Engine Bay
Cleaning
Degreasing · Brushing · Optional metal brightening · Dressing
Issued April 2026 · Next review April 2027
At a glance
- Task / activity
- Engine Bay Cleaning
- Location
- Workshop with drainage and extraction
- Personnel required
- 1 detailer
- Estimated duration
- 30–60 min
- Prerequisite training
- Site induction · Engine bay component awareness · Compressed air safety
What is this?
Degreasing, brushing and dressing of engine bay components — Pacer Supa Rip 1:4 (alkaline degreaser), optional Green Kiwi Alumamaze 1:5 (phosphoric-acid metal brightener) for polished aluminium / stainless, low-pressure rinse, compressed-air dry, water-based dressing.
Performed by 1 detailer in 30–60 min. Engine must be cool. Workshop with drainage and extraction.
What could hurt you?
- • Severe skin / eye burns from Supa Rip (alkaline pH 12.5, H318) AND Alumamaze (phosphoric acid, H314 / H318).
- • Burns from hot manifold / turbo / coolant if engine not fully cool.
- • Electrical short — water ingress to ECU, alternator, fuse box, MAF, intake.
- • Compressed air injection injury (pinhole skin / eye penetration).
- • Acid + alkaline reaction if Alumamaze is applied to a bay still wet with Supa Rip. ALWAYS rinse thoroughly between products.
Mandatory PPE
Chemical-resistant gloves (double-glove for pump / keg spraying), face shield + sealed goggles, P2+OV respirator, chemical apron, long sleeves, safety gumboots.
NO contact lenses — Supa Rip SDS flags soft lenses absorb irritants and concentrate them.
STOP — Confirm engine is fully cool
Touch a sheet-metal panel before any water hits the bay. Wait minimum 30 min after run, longer for performance vehicles. Steam burns from cold water on hot manifolds and turbos are immediate and severe. If in doubt, wait longer.
Mandatory PPE
-
Chemical-resistant gloves
EN ISO 374 — Supa Rip is corrosive (pH 12.5). Double-glove for pump / keg spraying.
-
Face shield + sealed goggles
AS/NZS 1337.1 — Supa Rip serious eye damage (H318); face shield mandatory per SDS, sealed goggles underneath.
-
P2+OV respirator
AS/NZS 1716 — mandatory when using pump or keg sprayer with Supa Rip (mist exposure).
-
Chemical apron + long sleeves
Apron mandatory for Supa Rip — corrosive splash protection. Long sleeves for hot-component burn protection.
-
Safety gumboots
AS/NZS 2210.3 — gumboots per Supa Rip SDS for any decant or larger volume.
Procedure
- 1
Confirm engine is COOL (touch sheet metal — not hot).
Hazards
- ⚠Burns from hot manifold / turbo / coolant
- ⚠Steam burns from water on hot engine
Controls
- ✓Wait minimum 30 min after run, longer for performance vehicles
- •Verify by hand on cold panel before water
- 2
Disconnect / cover sensitive components.
Hazards
- ⚠Electrical short — ECU, alternator, fuse box, MAF, intake
- •Water ingress to airbox
Controls
- •Bag / cover ECU, alternator, intake, fuse box; tape edges
- •Disconnect battery for known-sensitive vehicles
- 3
Apply Pacer Supa Rip diluted 1:4 to cool engine bay (pump or keg sprayer); keep surface wet — do not allow to dry.
Hazards
- ⚠Severe skin / eye burns from Supa Rip (pH 12.5, Skin corrosion 1C, H318 serious eye damage)
- ⚠Mist inhalation from pressurised spray — H335 respiratory irritation
- •Skin sensitisation with repeated exposure
- ⚠Hydrogen gas evolution from unprotected aluminium / zinc components on prolonged contact
- •Slip on overspray
Controls
- ✓Full PPE: face shield + sealed goggles, gloves, apron, P2+OV respirator MANDATORY for pump / keg sprayer use, gumboots
- •Pre-dilute 1:4 in a clearly labelled secondary bottle / sprayer — never use neat
- •Spray downward, never towards face or other workers; bay door open
- •Wet then agitate within a few minutes — do not let dry on surface (per SDS directions)
- ✓Cover sensitive aluminium / zinc components (intake, alternator, ECU) before spraying; rinse promptly to limit hydrogen evolution
- 4
Agitate with brushes.
Hazards
- •Sharp / abrasive surfaces (fins, brackets)
- •Knuckle injury
Controls
- •Mechanic gloves under nitrile if congested bay
- •Brush handle, not fingers, into tight spots
- 5
OPTIONAL: brighten polished aluminium / stainless using Green Kiwi Alumamaze (phosphoric acid, 1:5 = 200 mL/L). Spray, leave briefly to penetrate, agitate gently, rinse promptly. Do NOT let dry. ONLY on bare polished metal — never on painted, plated or anodised surfaces.
Hazards
- ⚠PHOSPHORIC ACID — H314 / H318 corrosive (severe skin burns, eye damage). Different acid to Pacer MWC (no HF) but still corrosive.
- ⚠Mist inhalation from pressurised spray — respiratory irritation
- ⚠INCOMPATIBLE with alkaline cleaners (Supa Rip / Lizard's Breath / Malco) — reaction releases heat / gas. NEVER use on a bay still wet with Supa Rip.
- •Etching of paint, anodised wheels, plated trim if it overspray onto them
Controls
- ✓Sequencing: Supa Rip + RINSE THOROUGHLY first — confirm bay is rinsed clean of alkaline before applying Alumamaze. The two products MUST NOT mix on a wet surface.
- ✓Full PPE: PVC / Viton / Nitrile chemical gloves (≥0.4 mm); sealed safety goggles + face shield; chemical apron; non-slip waterproof footwear; P2+OV respirator if mist forms.
- •Pre-dilute 1:5 (200 mL/L) in a clearly labelled secondary spray bottle — never neat. Per Green Kiwi label: never allow to dry.
- •Test on inconspicuous patch first; do not use on painted, plated, anodised or coated surfaces.
- •Spray downward, low pressure, never towards face / other workers; bay door open.
- •Apply, dwell briefly, agitate with dedicated soft brush (separate from alkaline tools), rinse THOROUGHLY with copious water within a few minutes.
- ✓Eyewash within 10 m. Confirm before any work begins.
- •Storage: bunded acid shelf in chemical store, segregated from alkaline (top shelf next to MWC).
- 6
Rinse with low-pressure water (NOT high pressure).
Hazards
- ⚠Water into electrical / intake
- •Slip on runoff
- •Hydrocarbons + degreaser into stormwater
Controls
- •Garden hose pressure only; angle away from connectors
- •Squeegee floor immediately
- ✓Use oil-water separator drain or contain runoff — never to kerb / stormwater
- 7
Dry with compressed air on low pressure (or microfibre).
Hazards
- ⚠Compressed air injection injury (do not point at skin)
- •Particulate flying from bay
Controls
- •Regulator ≤30 psi at gun
- •Goggles; warn nearby workers
- ✓Never use on bare skin — pinhole injection injuries can be fatal
- 8
Apply water-based dressing; reconnect any disconnected components.
Hazards
- •Skin contact with dressing
- ⚠Forgetting to reconnect a sensor → vehicle fault
Controls
- •Gloves
- ✓Checklist before closing bonnet; test-start vehicle outside bay
- 9
Test start engine; verify no fault lights, no leaks.
Hazards
- •Exhaust fumes
- •Moving fan / belts
- •Hot components
Controls
- •Bay door open; fume extraction
- •Hands clear of belts; confirm no rags left in bay