Cleaning Engine bay

Anyone else use 303 Aerospace protectant?

 

Yep. Great stuff. Use it on interior plastic, seals and tires.

 

Ha yeah I like it so much I just did the entire bed of my truck with it. Looks like NEW. Also been using it on all interior plastics and dash, as well as door/window seals. Oh, and my weathertechs. Awesome stuff. Lasts a long time.

 

I just did mine with a $3.99 can of degreaser from AutoZone. Worked like a charm.

 

Yeah, it works great on all my plastics and all-weather mats as well. The only place where it does continue to look streaky and weird is on the black plastic part of my mirrors. For some reason, it always looks streaky after it's dried up. I don't feel like i apply too much either. I apply the product and wipe it off with a dry microfiber quickly as recommended and it still looks weird. Have you guys experienced this?

 

Yup, I feel like I just have to keep wiping on the mirror plastic until it's completely gone. i think some plastics have different permeabilities. It's just not going to work well on some compositions (kinda like putting it on non-permeable glass). But I throw it on anyway. Maybe some sticks even though it doesn't look like it.

 

Does it leave a "shine" on the plastics and interior? Do you use it on your tires as well? Thanks

 

It will leave a very slight shine if you apply heavy (but not really an oily/greasy shine- it's more muted than other products). The thing I like about 303 is that you can just keep wiping until it looks like it's gone (i usually do) . It'll eventually just disappear and not have any shine whatsoever, and yet still be UV protected. It basically makes plastic look new without looking greasy/oily.

You know how some hand lotions leave your hands greasy and some do not? Yet both products moisturize your hands. 303 is like a non greasy moisturizer for your dash/plastics. I'd avoid clear plastics on the gauge cluster, but headlights are fine. Tires too, though I've not tried (but I'm going to). Hands down, one of the best detailing products I've used.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I just cleaned my engine bay yesterday. I used All Clean + from chemicalguys.com diluted 10:1
Hosed the area, sprayed the cleaner all over, let it sit for a couple and hosed it off. Took off 90% of the dirt.
I need to buy some brushes so I can scrub the tighter spots and leave the cleaner on longer. Money well spent.
I did not use anything to shine the plastics, I dislike shiny engine bays.

 

I second this. This AllClean+ worked wonders! Took my new truck through some serious mud and after about two weeks, decided to clean out the engine bay. Sprayed it down with water then hit it pretty hard with a 5:1 dilution of AllClean+ and water. Worked the crevices with a detailing brush and the larger areas with my tire brush. Rinsed it off and hit it with a leaf blower for about a minute to push most of the water out then dried it with a microfiber towel. Couldn't be any happier with the results. Also, this cleaner works great on tires.

 

For anyone still reading this dont spray water on a hot engine. It can cause certain metals to crack due to the temperature change.

 

I read through this necrothread as if my engine bay was caked in detrius. It's barely been offroad.

Stunning work in there!

 

It's a miracle none of us have cracked an engine block or something splashing thru mud puddles with a hot engine

 

I think it’s pretty obvious that spraying the top of a hot engine with cold hose water is way more risky than driving through a puddle, which btw there are plates and guards designed for.

 

Can anyone recommend a detailer in the SoCal area that uses steam to clean engine bays ( Los Angles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino Counties)?

 

When I use 303 it looks great until it rains and then it streaks or disappears - anybody have the same experience ?

 

303 is a (very) good protectant, but it will not stand up to water. I know that sounds like I'm spewing BS, but it is true. If you use it on exterior trim/ plastics it looks great until it rains.
I mainly use 303 as an interior dressing and source other products that will 'stand up against the elements.

 

Funny isn't it ? I have a bed cover and they say to use 303 - What's the point - it just washes off as soon as it rains.