Hi everyone,
I took my engine tray off and I've noticed all the brown stuff on the engine, flaking off etc... Is this something Porsche sprayed on the engine for protection? It looks like thick mud painted on. Obviously it doesn't look appealing and I want to clean it off... How do I clean this or should I just leave it on? Thanks.

 

All the undercarriage pictures today lead me to ask a lame, rookie question (and sorry about the thread hijack, although it looks like you got your answer already): what are the two downward-facing vents? I like the way they clear the leaves off my driveway, but what are they for?

Again, sorry for the lame-o question and thread hijack. I'll go sit quietly in a corner now.

 

I had pretty good luck getting the Cosmoline off with brake clean, a towel and semi abrasive brush.

Dave - Those are the bypass valves for the heat exchanger system.

 

I know brake cleaner works well. I'm sure lacquer thinner would work well also. Be careful of the fumes! Let's see if anyone has a more novel method. I started removing some of it last winter when I did my suspension. I'll continue again this winter.

 

I just got my car back from Porsche Zuffenhausen last Friday, after I had them apply a wax coating in preparation for the winter to come. Still, this wax coating looks a little bit different, thicker.

Felix

 

engine tray question...

Do u guys leave it off??

i'm debating whether to leave it on or off??

Thanks

 

Princeton: thanks.

 

Dave: No problem...I was wondering about the same thing.

Princeton: I'll try the brake cleaner, towel and some brush. Thanks.

rinlv1: I intend to leave the tray off. You can do the search but the most folks have the tray off.

 

Wouldn't you want to leave the cosmoline in place? I see it all over parts on the bottom of the car, including up front, eg. on the steering rack. It seems like it provides some protection, and unless you're setting up a show car, you'd never notice whether it was "brown and yucky" or not.

 

TroyN,
That was my other question. Should I just leave it on? However, I do live in dry climate away from the ocean and not driving daily and never in rain, so the corrosion protection is not too much of an issue for me. The cleaning was purely from a cosmetic stand point - I kind of like my car clean outside as well as inside (including underside - well, at least the engine).

 

The overwhelming opinion here is to leave it off, except maybe for that season you don't have - the one with the snow. Mine goes on & off w/my winter tires. Many threads to search if you want to kill an hour or so.

 

Thats the same stuff my wife puts on her face when she goes to bed at nite. Comsoline/Cosmopolitan see the connection? No wonder we havent had a kid for 10 years!