What is this crap ??

[WhoNew]

Hey all. 96 318ic m44 here. what the crap is that *****yellowish glaze all over my motor ?? If you scratch it it comes off pretty easy. The only thing I can think of is it's some kind of clear coat or something, but it's all over the engine. On the motor itself, the valve cover, even the plastic parts.

It looks like ass. Any one have any luck removing this stuff ??

Thanks

[PJBIMMER]

A picture would help....

[WhoNew]

Picutes.

It's kinda hard to see.

[WhoNew]

a few more

[pete325is]

its a rust proofing spray, looks like crap, but works pretty good, you can use any engine cleaner to remove it, but it does keep the rust away, and you dont have to keep cleaning the engine area..

its up to you

[WhoNew]

I keep it pretty clean. I do the engine bay every other weekend. Those pics were taken the day I bought the car. The engine dressing I use pretty much hides it pretty well. I was just under the hood today and was just surprised to see it everywhere, even on the plastic.

I am surprised though that an engine cleaner would remove it. Off to the parts store in the morning I guess.

[Engineer3D]

Are you sure it's not pollen?

[WhoNew]

um......... i guess it could be. but i don't think so.

[Cams318is]

I drive 1997 318is and i have the same goldish paint on my engine which chips off sometimes. Im sure its just the orginal paint peeling off.. It is a 12 year old car.

[David Mc]

Used car yards spray a clear acrylic coat over the entire engine bay after degreasing it. The clear coat is only for appearance and gives the engine bay a "like new" appearance but soon yellows and begins flaking off. As has been stated, any decent engine cleaner combined with a stiff nylon brush will take it off.

[WhoNew]

well thanks for the input. It took quite a bit of scrubbing, and still wasn't to my liking. so i pulled the upper intake off and took it over to the bench grinder........ don't worry i only used the wire wheel. Even that took some work, and I couldn't get into the smaller ares. what a PITA. Turned out nice though.

Next I have to pull the valve cover.

[SCANDINAVIAN13]

It might also be something used in emissions testing. I just got my emissions test done last week and I have purple crap all over my engine bay. It washes right off.

[Corey Milne]

It's rust proofing, leave it on if you live anywhere moist, cold or salty.

[WhoNew]

If it's all the same, I'll remove it from the metal parts, and polish them. It's a vert, so it does not see winter

[kennedy1989]

just go to a carwash and degrease the **** outa it, then hit it up with a gerny. = bobs ur uncle

[WhoNew]

thanks, but whats a gerny ?? I'm thinking it's a rag ?

[jason_recliner]

Gerny is a high pressure washer, aka Karcher.


It might also be something used in emissions testing. I just got my emissions test done last week and I have purple crap all over my engine bay. It washes right off.
Ah, that must be your Royal Purple oil leaving a royal mess... :D

[kennedy1989]

ok so...
yeah a gerny is a really high pressure hose..
umm..

so i went to the carwash today, and opened my hood.
i have that yellow crap everywhere too? wtf.
and i degreased / gernied it.. NOTHING.
guess bob isnt my uncle after all?

[77vetteguy]

mine isnt as extensive as yours, but a wire brush works really well to remove it.

[WhoNew]

yeah, the wire brush works really well. if you can get the parts off the car, the wire wheel on a bench grinder, or a 41/2 inch grinder in a vice is the best. Maybe paint striper for the tuff corners......

The pic in my sig is my upperintake manifold, de-crapped, and painted