Engine Detailing

[TruckTechniques]

Reading the thread on Engine Detailing Liability got me thinking.

How many of you include Engine Detailing in your basic offering?

Or do you do it ala-carte or not at all?

Just curious.

Thanks

[AtlantaBoy]

I don`t think people would even come to me if I didn`t do the engine. On my price lists I have only one detail that I offer, that is all. If someone is a regular client then I usually still do it, just maybe do extrawork some where else on the car since I didn`t have to spend as much time on a recently detailed compartment, ya dig? Didn`t know how to clean, dry, polish and dress a engine compartment until I went to school years ago. The more you do, the more you should feel confortablr doin` em.

[Jngrbrdman]

The only time I even offer engine detailing is for the clients returning a lease or trying to sell the car. An engine detail increases the price by $35 for a normal car and $50 for a show car. I feel really confident in my abilities to safely detail an engine without melting it, so i don`t stress. Its not something I`m going to do on a $40 wash and wax, but if they are going to be in a situation where the engine bay is going to be checked out, then I certianly offer it. I do most of the engine detailing by hand without using a fire hose blast of water. Just a spray bottle and a towel works pretty well for me. You can get the painted areas pretty wet without ruining anything. I don`t spray water on the block or anything, so its really just low risk for me.

[TruckTechniques]

Thanks for the replies so far.
So far everyone has been suprised when I said I detail the engine. I give it a basic degreasing, rinse it off then dress the plastic items and hoses. So far, I have included it with a bumper to bumper detail and think I`ll continue doing it that way.

Regarding detailing a lease return, I had a friend tell me they wanted to pay me to detail their vehicle just before they turned it in. I told him to save his money... You get absolutly nothing extra for turning in a clean lease - I told him to drive up and hand over the keys

Selling a car - definatly - a clean engine bay may be just the deal breaker for some buyers

[The Fuzz]

You get nothing when you return a lease regardless. I think that most people like to return things in as good of condition as possible. When people are returning a lease that is way over their miles or something like that, then they might want it to be extra clean so that they don`t nickel and dime them for every scratch and dent on the car.

[dr_detail]

Years back, I managed one of the few shops in a 75mi radius that had an oil trap and a floor hoist. We had contacts at many local repair shops who would send them to us, so we did a lot of them -- uppers started at $25 + the cost of a hand wash, upper and lower $50 + the wash, bumper to bumper $75 + washing (dressing was always extra). We also were the only one who did undercoating -- which of course needed to be cleaned first. When I went out on my own, I would include it on a complete detail but never listed it as such, slowly it evolved to being a "by request," "up-sale," or "sweeten the deal" item -- similar to shampooing a trunk. Today, being fully mobile, I will explain to customers who request it, the implications of current EPA regulations (which allows them to make an educated decision on environmental issues). If they still want it done, I will take it to a facility that has a water/oil trap and charge accordingly -- exceptions are if it`s in great shape were a light rinse and dress will not dirty up a new white driveway.

When I settle down with a shop, you can bet yer a** it will have an oil trap and a hoist!!

[mirrorfinishman]

I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I`m not using any water or chemicals.

[The Fuzz]

Originally posted by mirrorfinishman
I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I`m not using any water or chemicals.

No wonder you don`t have a waiver then. Why don`t you do engine detailing? Is it because you don`t have any way of protecting yourself if they decide to sue you, or for some other reason? Engine detailing is a profit center for detail shops. I assume you don`t do many show cars or "full" details if you don`t even have a price structure for engines. Its part of the car, ya know. Why on earth wouldn`t you even offer it? Are you one of those people who subscribe to the theory that the dirt makes the engine work better and helps protect the paint n the wheel wells from fading?

[Beemerboy]

Most of my customers do not ask about the engine but I always ask if they want it done. I charge an extra 50 bucks for the work. Most of the time its when I`m working on a car that is getting ready to be sold

[TruckTechniques]

Originally posted by Beemerboy
Most of my customers do not ask about the engine but I always ask if they want it done. I charge an extra 50 bucks for the work. Most of the time its when I`m working on a car that is getting ready to be sold

Wow - $50?

Do many customers take you up on that at that price?

[Jngrbrdman]

$50 is a good price. I charge $50 for a full engine detail. $35 if they just want it "clean". If they want it showroom fresh, then they have to pay me a little extra. I don`t know why people are so paranoid about doing engines. Its really not that hard. Just get some towels and a spray bottle and get in there. Engine detailing involves less risk of expensive mistakes than using a rotary. You can FUBAR a $15,000 paint job really easily. I highly doubt that a car with a $15,000 engine is going to get very dirty. In fact, i don`t think I have ever seen a $15,000 engine. I have seen $15,000 paint jobs and those are the ones I sweat on while working. One slip could be big bucks.

Everybody appreciates a clean engine. If you don`t know how or are a little chicken to do it, then learn. Its really not that tough. Take a close look at your engine and use a little common sense. Just ask yourself "Should be getting this wet, or should I wipe around it?" Common sense will get you through an engine detail.

[TruckTechniques]

what are you guys doing in an engine detail?

I have been using a degreaser for the heavy stuff, follow it up with a light brushing with some car wash soap on some areas. After it dries, I`m using an aerosol engine detail spray over it then follow up with a quick wipe of a protectant on the plastic covers etc.

Not much time involved at all. Although it does sound like I`ll make the engine an extra service...


My dad used to include engine painting back in the day when he had his clean up shop

[dr_detail]

Originally posted by mirrorfinishman
I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I`m not using any water or chemicals.

Frank, wouldn`t Engine Detailing be covered in your "Detailing Guides" and/or your "Training Courses???"

Also, what kind of service would we be providing if the customer had to be present while work was performed -- are we not in business to save people time -- heck, maybe we should just hand them a towel and ask them to remove the wax?

Could this be one of those "senior moments?"

[detailguy]

I have seen some nasty engine screw ups run through the wholesale auction they use wheel acid and after a few days you have this white hair looking crud on the alumnium parts

[freedre]

[i]

Could this be one of those "senior moments?" [/B]

I get a lot of those.