Hey Everyone,
I have professionally detailed vehicles for over 18 years and have used just about every quick product to save money but still deliver great quality. My goal is to restore the vehicle back to factory look and of course folks bring you a vehicle with peeling paint and rusted out fenders... lol
I use mean green or purple power to clean but it does need to be done in the shade and I recommend putting trash bags over the fenders to avoid getting any on your painted surfaces. Areas you cannot help to spray such as the pinch welds, underside of hood, inner fenders, firewalls normally were shot with a quick coat of paint during factory and no clear coat. (some do and some don't) I detail my engines once in the fall and again in the spring. If I get a cool summer day I will do it like mornings when dampness is in the air.
First you will want to lightly spraying down the engine with mean green or purple power and let the product sit for 2 minutes then spray with a light mist from water hose. DO NOT USE HIGH PRESSURE WASHERS AND WANDS. If you have build up on your brake cylinders, windshield washer box (since they are clear and white) then hold the hose a lil closer to use the water pressure to break up any grime and dirt. Second coat of mean green or purple power maybe needed.
Your most important goal is to not flood electronics such as fuse boxes with water (Lots of accessories in your fuse box stay hot such as [anic alarms, lights, 12Volt lighter plugs.) You also don't want to get any water down around any spark plugs or wires. If water surrounds the plug or wire then your engine will misfire. If this happens don't panic. You will have to take an air hose and blow out any water that's around the plug and/or wire.
After hosing down your engine, let sit for an hour. Go back and wipe down any water that's sitting on top of the engine so you can dress it. I never drive the vehicle because the heat from the engine will cause water spots to form on plastic then you will find yourself re-misting the engine to get them to dissapear.
If any water does not dry you will need a terry towel or sham to soak it up.
Next you can either leave it alone for the factory stale look or spray Meguairs Hot Shine very lightly back and forth, not directly on the parts. Go back and forth over the engine while standing in front of the vehicle, then go to the driver side do the same, then repeat the same step on the passenger side. Just let the mist fall on to the compartments. Spraying to much will cause runs and can soaked up with a round foam pad (not the terry ones) The terry pads that you wax with will soak up all the dressing.
After you dress the engine you will want to drop the hood and wash the outside of the vehicle removing any dress over spray from fenderwells, windshield, (actually works better than RAIN X) and bumpers, light fixtures, (over spray works well on faded lenses too but it is temporary), This dressing is very light and will fly through the air and stick to your windshield , fenders, bumpers so its best that you wash the vehicle after you dress the engine.
I will reread tomorrow correct any grammar , spelling changes.
Oh one last thing. Radiator hoses love to soak up the dressing and will turn dry. They may need a second coat of dressing especially after they get hot. Please do not use Advance auto parts hot shine, it will run and look awful. Megauirs hot shine is on sale for 4.99 and worth every penny unless you live in a dusty dessert like AZ.
Take care Jonathan