:-)
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:-)
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Some questions on my Mustang. The engine has never been detailed, and while it's not horrible, it doesn't meet my needs as OCD freak. I just used Gunk engine degreaser and shine on my wife's engine with no issues. Covered alternator, battery and electrical connections. Used a garden house shower rinse (not a pressure washer) and shined it up after I let it dry. Looks pretty damn amazing if I do say so myself.


So now, I want to do this to my Mustang. I do have some questions, however.



Please speak slow and clearly. I am not a car guy and do not know all the parts I am looking at under the hood.



I am noticing some building up grime/oil underneath what I think are my "coil packs." I have circled the area in yellow and then did a close up. It's under the plastic cover on the engine on the aluminum part. Only two of the ports looks grimey and the rest are fairly clean. The car has been used as a daily driver, sits outside 10 hours a day in the sun and dust of Arizona for the past 1.5 years. Car currently has 25k miles. Might be just paranoid and this is normal buildup, but thought I'd check with you guys first. Think I have any issues?

The dirty port below the coil pack.



The shot of two clean areas.


The shot of the dirty area with a finger swipe of the grime.


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It's your valve covers, looks like they seep VERY VERY VERY little and dust and dirt sticks there.

Just wash it.

I wouldn't be concerned at all by looking at that.
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Could also be where someone used armor all (or something similar) on the plastic cover and it dripped there causing dirt to stick over time.

All 4.6s look that way.
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I was hoping you were going to answer! Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your knowledge?!

All 4.6's look that way because they seep a bit?


I'll keep an eye on it after it's cleaned. Could be right on the Armor All too. My FIL is an Armor All slut. I hate every product they make and none of it has touched the car since I have owned it. Engine was spotless when I received the car, so I bet he cleaned if from time to time.


Engine is fairly clean so I think I'll use a Citrus Degreaser instead of the Gunk stuff which had a crazy chemical smell. Only things recommended to cover in manual when cleaning were fuse box, air filter and battery? Why no alternator? Do I need to cover those electrical connections shown on the coil packs in the pictures?

Any other suggestions for giving the plastic a good shine once it's clean? The Gunk shine/protectant didn't smell bad and gave a good looking finish so I might just use that. Anywhere I shouldn't spray the shine product? Videos I have seen online just show guys literally spraying the shit out of the entire engine compartment, then getting excess off with microfiber towels. Looks pretty damn good when done.


Thanks for the help.
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It looks great when done, BUT attracts dirt.

I would just clean it and leave it at that unless you are gonna show it.
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Try not to soak down where the cool boots meet the head, if water gets past that seal you will get a miss fire.
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Your covers are magnesium, be careful what you use to clean them. Soap and water will do you just fine. If you have a car wash that has one of those high pressure drying hoses use that after you wash, then take it for a 10-15 min drive. Wrap the Alt in aluminum foil to protect it from water.
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My coil covers you mean (I'm slow)? What's the concern with the magnesium?

I have a leaf blower I use to dry outside of car. Will that work, followed by driving?
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Just to support what everyone already said, you don't really need to use anything stronger than an APC on the engine bay. I personally use Chemical Guys All Clean + Citrus. If you have some smaller areas you want to get in, use an old toothbrush.

After you rinse (carefully) and dry (leaf blower is fine) you can get a MF towel and spray it with something like 303 Aerospace. Wipe down all of the black plastic with the rag. No need to douse any parts with spray that will make a mess everywhere. I find that it gives everything a nice clean look, without a lot of work, and makes subsequent cleanings even easier. Here are a couple of pics of my cars in which I have done exactly what I just described. (For reference, the VW has almost 90k miles on it.)




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Take out spark plugs and fill with water..got to get that carbon buildup off the piston surface
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Dang dude, that looks great! Would something like Simple Green as an all-purpose cleaner for the grime parts and just soap and water for the dust work?

Where do you buy your 303 Aerospace? Are you talking about just the regular one, like in the link, or the automotive one?


https://www.amazon.com/303-30313-CSR...ace+protectant
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simple green will jack up clearcoat
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I believe he is just talking about the motor
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