sonus Trim & Motor Kote is an easy-to-apply acrylic wax coating that is designed for high temperature applications, Sonus Trim & Motor Kote withstands 240 to 280 degree temperatures for extended periods, making it the perfect wax coating for your engine, bed liner and other exposed black plastic trim.