How to Detail the Engine Bay of a Porsche Cayman

Here, I show you how to detail the engine bay of a 2007 Porsche Cayman 987. I recently went on a rally through southern California so my engine was FILTHY! There are a lot of steps to detail a Cayman's engine, so I made a video for you guys!
Thanks for watching, if you have any questions or comments please comment below. Ill be uploading more videos shortly so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out!

[@joseblazquez2178]

Glad to hear the engine started after the heavy rain - I learned the hard way: electrical components & water don't mix well. Now I detail by hand using a moist rag and compressed air. 2007 Boxster base model here

[@vizi0123]

You should get the clear engine cover and do a video on how to take off the manifolds and paint it!!!!! Thumbs up ppl!!

[@markusreinke3382]

You guys have come so far from this video. Really enjoy seeing the progression of your videos. Seriously one of my favorite channels on KZbin. I started following you about 6 months ago. You and faith are a couple of the most humble, grinding business owners and KZbinrs out there! I'm finally getting through all your videos and all are entertaining and informational, whether its this one or your most recent. keep up the great work! Also, not really sure on a creator side if you will see this comment cause its and old video, but regardless needed to be said, because your channel has created a ton of entertainment for me. So thanks!

[@travisreed2659]

Awesome video!!! Great to see someone making how to videos for the Cayman. Keep 'em coming!

[@JordanPayneLV]

"You need to be careful because some parts in the engine bay are more sensitive than others, electrical components, the intake system" *Proceeds to power wash the entire engine bay* But really though, nice video. Thanks for sharing

[@Baerchenization]

+Jordan Payne Oh Jesus... where is he when you need him ?!! :) You absolutely must not power wash that engine... and still, this vid has all thumbs up and none down... oh dear.

[@CharlesProoth]

Scares me too.

[@Tony-es6em]

i was like...wtf? come on :D

[@ComputerGeekOnTwoWheels]

Do not do this...Porsche engine parts are so sensitive and water can easily short-circuit electrical components. There are other ways that don't involve water. I use polish Pro Honda Spray Cleaner And Polish and it works wonders on dirt and oil. Leaves it absolutely clean. It takes more time but in the end you will not damage your electricals.

[@joejoe188]

Baerchenization Never detailed modern Porsche engines, but my 82 911, 87 924S, 88 924S-SE, and my 77 924 all have been cleaned with a hose or power washed. Been doing it on all my cars for more than 30 yrs. Prep work is the most important step on sensitive electronics. Cover in plastic, aluminum foil as it forms around parts the best, and a little WD40 sprayed here and there keeps water out. I used foaming Gunk for ever until Simple Green came out. Pressure washers use 80% less water than a garden hose. Always spray downwards and never at a major angle. Have a leaf blower ready to go. As soon as you stop spraying, remove alk you have used to cover and begin to blow until dry especially around and on electronics! Start engine, and you are good to go!

[@evanhochwald43]

Thanks for all of the videos! I was a little wary of working on a mid-engine car, but you make it look easy.

[@Aiken47]

Hairdryer instead of waiting for ambient air to dry it. That engine looks a treat, thanks for the video.

[@pahhaw4251]

Awesome video, very meticulous! I have a Boxster, but this is really helpful. LOVE The way you taped off everything. Great job!

[@Theo-le6po]

Great job, given me the understanding to clean the engine (986), will be doing this now we are in lockdown.

[@AmericaFirst777]

That was a big help. Thanks for sharing. I have a Cayman 2007 myself and a boxster. Love my Porsches .

[@likeitshouldbe1]

Just got my first Porsche Cayman your channels helping out a lot appreciate it man

[@7royboy]

I just got mine a few months back as well. Do you got an IG?

[@wesleygonzales2049]

I love your videos, I love the white wrap! I have a 2006 Cayman S in black with Sport Chrono.

[@thesadboxman]

Great video! Camera angles are good and description of steps is really clear.

[@Mirahverl]

Good, clear and detailed instruction...Great video.

[@annok1ll]

Great vid, great quality, nicely edited, overall a lot of fun to watch! Had to sub directly hahahaha, cheers and keep up the good work!

[@SummitLife]

+annok1ll Thanks!!!

[@MotorScotti]

Very nice job, excellent video and awesome car! Thank you

[@sachamo100]

Great job, it looks new!

[@robertnjax1]

Thanks for this video. Very helpful!

[@MR-gl1fs]

looks awesome! Lot of people want me to work on their dirty engine bays and that drives me crazy working on a dirty engine.

[@jezzmoto]

I've had my 2006 987 Base Cayman for a couple of months now, love your vids.

[@SummitLife]

thanks!! more videos to come

[@jezzmoto]

Crashed my Cayman a couple of days ago...very pissed off with myself : (

[@SummitLife]

NOO! Totaled?

[@jezzmoto]

Just the front right quarter totaled but repairable but still hurts.

[@robertorellana763]

You said not to spray water directly to wiring but you sprayed the entire engine with compressed water. Engine and in particular Porsche engines are sensitive to water especially around wires. These wire connections are not water proof and can suffer water contamination which could cause electrical shorts. Do you disconnect the battery? By running compressed water, you could be forcing water into areas that remain wet and cause corrosion. A little dust is okay with hand wiping the plastic is sufficient. I use Brake cleaner on areas around wiring because it dries completely in seconds. But I totally get why one would try to keep the engine sparkling clean, I have been critizied by Porsche enthusiasts for over cleaning my Porsche engine bays but have found the perfect balance and safety.

[@dh-flies]

I've been afraid to open my Cayman S up for fear of how dirty it will be....Now mine will get an engine bath this spring. Great video!

[@SummitLife]

+Road King You saw how bad mine was! it will be a fun spring car prep day for ya!

[@dh-flies]

+CaymanGarage I have a 2008 with 50,000 on it that I'm fairly sure has never been done. It's about 11 degrees here right now...I figure another 6 weeks and I'll get her out of mothballs and sparkle that motor up. :)

[@dylanstanfield278]

Videos are getting better and better brother

[@detii4082]

this is incredibly satisfying, can't wait to own a cayman

[@Andrew-Chenery]

Loving your detailed walk though talk through guides - very useful. Thanks to your details and mods to your Cayman, I now want one .......no I need one. I’m thinking of swapping my Audi Q7 for a Cayman, which for me is a huge decision, I love the higher ride height of the Q7 to see ahead etc, but know I need to be closer to the tarmac 👍 I’m in the UK 🇬🇧 Thanks and keep the videos coming 👌😊

[@serenahansen2394]

A late reply, but I would consider taking an advanced driving course such as with IAM or RoSPA if you feel a taller vehicle gives you a safety advantage for being able to "see ahead". This costs less than buying and running a gigantic vehicle and will transfer to any vehicle you drive. The best way to improve any driving experience is driver training.

[@Andrew-Chenery]

Serena - Thanks, it’s not so much that I feel unsafe being lower, I just want to mix it up, higher ride height & then bum on the tarmac for feeling connected to the road. 👍🏼😊 All is good 🥳

[@davids4795]

Nice pacing, really enjoyed it!

[@VisioRacer]

Very nice video, I subscribed as I am curious what are you preparing next :)

[@bm4995]

+VisioRacer me too..... hahaha

[@braydenkeeler2206]

Love your channel

[@RUBY9LIVES]

Great Videos, well done. I have a Cayman S, do you know of any differences? Keep the videos coming!!

[@xavierv.1207]

I would be so nervous of messing the engine up. Good Job

[@EdPrscheTurbo]

Great tutorial thank you

[@anthonyarrjay3]

Awesome video !

[@18echosf]

Excellent video!

[@anthonyarrjay3]

great video i cant wait to do my porsche boxster

[@billdollarmovie140]

YOUR A BALLER, Cayman is seriously stylin,

[@mikemorgan8895]

Bill Dollarmovie yea especially with those dumb roof racks😂😂😂

[@Figureight]

You ever considered a transparent engine cover to show off your hard work? :D

[@yousefosman8094]

I was literally thinking the same thing as the video ended. I know i surely would if i had a cayman lol

[@22469luv]

Great work

[@WormOfEscence]

Looks great!

[@dualinput601]

Great vid

[@7royboy]

Summit Auto Lab do you happen do know the screw size for the air filter cover? I didn't know I was missing one until I removed the engine cover to install my HIP design clear cover. I plan on following your detailing video but I had to get that clear cover on to see, hear, and experience the difference ASAP. I can tell you that my enjoyment level driving the Cayman has exponentially increased! Hearing all the various engine noises is like watching an old Disney Silly Symphony cartoon. Beautiful!

[@dperique]

Awesome job and the end result looks great. I got a used 2008 Boxster 987.1 and have not looked in the engine bay yet. I'm betting it will be bad. I'm hesitant to hose it down as you have but will spray water on it and wipe as I go. It will take longer and not get everything your power washer gets, but I feel like it will be good enough and allay my fears of getting electrical parts wet. I like the dressing part. Will have to find some of that Black and Black stuff. BTW, when/if your belly or hips rub on the car so you can wipe the engine parts, do you have a protector to keep the paint from getting scratched? I think that if you clean the engine with a jacket with a zipper or jeans, etc, it could scratch the car's paint as you lean on it to reach the engine parts. Or maybe your torso is long enough that you don't need to lean? when I do mine, I'll be wearing some fleece pants and sweatshirt with no zippers, etc. Thanks for the great video!

[@dtakeoka1]

Great video! How did you get four hood at the bottom of the trunk?

[@jeremyjoya958]

nicely done

[@UCTeeth]

I'm going to try and opening my engine compartment got my 08 Cayman S about a month ago and I have never done it....I wonder what it will look like? I'll prob make a video on it

[@jasonbermudez3829]

Awesome video, beautiful car. very insightful video, ever thought about a clear engine cover?

[@SummitLife]

+Jason Bermudez Yes I have! Ive been doing my research and Im definitely interested in buying one, but Im not sure when (HIP clear engine cover is about $650)

[@wcchan2604]

U guy is great.. 👍👍👍

[@11liltom22]

Hi mate , I'm in the uk but was wondering what the costs have been to maintain this kinda car compared to a hatchback like an Audi s3 ( what I have now ) looking to get one in a few months time Thanks p's great video :)

[@rubencal6577]

Good job

[@joejoe188]

Good job man ! Now you install thd clear plexi glass or lean see through engine cover and your Cayman engine will look bad ass ! 👍

[@michaelschneider-]

Great job .... Luv the DIY instructions . And I thought I was "Porsche Stupid" ..... You can eat off the 3.6l of my MY98 993 C2S coupe.

[@joejoe188]

Michael Schneider How many miles you got on it? Hope you drive it a lot.

[@jamesreynolds4220]

You can help protect the electrical connectors by pre-spraying them with slicone spray (or other hydrophobic electrical spray). With a large batch of electrical connectors on some engines, I used to spray them with silicone first, then cover them with tin foil until the water spraying was done. Then remove the tin foil and wipe.

[@abefroman07]

a review video would be nice for those of us considering buying a used cayman. perhaps tell us about running costs, things you like dislike about the car so far. Also thoughts on base vs "S" model. Are base models relatively quick? thanks

[@SummitLife]

+abefroman07 I will upload a review shortly!! Stay tuned! thanks for watching!!

[@7royboy]

I recently jumped in on the base model and it has got plenty of power and is plenty quick. If you plan on hitting the tracks regularly then get a Cayman S. If you do not and will instead be driving for pleasure and won't be going more than 10mph over the speed limit (usually ;), then get the Cayman. Both have plenty of personality and you will regret neither. The 5-speed has longggg gear ratios and unfortunately I spend a lot of time in 2nd but the 6-speed has shorter ratios so I find that to be the biggest difference (next to the size of the engines). I test drove many examples of both so the biggest difference I found was the fact that in the base, you find yourself having to downshift to really giddy up whereas the S is ready to giddy up unless you're already in 6th and want that extra oomph in 5th.

[@one7decimal2eight]

I have a 2006 cayman s with a 3.8 conversion. This is how they should have come from the factory. Skip the base. Do the s only. It is better in every way and worth the money. Faster. 6 speeds. Vastly superior stereo. Better brakes. You don't need to wing the wee out of it to go fast. Trust me. Skip the base. Borrrrring.

[@Gallardo1tv]

Thanks for the video. I am thinking in buying a 2006 with 80K

[@ronaldclark8187]

It great how you maintain your vehicle. When you put your hands and eyes on the engine, you may see things that need attention. Dirt and grime hide problems and create problems. I have Porsche also. They like being attended to.

[@yatir20]

like a pro!

[@marts500]

Hi....i have the same year boxster and wondered what made you choose the cayman.Is this your daily driver...? Or did you just prefer the style..? Btw did you have any damp problems after your engine clean.Keep up the great videos!

[@SummitLife]

+Eric Gruntfuttock I love the look of the Cayman, and not so much the look of the Boxster. Also, I like how most people dont know what a Cayman is haha It is not my daily driver. I have a 05 ford explorer as my daily. And, I had no problems with water in the engine bay after I finished cleaning it.

[@achang28]

Awesome video, man! Thorough and clear!

[@Porschee944]

Great video Man See you soon when I will buy Cayman on 2025😀

[@christianlouis4218]

Great video, however, isn't your alternator getting soaked in the process?

[@MKder2te]

Nice Car Dude

[@SummitLife]

+Peter Lustig thanks!

[@sarahacharlton]

Do you have a video on replacing the starter motor on a Cayman 3.4s 2007 ( mine is sticking on startup when cold ) . Ive subscribed great job cheers

[@SummitLife]

I don’t unfortunately, I haven’t had to replace mine yet!

[@Verichai]

This video is incredibly satisfying. I wish I could hose down my engine bay with a pressure washer, but alas-I am too neurotic and worried I would damage something.

[@SummitLife]

Verichai modern cars are totally safe!!!!

[@Verichai]

I've read different things, but I'm really impressed with the result you got in this video. I have an Elise that I would like to give a similar treatment.

[@weeverob]

Leaf blower is great, too

[@TheJVCMan]

Please forgive me if I am being stupid but water and oil plus electrics. Is that a good idea? Why would you clean it? Is there any benefits for doing this?

[@panthers865]

Quick question, since my question is relative to most 986-987, pre-2009 Porsches, what year is your car? The reason I ask is because I was wondering if you have inspected, or replaced the IMS since it is a common, expensive engine malfunction? I'm looking into getting a used Cayman in a couple of years (hopefully), and I wonder if the risk of a poor IMS would be likely. It's hard to believe this current Porsche "Bubble" market. A used 2009 Cayman S is roughly $36k-$40k. Thank you!

[@SummitLife]

+Parker James Thanks for the question! My Cayman is an 07 987 base. I haven't looked too much into the IMS problem, although Ive herd a lot about it! Ill do some more research... my car hasnt had any problems yet.. fingers crossed haha

[@9635william]

I recently just bought myself a 2007 cayman s and im also thinking about making a channel! I look up to this channel

[@SummitLife]

Do it! I love watching Cayman content

[@9635william]

@@SummitLife yea i think im about to make a vid 😁

[@carlitoxb110]

I would leave the engine exposed as Ferrari does, This engine looks beautiful

[@zhemin]

+Carlitox b Its just all plastic cover and a bit of metal from the throttle bottle (i think thats what it is) I think its best covered. Sorry but even a Honda engine looks better ;"D But i take Porsche all day!

[@carlitoxb110]

Zhemin Lin thank you for destroying a dream 😭😭

[@delcosspdfreek]

Ive driven a Cayman with the engine lid removed and its WAAAAYYY too loud and you hear things you shouldnt making you think somethings wrong.lol

[@1183newman]

great video, i own a cayman s and have a couple of questions. Hopefully you dont mind answering them. Recently had some work done on my cayman, when i got the car back i noticed they had broken the plastic catch that holds the service hatch closed, The little hatch that gives access to the oil and water. I phoned them and should have a replacement on the way. Just wondering if it would be an easy job to fit? Also today i opened the rear again and noticed they had moved the luggage net from above the engine bay and clipped it inside the trunk. Looking closely i noticed 2 of the metal rings to hold the net in place are missing (hence why they thought they would move it instead of just owning up to losing the metal rings). How exactly do they fix to the car and any idea if they are cheap to replace?

[@SummitLife]

as far as the plastic hatch thing goes that should be pretty easy, just make sure to take your time. and the net problem. On top of the engine, theres that big carpet pad.... sometimes when you install that back in, the metal rings that hold the net get stuck under the pad... so just pull the pad back up and fold them back out.

[@1183newman]

thanks for the answers, guess now i have a reason to take off my carpet pad :)

[@frapparm]

you need a transparent cover for engine!

[@jakesimmons7940]

hey man, I've had my cayman rear window tinted but couldn't get the film to darken and stick to the outer part of the window. any advice? have you had an additional film put around the outer part of the window? or did you not have this problem?

[@oo-ef2eq]

you can just put a light colored tinting film on top of existing tint.

[@jasunjames]

Thanks for the awesome vid. Not enough Cayman vids on youtube. You seem like you know your stuff so I will ask a question. Mine is an arctic white 2007 base too! Yesterday mine started making a loud squealing sound when it gets warm. Stops when I accelerate then comes back when I decelerate. Does it at idle when it's warm too. The temp in the car does climb and the power seems the same so I don't think it's the water pump. Maybe the belt tensioner bearing? Or even the Air/oil spliter? Any ideas from anyone would be great. Thanks!

[@SummitLife]

+jasunjames I dont have much experience with Porsche water pumps or air/oil splitter, but I did have to replace my Upper and Lower tensioner pullies. They went bad, but sounded more like a rough grinding not a squealing... have you checked the pullies and belt? Ill be making a video in the next few days about how to access the belt (very easy)

[@jasunjames]

I'm pretty lame at fixing mechanical stuff myself so it will go into the mechanic on Tuesday and I will let you know what the outcome is in case someone else is having a similar problem. I love my Cayman and can't wait to get it out on the roads again. Going through withdrawals driving the girlfriends Mazda ;) It's hard to drive anything else when you know how good a mid-engined Porsche is!

[@jasunjames]

Ok, so the car is back from the mechanics and it was the air/oil separator that was at fault. So got a new one $250 NZD ($200USD) and had it installed in less than an hour. Problem fixed! The one you buy is OEM Porsche but has been updated as it was a problem on Caymans after 60,000 km. It's the diaphragm that cracks and makes for a loud whistle sound. Hope this helps some one else :)

[@SummitLife]

Thank you so much for the info! Now I know whats going on if I hear a whistle sound!!

[@jasunjames]

It only starts when the car gets to 80 degrees. Doesn't change in pitch when you change gear but does stop when you accelerate. Most people get blueish smoke but I never got that....

[@512TXSDIY]

I need mine cleaned bad... but that’s a lot of prep.

[@jamessykes2760]

Crazy is as crazy does!

[@willboswell1659]

nice, I'd add maybe washing the inside of the cover too.

[@ecrean99]

What did it cost to do the vinyl wrap and how long did it take to do?... Curious, if you don't mind me asking....

[@SummitLife]

+ecrean99 It cost me about $700 to do it myself, and it took about 25 hours (did it completely by myself). I meant to make a video about it but had to rush to finish the wrap before I went on the corsa rally.

[@ozerinx]

what psi are u running won't it damage the engine bay?

[@bobgomez777]

Nice video. Thanks. Not being able to see the engine easily is one of the only things that I don't like about my car.

[@SummitLife]

+Bob Gomez I know me too. Have you checked out any clear engine covers? HIP makes a very nice clean one for $650.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

+Bob Gomez Your supposed to just listen to it.. It adds to the mystery ;)

[@loveonjohn]

nice

[@nomansland4811]

I think the first step should be to brush and vacuum all that loose surface dirt. That has worked well for me.

[@MrCarguy427]

Nice job, looks brand new. I'm thinking about getting an 07 or 08 in the next year or so. May I ask how much you paid for this Cayman? Do you think it's a good car to keep long term?

[@mloaks]

+Johnny Cutter just got an 07 CB that needed coils and plugs for 18.3k in Nov

[@SummitLife]

+Johnny Cutter I purchased this one in June for $26k. It had 36k miles, new tires, new windshield, and was maintained by porsche.

[@MrCarguy427]

+CaymanGarage wow what a steal. Thanks and enjoy it.

[@SummitLife]

I enjoy this car everyday! Seriously such an amazing car for the price. I though about getting an sti... so glad I went with a Cayman!

[@MrCarguy427]

+CaymanGarage you definitely made the right choice. This car was prob 65k new, and the design is timeless. I've been lurking autotrader. How did you find yours?

[@chilluminare]

i got 2007 black just like yours. how much did it cost you to wrap the car? Thx.

[@SummitLife]

+Chi D. Nguyen I wrapped the car myself. $700 total for the vinyl and supplies.

[@hughmann1908]

Dude! You never ever put a power washer in an engine, you are so lucky you did not damage the electrical components...

[@UCTeeth]

Hey man how much was it to Vynil wrap your Cayman? Did you do it yourself ?

[@SummitLife]

+UCSFTeeth I did do it myself as a test to learn about vinyl. Im opening a vinyl wrap shop in Park City at the end of the summer! The vinyl cost me about $750 ish

[@NathanTschappler]

Hey!!!! How is the Vinyl wrap business going? Love the videos man!!!!

[@justinwaters2104]

I own a '08 Porsche Cayman. The only thing I hate about it is.. I can't see the engine while looking through the back window, like you can on some other mid/rear engine vehicles. I thought about making my own aluminum & plexi-glass engine cover to give it a nice sportier look.

[@dlg5485]

That might look cool, but I suspect the additional engine noise from removing that insulation would become annoying when you're just cruising. I'm sure I'd love hearing it when I was at the track, but not the rest of the time.

[@justinwaters2104]

That's the only thing I worried about, but I'd keep the old cover so I could easily change them out whenever I didn't want to hear all that noise.

[@ZurriyetBlogs]

perfect..

[@B.I.T.S]

Power washer seems a little harsh, I would probably use a hose with spray nozzle. Engine looks amazing after this cleaning though.

[@joejoe188]

Frank C Be very very careful, as a harden hose can spray way more gallons per minute than a pressure washer. Mostly it's air to small percentage of water ratio.

[@mloaks]

Appears you also have the Sand leather interior. The 'paint' used to match the plastic and vinyl ican be made at Home Depot, and the color code is 697912143052

[@SummitLife]

+mloaks are you talking about the trim rubbery coating? the stuff that rubs off? If so, thats awesome! Ill have to go get some and do some repair!

[@DasCayman]

that's a result!!!!!!

[@braydenkeeler2206]

How do work In that park garage

[@heavybiker1472]

Radiator flush and fill please

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Is this the same engine as. A boxter ? I own a boxter s n want to clean it .. pls advise

[@SummitLife]

Vladimir Marley basically the same thing

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Summit Auto Lab cool thanks man ..but it seems easier on your cayman ..😁

[@7royboy]

Vladimir Marley Indeed as it doesn't require the soft top to be partially open right? I'm sure the biggest difference is in prepping the area with plastic, no?

[@skorpsaiyan2361]

Don't understand why the engine access for Boxster and Cayman has to be so secretive. None of the employees at Porsche won't ever help or tell you. One lady there told me that it was impossible on my 981 Boxster and can only be done at the shop. Screw these asses.

[@joejoe188]

Skorp Saiyan Report them to Porsche USA. KZbin can help you find anything those bozos are trying to keep secret.

[@battouter]

if you can't figure out by yourself how to access the engine bay then the employees prolly did you a solid by telling you to let the shop do it.

[@Suldusk]

I always skip rinsing the engine bay. I just use a bottled spray with soap. Spray it and let it sit. Then I work it off and spray water to dry it and I am done. Uses more towels but is much safer on older cars.

[@jeanlucfournier3132]

Never use high pressure on your engine bay. Unless you know what you are doing. Dry clean.

[@Equalizer1018]

We’re is the road trip blog ?

[@rsclkng]

Also, do you not have an impact you love?

[@P0N0]

👍

[@marc.deriaz]

hm i think the engine looks very cool when you put a glass on the top of the engine 😄

[@kcimages5157]

Now Im not sure if I want a Cayman ! lol

[@martywild8200]

He's got bigger balls than I have! Does need the window engine cover now!

[@7royboy]

Couldn't agree more. It is a beautiful sight. The HIP design cover is the best one out there!

[@howiewynn8248]

Would be much nice to put clear cover.