After a year and a half...I finally cleaned my engine bay!

[LeSabreUltra]

Haven't done it in forever, but I know why. I have mixed luck with cleaning engines. Sometimes like today, things turn out great, other times I fry sensors. Idk why. I cover the alternator and the coil packs only, and use the mister setting on the hose sprayer. Sometimes I think my car just likes to be a butt.

Also before I mostly used Gunk engine degreaser. Works great, but the car smells like an oil refinery for days. I found a citrus degreaser in Home Depot while I was there and I decided to try it. Much better! It has a citrus scent but it's so light that it doesn't even find it's way into the cabin while the car is running. When I was done degreasing I sprayed the engine down with WD-40 and then wiped.

Anyway, enough of that. Excuse the varying quality of pics, my camera sucks a nut. I'm thinking about getting a new one sometime with my Christmas money.















Also recently I wet sanded and polished the headlights to remove some haze. I had done it before but didn't quite get it all so I went back and did it again. Those spots on the bottom right are just beads of water.



Recently did a quick detail on the interior as well (quick = putting conditioner/protectant on the plastic/vinyl/leather bits). Needs a vacuuming, but it's fairly clean inside.



162,434.4 miles and running better than ever! Only thing it needs is new shocks and struts. Thus why I haven't bought a new camera with my Christmas money yet, it may be going towards that instead.


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[Jrs3800]

Dan you make me sick with that well cared for LeSabre Limited( Grand Touring )....

Looks good as always...

And if you guys have never driven a Grand Touring... They are just Wrong for a Grandpa car

[wake]

there really sporty

dan i really like what youve done with the engine bay especially the valve covers

[Black Pearl]

That's the nicest LeSabre I've seen. To bad there is no way to make the intake a straighter shot. It looks pretty restrictive with all those bends

[crash93ssei]

Looks VERY good for the miles on it, especially the engine bay. You can really tell that is a well cared for car

What process did you use for the headlights?

[SLEighride03]

how did you get it so that this white residue didn't show up all over the various parts (alternator, etc) after washing her down?

[wake]

man..i really love those dashes matched with the door panels..thats prolly one of my most fav GM cockpits ever

[LeSabreUltra]

Thanks guys! It's been a great car to me, so I try to return the favor whenever I can. This was the car that converted me to GM from Honda, and it's now surpassed the miles that my Honda had...with a ton fewer problems, and no creaks or rattles. Well, except from the strut mounts up front, which is on my agenda. Soon, I hope.

What process did you use for the headlights?

For the most part I used what is in this kit:



...which can be picked up at Wal-Mart, in the automotive lighting section.

The secret is to sand, and sand...and sand. It says for 3 minutes but I sanded lightly with both of the supplied grits for a lot longer than that. Just kept it wet and sanded while I watched TV. After that I used Plast-x polish twice to remove the sanding haze, then buffed to remove the residue. Then I used the included CV #1 (which is like Plast-x), buffed, rinsed with water and then dried and buffed again, and then used their included CV #2 which is something like a sealant, and it also removes all remaining haze and makes the headlights completely clear. Really good stuff, and it will work on even the worst of headlights. The worse they are, the more sanding you have to do.

how did you get it so that this white residue didn't show up all over the various parts (alternator, etc) after washing her down?

The WD-40 helped with that a lot. Since it doesn't harm electronics, I was able to spray it onto places that I wasn't able to spray with the degreaser, like the alternator and coil packs so I could wipe them down and clean them too. It also got rid of the weird little spots that come from the degreaser drying on stuff.

dan i really like what youve done with the engine bay especially the valve covers

Thanks, that was actually one of the most difficult things I've ever done, lol. I did it way back in the day before I knew a whole lot about how my engine was put together. I did both sides with a small brush without removing the valve covers...or anything else...from the engine. Didn't use masking tape either. Not sure why, but I didn't. It took a very long time, a very steady hand, and a very painful back. But it turned out nice and has lasted well.

Soon I'm going to wash and wax it. It needs both. The water is still beading but it's been long enough that I'm thinking about it a lot. It's raining right now and it's supposed to rain tomorrow too so maybe I can do that Thursday.
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[wake]

dan i really like what youve done with the engine bay especially the valve covers

Thanks, that was actually one of the most difficult things I've ever done, lol. I did it way back in the day before I knew a whole lot about how my engine was put together. I did both sides with a small brush without removing the valve covers...or anything else...from the engine. Didn't use masking tape either. Not sure why, but I didn't. It took a very long time, a very steady hand, and a very painful back. But it turned out nice and has lasted well.

sir i salute you..there is no way i could have done that with a brush..much less with out removing the covers..

[crash93ssei]

Well the headlights did turn out really good for sure What grits of sand paper did the kit come with? I usually start around 500 then work to 800, 1000, 1500, then 2000 then buff out, but it depends on how bad they are.

[LeSabreUltra]

Well, one was 1000 grit and the other is...finer than that, lol. It's not marked. But my guess would be 2000.

I also used some 600 grit that I bought at Home Depot for one light but found it to be unnecessary, so I didn't use it on the other. If the headlights were severely hazed over the 600 grit would probably come in handy.
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['96Bonnevillel67]

That's the nicest LeSabre I've seen. To bad there is no way to make the intake a straighter shot. It looks pretty restrictive with all those bends

The tubing in the bumper I'm assuming is just ducting to channel air to the actual filter/intake. No more bends than what you're running.

Correct me if I'm wrong LeSabreUltra.

[LeSabreUltra]

Nope, you're right. And actually it doesn't even do that anymore really since I got the Intense FWI about...two years ago I think. I'd take it off but it's a big conversational piece, people seem to get a kick out of my custom "ram air" and it still looks like it does something. I'll find a use for it again someday. Right now it's only purpose is to cool off the left headlight and the PCM, lol.
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[dangrus4060]

What process did you use for the headlights?

For the most part I used what is in this kit:



...which can be picked up at Wal-Mart, in the automotive lighting section.



That is the same kit that I used when I detailed my co-worker's 2003 Honda Accord. Her headlights were hazing over really bad...they turned out like they looked brand new! I used only what was in the kit and it took about 45 mins. for both.

It really amazes me that in all the years that they've been using plastic for headlights that some manufacturers haven't learned from others on the type of plastic to use for their headlights. Some glaze over very quickly and turn yellowish while others dont haze at all.

[LeSabreUltra]

Funny you mention that, I just did the same treatment on my dad's 01 Accord too...same problem, SEVERE hazing.



Water spots there too. All part of my dad's Christmas present, his car got a detail and a wash. Which is why my hands are FREEZING right now. Also did my mom's 09 Lucerne (the wash and detail, not the headlights), but it was a lot easier.
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[LeSabreUltra]

I think instead of making another thread, I'll just post up my pics here.

I washed my car today. In temperatures below freezing. Yes my hands hate me, and no, I am NEVER doing it again, lol!

I was originally going to wax it too. LOL, yeah right.

Afterward I didn't even really want to go anywhere, so I just took pics where it sat in my driveway. Tried the best I could, but you can only get so good with driveway pics.



Liquid Glass still holding up after...six months? Not sure. It's been a while. I'm going to hit it again when it gets warmer.





I had washed the Lucerne the other day. It was cold then too, but about ten degrees warmer. I thought, if I could handle that, then I can handle this too! Hmm...



Should have knocked the leaf off the hood before taking this one, but oh well.



So yeah, not much of a photoshoot. Too *dang* cold!
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[gweg_b]

Beautiful car, Dan!! I become more envious everytime I see new pictures! Wish it was warm enough to wash my car here, becuase it now has a 2-tone paint color - green and salt gray. You are also a master at cleaning an engine bay! I wish I could take some lessons from you, as both my bays really need it.

Again, best looking LeSabre around, good job!!

[dangrus4060]

Nice looking LeSabre!

[wake]

beauty at its best

[ricosuave420]

oooooo very very beautiful, i can only wish that one day my bonnie will look that good, one day, one day.....................