Questions tagged [cleaning]
Anything to do with cleaning the interior or exterior or removing things like stickers and decals.
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How to spray underbody in winter?
I see a lot of advice online recommending that drivers living in cold climates spray their vehicles' underbodies during the winter to reduce salt buildup and the rust it engenders, but I haven't been ...
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Does it make sense to clean pressure solenoid when changing transmission fluid?
I was just watching "Ratches And Wrenches" where he had a truck which would not shift. He did a transmission fluid and filter change and then removed the solenoid and replaced with a new one. But at ...
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Formula For Homebrew Gasket Remover
I looked around many shops in my area, and pretty much no one even knew what gasket removing compound was.
Are there any effective homebrew formulas for making gasket remover / softener?
I found the ...
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Cleaning inside of headlamp housing
my family owns a 2009 Maruti Suzuki Alto. Sometime back the RHS lamp exploded inside the housing, since then the housing became hazy, although the light output does not seems to be affected much, I ...
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What is the main content of Backlight Remover (that red coat on the orange blinkers)?
Can someone tell me which main content Backlight Remover has? Several years ago I sprayed my orange blinkers in red and that worked but not for long. It seems to me it has no UV protection or there is ...
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Cleaning up spilled loctite thread locking compound
I spilled locktite red 271 in my toolbox drawer. It's dried and is covering the plastic tray as well as some of the tools. Is there anything that will dissolve it?
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Removing oil stains from the driveway?
A few weeks ago, our car seems to have spilled some oil on our driveway. I regret that I didn't ask sooner but I hope it's not too late:
--> What can I do to remove these stains?
As for the car, I'm ...
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Is it okay to wipe rubber hoses with WD-40?
A mechanic recently performed a vehicle repair for me. After he was done, he took a rag, sprayed lots of WD-40 on it, and rubbed it onto several of the hoses in the engine compartment (ex. power ...
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Brass wire brush to clean plated fasteners?
Almost always when working on vehicles you need to clean the threads of an old fastener, especially if you're re-applying loctite.
Using a bench grinder with a steel wire wheel works real good but the ...
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Why does the car drying towel I bought have a rough side and a soft side, can both sides be used for drying the car?
I bought this drying towel:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Microfibre-perfect-streak-free-vehicles-04512000/dp/B09NBSWQSY/
but I find that it has a soft side that can be used to dry the car body, but it ...
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What cleaning solvents are appropriate for crank bolts, pulleys and gears?
Have bolts and parts(crank gear, shaft-end, bolts).
Which solvents can I use to clean them up a bit? And do I need to lubricate any of these?
I have Zylene-based wax, parafin, turpentine, motor oil, ...
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Cleaning Car Window Switches?
I accidentally spilt a soft drink that landed directly onto the car window switches on the driver side. As you may have guessed, the switches are now very gummy given the dried sugar within...
This is ...
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Is IPA the correct alcohol to clean my windshield?
I have somewhat a substantial amount of gunk spots (probably dust, pollen and liquefied bugs etc.) accumulated my windshield. Washed the windshield with car shampoo bunch of times but to no avail.
Is ...
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Safe product(s) to use to clean spark plug well
What are products that can be used, and which ones should be avoided, for cleaning the spark plug well and seat?
eg. brake cleaner, carb cleaner, throttle body cleaner, etc
Intention is to clean oily ...
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Cleaning head bolt shafts
I am about to put my two cylinder heads back in and did some preliminary finger fitting of a bolt in every one of the 16 shafts to make sure it goes in smoothly, i.e. no gunk/debris impeding the fit. ...
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Best way to clean corrosion off exhaust manifold mating surface on engine side?
It’s an aluminum block and there are some high spots of white powdery corrosion.
I was able to gently scrape most off using a (dull) metal paint scraper and a green scour pad, but there are some ...
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White residue deep in carpet after serious leak
The car in question had a very serious leak, and because "reasons", it sat a long time (2 years) with wet interior, I mean it had a puddle inside...
The crazy thing that besides some rust on ...
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How much should you clean dirty pistons and valves when you aren't removing them?
I took the heads off so I could get some broken exhaust manifold studs out and retap (actually I was advised to use a Heli-Coil instead so doing that) one of the other stud holes.
The piston heads and ...
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Cleaning mating surfaces before RTV sealant
How should engine mating surfaces be cleaned before applying RTV sealant? Here is an example of a timing chain cover for a 1GR-FE Toyota V6 engine.
Due to its meandering shape, it does not use a ...
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how to clean up spilled oil?
I changed the oil in my pickup a couple months ago, and had about a quart of clean oil left in the container when I was done. I don't have a garage or other handy place to keep stuff like this, so I ...
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What can i use to get insect/bug remains off my vehicle?
I recently went on a 10000k road trip, and accumulated a lot of insect remains on my vehicle. After several car washes, one of them that even included a bug spray before you entered the main wash, ...
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How can I clean an egg from the windshield and from the body of a car?
Somebody very successfully egged (as I now learned the term for this obscene phenomenon) my car last night, while parked in an unknown neighborhood. Reports are coming that multiple cars were targeted ...
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Is Windex safe for the windshield?
I see conflicting information on whether or not Windex (or ammonia-based glass cleaners) is harmful for the windshield. For example, thoughtco claims:
In reality, auto shops and auto-glass ...
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Where is the cabin air recirc intake?
Background: I am trying to remove a slight smoke smell from a 2014 Buick LaCrosse. I am taking several steps to get the smell out. This question is really only focused on one of those steps.
Here is ...
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Is this "All Surface" Interior Detailer Spray really good for leather seats?
I have some "Turtle Wax All Surface Interior Detailer Spray". (I could only find it at Wal Mart) It says you can use it on vinyl, leather, and several other surfaces. The seats and dash in ...
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How to clean heated car seats
My car has heated seats so it has all these little ventilation holes in them
A child spilled her drink in the seat and some of it seeped through the holes. What would be the best way to ensure that ...
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Can I use washing up liquid to wash my car?
I was just wondering, can I use something like Fairy washing up liquid or dish soap (which is added to hot water in a sink or basin to wash plates, dishes and cutlery etc) in warm water to wash my car?...
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Cleaning Mold From Fabrics, including Seats and Headliner
I own a Vauxhall Corsa Twinport (04) which previously leaked water through the bulkhead into the car, which results in pools of water in all footwell, plus significant damp across all fabrics. I fixed ...
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How to get rid of a decal on the rear window?
I've bought a car which has ugly label glued to its rear window. What are inexpensive and effective ways to remove it without residue?
Edit: my car has it on the outside on the blank glass but it‘s ...
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Engine oil in carpet - how to remove
I was carrying a 5L container of (new) engine oil in the boot of my car. The lid was loose and around 500ml or less leaked out and into the carpet in my boot.
Has anyone successfully removed an oil ...
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What is a good and responsible way to clean a lambda/O2 sensor?
I've got an LSU4.2 lambda sensor (wideband) here that is covered in carbon deposits. It's visible on the outside, so it's probably also present on the inside. The holes aren't blocked yet though, but ...
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Cigarette in the ac vent
I have a Ford Fiesta, a friend of mine dropped a cigarette inside the left air conditioning vent..Should I worry about it catching fire? Even if not, how do I get it out?
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What clean, non-sticky lubricant can I use for door hinges?
I cleaned the hinges of my doors and tailgate, the grease had attracted all sorts of dirt and turned black, tar-like and abrasive (metal shiny when I wiped the stuff off). I used a toothbrush, WD-40 ...
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Air intake cleaning/ yes or no?
2007 Impreza wagon 2.5. Previous owner didn’t take car of it and I was thinking of using the CRC intake valve cleaner. I would love your opinions on whether to do it or not. Please explain why it’s ...
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How to make a DIY car wash liquid
What's a good 'recipe' to make car wash liquid at home?
I have used this product for a while and was happy with it. The interwebs suggest:
1/2 cup dishwashing liquid
1/2 cup baking soda
1 gallon warm ...
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Is it all right to clean a car radiator with vinegar and chlorine?
I got the idea from this article, where it suggests cleaning your washing machine using chlorine bleach and then vinegar. I have successfully used this method to clean my household washing machine ...
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Should I be wiping or removing contact cleaner?
After testing a part (solenoid, sensor, etc) in an older vehicle, I have gotten in the habit of blasting the connection socket and plug with contact cleaner.
It's basically impossible to wipe the ...
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Is it ok to wipe down hvac intern aka with white vinegar/bleach? [duplicate]
I am going to be cleaning inside the scuttle panel and taking the my HVAC system apart to clean inside it.
Is it ok to mix white vinegar or bleach/Dettol(similar to Lysol cleaner marketed in the USA) ...
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Battery acid clean up
I was carrying a battery in the floorboard of the backseat area of the car. I was going to return it to be disposed in a week.
In the meantime, it tipped over and a good amount of the battery acid ...
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Hot Tank Solution for Aluminium?
My aluminium cylinder head is caked with oil and carbon. I’m going to be cleaning that along with other steel/iron parts. I’m planning to make a DIY hot tank to boil the parts in but what can put in ...
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Leftover pollen residue after cleaning car
I recently washed my car for the first time in several weeks after spring pollen. Lots of tree pollen / leaves I was unable to get these stains off the car, any thoughts?
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Can I use tar removal to remove the stubborn mark at the tyre rim?
I have a stubborn mark on my tyre rim alloy.
Please refer to the image below:
Overview
Zoom in
Another view
The brown mark on the tyre rim is very stubborn. I have use anti-grease liquid but it ...
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Dealing with deposits on salt flats/mines
I am planning to visit Bonneville Salt Flats in a few weeks, and wanted to take my bike out for a spin there. Not breaking any speed records, you see, just for fun, and the sense of history, so to ...
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Does modern automobile windshield (windscreen) glass have manufacturer surface coatings owners/maintainers should be aware of?
For example, once officially sanctioned in manufacturer windshield service documents, feldspar-powder containing Bon Ami 1886 Formula Cleaning Powder now cautions for "vintage auto windshields (not ...
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What class of cleaning/detailing products do I use for artificial/imitation leather?
I just bought a Tesla Model 3, and it's full of artificial leather (seats, dash, doors, center console...)
When browsing car detailing/maintenance stores, I find 2 separate "classes" of cleaners and ...
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Is ATF effective for cleaning carbonized heads and pistons?
LS1 teardown underway, and it's not looking pretty
I know I can use carb cleaner, but was intrigued by a suggestion online to use automatic transmission fluid (ATF), especially since I have a ...
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How to Clean Lightly Fouled Spark Plugs
My car was running without a thermostat for a few months after I put in new spark plugs. The plugs are a bit fouled ( not horribly so ) and I was thinking about cleaning them. I've seen suggestions ...
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Using Sprayway glass cleaner as waterless wash?
I bought a four pack of Sprayway glass cleaner at Costco today, and it's amazing. I tried it out on my car, and it makes it so shinny, it looks like it has just been waxed.
However, I want to make ...
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Steam clean vs jet wash to remove dust etc in car seats?
My car(Honda civic vti) is about 20 years old and the car seats are extremely dusty. Just tapping causes a lot of dust to fly up along with my eczema.
I know steam cleaning would clean a lot but I ...
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What is the best DIY approach to keeping brake dust off your rims?
I used to work at a car wash, so I am familiar with the assembly line brushes they used.
I do have a bag of old t-shirt rags, but I am not sure I want to deplete them by single-use for this task. I'...
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