Nick McKees37
McKee's 37 Product Support
- Jan 6, 2011
- 7,265
- 0
8/29/2016 - Detailer's Pro Series, or "DP" for short, is now McKee's 37.
I have to get something off my chest...up until two weekends ago, I had not detailed my engine since posting this article over 15 months ago:
Civic Si Engine Detail w/1Z Einszett Vinyl Rubber Care
You would think that I'd have the cleanest engine bay at Autogeek (that title actually goes to Bryan) with all the engine detailing how-to guides under my belt. Nope, not the case. Until now, engine detailing has been one of my least favorite aspects of car care. That's until I got an air compressor.
A couple weeks ago I picked up a 33 gallon Husky air compressor from Home Depot. It was a killer deal that I couldn't pass up. The first thing that came to mind was "Tornador." I've been using the Tornador BLACK here at AG headquarters for years now, but it's the one tool I've never been able to take home.
Just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of the Tornador BLACK:
The Tornador also works GREAT for cleaning engines when you equip it with the Cone with Brush. In order to use the Tornador BLACK, you need a high-quality all purpose cleaner. The obvious choice for this engine detail was DP Hi-Intensity APC Plus.
This is what the engine bay looked like in my Civic Si prior to cleaning:
15 months and 25,000 miles worth of dirt, grime and grease
Using the Tornador Black is simple
All you need is an air compressor that can produce 4.5 cfm at 90 psi. My Husky is a 33 gallon and it produces 5 cfm at 90 psi. If you have a pancake air compressor, it's not going to cut it. It's worth noting that my air compressor didn't turn on once the entire time I was using the Tornador BLACK.
Make sure you have an inline regulator or better yet, do yourself a favor and buy an air compressor with one built in. That way you can adjust the psi so you don't cause damage to the tool.
DP Hi-Intensity APC Plus is a concentrated cleaner, so I only added about 5 ounces to the container and filled the rest up with water. After that I was ready to go.
Simply pull the trigger and watch dirt and grime melt away. Wipe clean with an old dingy towel that you don't plan on using again.
The brush attachment works great for cleaning stubborn areas:
Once the entire engine was cleaned, I dressed it with DP Trim Detailer. This aerosol spray quickly coats trim and tires to provide a low gloss, new-rubber finish.
About 15 minutes later, the engine bay in my Civic Si looked better than new. I didn't even have to break a sweat!
This is without a doubt my new favorite method for detailing an engine bay. For the engine that hasn't been cleaned in 10 plus years, nothing beats using a degreaser and a free flowing source of water. For more information about that type of engine detailing check out this guide: How To: Detail Your Engine Like a Professional
If you have an air compressor but haven't purchased a Tornador BLACK yet, you don't know what you're missing out on. Pick up this combo - it includes the essentials for getting started: Tornador Black Professional Starter Kit
I have to get something off my chest...up until two weekends ago, I had not detailed my engine since posting this article over 15 months ago:
Civic Si Engine Detail w/1Z Einszett Vinyl Rubber Care
You would think that I'd have the cleanest engine bay at Autogeek (that title actually goes to Bryan) with all the engine detailing how-to guides under my belt. Nope, not the case. Until now, engine detailing has been one of my least favorite aspects of car care. That's until I got an air compressor.
A couple weeks ago I picked up a 33 gallon Husky air compressor from Home Depot. It was a killer deal that I couldn't pass up. The first thing that came to mind was "Tornador." I've been using the Tornador BLACK here at AG headquarters for years now, but it's the one tool I've never been able to take home.
Just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of the Tornador BLACK:
The Tornador also works GREAT for cleaning engines when you equip it with the Cone with Brush. In order to use the Tornador BLACK, you need a high-quality all purpose cleaner. The obvious choice for this engine detail was DP Hi-Intensity APC Plus.
This is what the engine bay looked like in my Civic Si prior to cleaning:
15 months and 25,000 miles worth of dirt, grime and grease
Using the Tornador Black is simple
All you need is an air compressor that can produce 4.5 cfm at 90 psi. My Husky is a 33 gallon and it produces 5 cfm at 90 psi. If you have a pancake air compressor, it's not going to cut it. It's worth noting that my air compressor didn't turn on once the entire time I was using the Tornador BLACK.
Make sure you have an inline regulator or better yet, do yourself a favor and buy an air compressor with one built in. That way you can adjust the psi so you don't cause damage to the tool.
DP Hi-Intensity APC Plus is a concentrated cleaner, so I only added about 5 ounces to the container and filled the rest up with water. After that I was ready to go.
Simply pull the trigger and watch dirt and grime melt away. Wipe clean with an old dingy towel that you don't plan on using again.
The brush attachment works great for cleaning stubborn areas:
Once the entire engine was cleaned, I dressed it with DP Trim Detailer. This aerosol spray quickly coats trim and tires to provide a low gloss, new-rubber finish.
About 15 minutes later, the engine bay in my Civic Si looked better than new. I didn't even have to break a sweat!
This is without a doubt my new favorite method for detailing an engine bay. For the engine that hasn't been cleaned in 10 plus years, nothing beats using a degreaser and a free flowing source of water. For more information about that type of engine detailing check out this guide: How To: Detail Your Engine Like a Professional
If you have an air compressor but haven't purchased a Tornador BLACK yet, you don't know what you're missing out on. Pick up this combo - it includes the essentials for getting started: Tornador Black Professional Starter Kit
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