Engine Polish

[Jim Stanley]

So, I cleaned the gray painted parts of my engine with Arm & Hammer Extreme White toothpaste as recommended by one of the posts. It cleaned well, but now I have a more matte type of finish. What would be the best thing to use to shine it up a bit.
Thanks!
Jim

[lfalzarano]

Try a non-wax polish. Wax will yellow from the heat.


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[Jim Stanley]

Good to know, thanks!

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Meguiers Nex Tech Wax (it's not wax)
Marty

[Jim Stanley]

Meguiers Nex Tech Wax (it's not wax)
Marty



Thanks Marty, I used it on the plenum and valve covers and it shined them up and did not yellow under heat.


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[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Thanks Marty, I used it on the plenum and valve covers and it shined them up and did not yellow under heat.


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Glad to hear that it did the trick for you!

Re-apply 1 or 2 times per year minimum in order to keep the shine and avoid having to polish it again. Much easier using this method than the mess of polishing it with toothpaste or another abrasive.

Now go drive it and get it a little dirty!!!
:cheers:
Marty

[lfalzarano]

I use the same routine. Best shine.


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[Mr Blue]

I have used Color Back Finish Restorer with good results. I removed the oil stains and did not appreciable diminish the color or luster.

[berthaknight]

Yes, I think that you should not polish your engine! At least, I would be afraid of doing so... The polish somehow may damage its surface!

[Crusin]

Good advice Marty. I knew that wax would yellow from the heat but wasn't aware of the Meguiers Nex Tech wax. I will give it a try as my plenum is clean but has little shine.

[32valvZ]

ICE works very well also

[Crusin]

Thanks for info on cleaning LT 5 engine.

[SitkaSam]

I had a detailer clean my LT5 engine compartment. Somehow he managed to dis-color the engine.
Could I use the toothpaste method-to restore the color?
I would appreciate help from someone that had similar experiences.

[lfalzarano]

The detailer probably used a carnauba wax after polishing it. Real wax doesn’t like extreme heat.

I would use deep crystal paint cleaner to remove the wax or other contaminants from all the painted surfaces. Then apply a good polish product. I would not even use an artificial or carnauba wax over it. Just leave the polish. Depending on how often you clean the car, a microfiber toweling (slightly damp) of the engine will remove any road dust and a final toweling with a dry microfiber towel will brighten the engine finish.

After cleaning your wheels just apply the polish to The shiny surfaces for s high gloss also.

My Z gets 2-3K miles per year. I polish it maybe once a year unless I’m going to an event where people want to view the engine.

Just my opinion of what went wrong and how I would address it.


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[SitkaSam]

Actually he used Griot's Engine Bay Dressing, and the mist or overspray got on the engine.
It discolored before the engine started.
Anyone have any ideas on this issue?

[lfalzarano]

Engine Bay dressing is for the hard surfaces in the engine compartment and not to dress up the engine.

This dressing is a surface enhancer and protectant for all materials and finishes inside your engine compartment. Adds satin finish to clean engine bay materials for factory look. Doesn't attract dust, making it easier to clean next time. Not for the engine...




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[SitkaSam]

I stated that the over sprat or mist got on the engine, he did not apply directly on engine
Will the Arm & Hammer tooth paste work on this?


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[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Let's not go nuclear immediately.

Try the Meguiars Nex Tech and see if that does it.

Toothpaste is an abrasive, although mild, it will still remove material.

Overspray may have deposited on there as opposed to damaging the finish.

Let's start there, and if it works; Great!
If not, lets go with the least abrasive polish and only go as strong as needed.

Marty

[lfalzarano]

I agree with Marty of using the Mequiars NexTech as a final step. I use it on my Z’s exterior, because it doesn’t yellow like carnauba wax. If you can find it, Mequiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, then Mequiars Deep Crystal Polish. I’ve seen them on Amazon and some auto parts stores.


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[SitkaSam]

Thank you Marty and Lou....Will try Nex Tech and let you know if it works for me.

[lfalzarano]

Just remember that it’s paint and it got dirty. I know it works... Make sure it’s a cool day because it’s all hand rubbed.


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[SitkaSam]

Hope so!
Thank you lou

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Updates?
All good?

Marty

[We Gone]

So a question, having tried many of the products talked about in this post on different LT5's over the years and all did remove the stains and shine it but all did turn the finish a bit darker.

So did the products actually clean the stains or just darken the finish to a shade that the stains no longer showed?

To date I have not found anything that maintained the light silver original look other than refinishing the motor.

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

I have used the Meguiars NexTech 2.0 on plenums that were newer and still "Silver".
It produced a shine and did not lessen the silver color.

Using it on older already darker engines, it clearly produced a shine and did not noticeably darken the plenum further. However, it did not, of course, restore the silver color.

At least that has been my experience.
Marty

[We Gone]

Thanks Marty, I'm working on a 93 that still has the original finish but also some staining so I'll give the NexTech 2.0 a try in an area that does not show and see how it does.

[lfalzarano]

Try Meguiars Paint cleaner. I use it on the fiberglass to remove stains and crap with no negative paint impacts.


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[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Results???

[We Gone]

Marty,

The spot I tried did turn darker, so I just left it be.

[lfalzarano]

That is strange, since the product is not a wax and shouldn’t change color from the heat of the engine. I haven’t experienced a darkening after using on my 90’s engine for years.

What caused the stain on the engine’s painted surface, if you know?


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[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

My engine became shinier.
I did not notice any darkening from the product.
Now my engine might be darker to begin with as it has been exposed at many a show over the last 25 years.
My headlight manual opening knobs have faded to gray from sunlight, so maybe my motor had already darkened more.
Thank you both for your responses.
It's always good to know how things workout!
Have a GREAT Holiday Season!!!
:cheers:
Marty