Edited on 2008-01-28 13:22:24

Hi everyone,
I've put 5K miles on my XJS since purchase in '04. The engine has picked up normal road/engine dirt and while I don't show the car, I want it back as clean as it was when purchased - see attached photo. I'm reluctant to Gunk/water rinse it. Anyone have some tips? Or should I take it to an "expert" detailer? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Marshall Moretta
'96 XJS 4.0 Convertible

Submitted by pharmon@jcna.com on Mon, 01/28/2008 - 16:19

Hi Marshall. Years ago when I was in the Air Force at Kennedy Space Center I became friends with Bob Hock, then retired Chief of Staff for NASA. He was into boats and cars and taught me this procedure which I've used for over 20 years on my cars. My engines look nearly brand new - paint, rubber, chromate all shiny.

First you need to get everything in the engine compartment as clean as possible. Yes, spray the engine down with Gunk. Be sure to cover the distributor (I use aluminum foil). Use a brush to get the stubborn dirt. Rinse off the engine with sharp stream of water. Then use soap (Simple Green or whatever) with a brush to get the remaining dirt. Dry things off with a towel as best you can and remove the foil from the distributor.
Start up the engine until it is warm. Then let it cool down for an hour or so.

Now, here's the trick. You need to spray EVERYTHING in the engine compartment down with an entire can of WD-40 - everything -- wires, hoses, plastic and rubber parts. That's it. Don't wipe anything down just close the bonnet.

After a couple of days the vehicle in the WD-40 will evaporate and leave an almost imperceptable coating on everything. It will smell a bit when you first drive it as the stuff evaporates from the hot parts.

The trick with the WD-40 is that it puts a protective coating on everyting and keeps stuff from oxidizing. The biggest problem with Lucas electrics is corrosion. WD-40 prevents that from happening. When I buy a brand new car this is the first thing I do to them. I follow up every six months or a year with the same process depending how dirty things have become. Good Luck.

Pat Harmon