How do you clean and polish your engine?

[greenmonster]

My engine is pretty clean already but since it’s going to rain tomorrow I want to spend some extra time on this for good results. I don’t want to just spray on a degreaser, I’m looking to remove oxidation and go for a like new appearance if possible. I have a 2015 BMW R1200RT for reference. What do you guys recommend? How to clean in between the cooling fins? What type of polish do you use? What power tools are good to cut down on elbow grease? I have some Flitz metal polish for starters. Good SIP project no?

 

[Blankpage]

I have a pretty good system. If there’s a rain cloud in the sky I don’t ride.
Couple times per month I’ll spray it at the car wash. My bike looks new.

 

[NSR500]

Admittedly, I don't ride in the rain and my motorcycle are in a climate controlled garage so they don't get that dirty around the engine.
When I do clean around the front sprocket and around the engine I typically use a detailer brush, degreaser, rags, and an air nozzle hooked up to my compressor.

 

[Frame Maker]

I don't typically keep my bikes clean, however many years ago I built some custom race bikes that I wanted to keep very clean (I was hoping to sell duplicate frames). I hired a young guy to detail the bikes. His method for cleaning involved a can of WD-40 and boxes of Q-tips. I recall one day going out in the shop after he'd been working for an hour or two... he was sitting on the floor with a wheel in his lap with hundreds of dirty Q-tips on the floor all around him. That was the cleanest wheel I had ever seen. He got down into every little nook and cranny with those damn Q-tips.

 

[BillSmith]

DIY sucks. This is a reason to own a Harley and have those overpriced dealerships do my oil changes. Free bike wash!

 

[jbawden]

I'm not quite Q-Tip guy, but S100 wash, then when fully dry and cool a coat of WD-40 (careful to cover brake rotors). Then a couple of micro fiber towels to detail wipe top to bottom. This is mostly a dirt bike and race bike (with body removed) regimen. I think detailing a motorcycle is a safety protocol everyone should embrace.

 

[DannoXYZ]

S100 is good start

get some of these

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L9X4WCE/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716HRKSR/

and thousands of Q-tips

 

[greenmonster]

I’m considering a Drexel but the polishing pads are too small. Drexel’s seem to be suited more for much smaller jobs

 

[flipstyledsm22]

I'm guilty of affresh/pledge on a terry cloth and plenty of elbow grease! The affresh was surprisingly easy to spread.

 

[berth]

Couple times per month I’ll spray it at the car wash.

Nothing abjectly wrong with this but be careful with high pressure water around things like the brakes and such. Can force water in to places its better to not be.

 

[GAJ]

Oh boy, I feel like a bad motorcyclist.

It's all I can do to remove the dust from the speedo and tach!

"Cleaning" an engine isn't even on my radar. :laughing

 

[WWWobble]

Oh boy, I feel like a bad motorcyclist.

It's all I can do to remove the dust from the speedo and tach!

"Cleaning" an engine isn't even on my radar. :laughing

:laughing You're not alone.

I keep the engine clean on the inside. Fresh lubricant, coolant, filters, good plugs. The outside... Not so much, and almost never with a spray wash.

 

[greenmonster]

Oh boy, I feel like a bad motorcyclist.

It's all I can do to remove the dust from the speedo and tach!

"Cleaning" an engine isn't even on my radar. :laughing

I’m only thinking about this since it’s a rainy day and I’m looking for a project. I went to Home Depot this morning and got some small cloth buffer wheels which I’ll use with with some Flitz polish and my electric drill so we’ll see what happens.

 

[Blankpage]

Nothing abjectly wrong with this but be careful with high pressure water around things like the brakes and such. Can force water in to places its better to not be.

Been doing it this way forever. First spray then bike with the soap cycle. Then spray the foam brush with a high pressure blast to remove whatever crap on there from last customer. Then wipe with foam brush engine, wheels, suspension and any none painted stuff.
Then rinse. Nothing gets a closeup blast. I sometimes later spray WD40 inside switches and places I didn’t want water.

Never had an issue related to washing this way and bikes alway look like new. When they start looking ratty and scratched its time to go.

 

[cg_ops]

Simple green + soft bristle brush. Finish with Optimum No Rinse.

Simple green has worked GREAT for me in cleaning the lower 1/2 of the bikes. It powers through the road grime , does a decent job of breaking up errant chain lube/wax, and doesn't damage anything in the process. It's awful at leaving streaks though.... so I usually finish up the plastics/glass with Plexus and a spray-on wax for painted metal parts.

Couple of notes that I keep in the back of my head for cleaning bikes:

• Q-Tips - as stated above, these little guys are great for getting into nooks and crannies that a mitt/rag can't reach. Typically better in a twisting motion than a push/pull
• Brushes - it seems like everyone has a favorite mitt/rag they use to wash vehicles but forget about brushes. I use these and they work great. In my car i used them for the dash to get th e vents and seams. On the bike, I use them to get to the hard to reach areas on the bars, motor, tail, and brakes.
• 2 buckets - having a rinse bucket for your mitt/rag/brushes helps to avoid scratches due to cleaning with those things covered in abrasive dirt.
• No pressure - avoid using lots of pressure while rubbing. You're washing with chemicals for a reason, let them work their magic. On the bike especially, I will sometimes fill up the bucket with warm/hot water to help speed up the reactions. But I always do final rinse with cold water to avoid spots

I recently picked up a steam cleaner, so I'll be giving that a shot on some of the sturdier engine pieces next time I give the Duke a bath

 

[lefty]

Lots of Great advice here. I'm guilty of neglecting my baby. I have LOTS of time off coming, so I will take the time to clean my ZRX.

Thanks, Ed

 

[ScottRNelson]

I think I washed my bike after going through this stuff. I know I should regularly hose off the mud, but if I put it off for a few days and it's close to time to go through more mud, I don't bother. Does that make me a bad owner? :laughing

 

[greenmonster]

Just a follow up- the buffing wheels+ Flitz didn’t produce any results I liked. Maybe I’ll try the simple green approach

 

[FourThreeSix]

Just be careful with Simple Green and aluminum. It can oxidize if it's not diluted down and/or sprayed off.

 

[cg_ops]

Just be careful with Simple Green and aluminum. It can oxidize if it's not diluted down and/or sprayed off.

Good call - I use a 10:1 solution, typically and work section by section to minimize contact time. ZEP works well too and doesn't harm aluminum. But it smells like ass :laughing