Firstgens.com

I like to drive a whole lot more than I like to clean. But I don't like it when I pop the hood and my headers have become ugly, my aluminum manifold is dirty and the polished aluminum bits have a whitish discoloration like dishwasher spots. Is it regular cleaning, a coating once they look good, or what. I have no leaks. What is the secret to a good looking engine bay on a driver?

Wow..... ok, if you really want to know. First secret is not to paint the engine compartment black. No matter what you do it just looks black, all attention goes to the motor and any shiny stuff. PAint it body color, then peoples attention just kinda goes all over, nothing stands out.

Believe it or not... I squirt mine with gunk. I wash everything with car wash soap. I hose it down. And dry it with a leaf blower. And then shine it up with a shammy.

Most of my alluminum is coated with something or other. The valve covers shine right up with chrome polish.
I have problems with waterspots on some of the raw alluminum, particularly the rad shroud and blockoff plate. Both are big and raw brushed alluminum, and both have had water dry on them too often.

I tihnk maybe using deionized water for the final rinse might prevent the spotting?

Mr Clean carwash stuff should keep your spots away.

Mine is a daily driver, summer winter, show and shines and grocery shopping towing the vintage caers.
I have painted everything under the hood in enamel paint ..enamel sticks to anything, takes a while to harden and therefore flows very nice.
Except the polished Aluminim thats polished then a very light, just enough to cover, coat of polyurethane clear....
I used to use an aersol, now mix up and use the air brush....a wet mix so use less and a better flow finish
The thin coat is because clears yellow with heat over time...a thick coat get very yellow, a thin coat the yellow is not noticed and only there to seal.

Qashing, I warm the engine, presure spray kero (Parrafin) to eat intio the oil road crap, the hose off with the blaster, then blow off with the compressor...quick wipe here and there

Suspension is black....this it painted/ touched up by brush with tyre black, dont go out in the rain for a couple days after using....also under the fenders, under car is all touched up with tyre black...the ONLY use I have for the stuff.

Back to the engine bay...yep the daily driving takes its toll, .paint chips etc....a rough sand on paint chips...120 grit...to smooth edges a little, them out with the air brush, and a rag with a little thinners on.
The air brush has little over spray and can get sharp edges......
This is usually done in the Spring every couple yrs as thats when shows etc start.

Daily driver or driver car. Car wash set to "engine cleaner" set 5minutes. Then rinse. Repeat once a month or as needed. Crystal simple green works good IMO for degreasing.

Show car- take everything off every spring, clean it, wax it or replace it, reassemble.

Is that some sort of machine, water blaster thing?

Will give that a go next time...do you mist spray it on 1st?
How do u dry off to advoid sediment marks on the engine bay polished/chrome/paint work?

I dont know i think with the engine the right color the engine comp. being black makes the engine pop and more noticeable!!?? simple green and water on inner fenders and polish on the rest!!!

P.S. use semi gloss paint on the inner fenders/firewall so the engine color is more noticeable

Get someone else to clean and polish.