Whenever I see pictures of XF everyone seems to have nice shiny engines. How do folks do that? I'm tempted to open the hood and open the hose.
Do most people just take the engine apart and clean piece by piece?

I don't have a mechanic's garage or tools; I'm just plain old Joe. But I do have desire to get it look that extra-nice! Any suggestions?

 

i use the good old .25 diy car wash... (look for hot water & good pressure)...

no chemicals/degreasers needed... i use the wand provided soap... then rinse & towel dry...

no issues with water and electronics... i do this at least once a month to my cars.

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and while you are there... don't forget about the underside & wheel well areas...

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I do the same, and my engine is always clean, except there are no .25 washes by me. They are $1 over here.

 

so it's safe to spray the wires and everything?

 

I would recommend not to spay too close any critical components. You won't have to.

 

Andrew, you have to stop showing those pictures of your car...I'm starting to get a complex.

 

I do the same to all my vehicles except the Harley. I take about 2 hours to hand wash and polish that one. Car wash here is about $1.50 and worth the hot water and soap to keep the engine and under body clean!!

 

A word or warning about those high pressure hoses. They have been known to force water past seals & grommets if you use them too close. Keep about 2-3 feet away from whatever you're cleaning under the hood.

 

I just spray the engine bay down with some random degreaser, then rinse off with a hose on low pressure.

 

Thanks everyone. I'm going to start washing the engine from now on.

 

holy ****, car washes cost $5 - $6 dollars in oregon.

 

We're talking about the self service power wash bays.

 

DOM...you are now officially Doomed - drawn in by Mr. Clean and his hypnotic cleano-trance. It's a curse and I'll warn you now, you are heading down a path of that will lead you to spend hours looking for specs of dust and lint on your car...run away...get out while you can! (Impressive isn't it).



DAMN YOU MR. CLEAN!

 

Here on Long Island, it costs $4.00 (in quarters - what a pain in the a**) for four-five minutes of soap and rinse.

 

I just don't open the hood.

 

Yeah man, get out while you still can, It's too late for us. We're too far in, and can't get out.

DAMN YOU MR. CLEAN.

 

How about those tail pipes, did you use just standard degreaser or something special. Mine seem to have soot burned into them, I really haven't tried anything to make them sparkly like yours, any suggestions?

 

I just use Ice Detailer or Adams Detailer and Adams In and Out detailing spray for all my hoses each time i clean my car, which is at least once a week.

 

that's not soot if you're talking about the muffler and the exterior of the pipes. it's flat paint. they are factory painted black to hide the muffler so you only see the two tips. i sanded all the paint off my exhaust. it looks much better now.

if it's the inside of the chrome tips you're talking about, try eagle one's NEVR DULL. it's wadding cloth that cleans chrome very well. it'll be in a little silver can at any auto parts store. about $5 - $6 a can.

 

Use NeverDull. It works great.