First let me apologize if these were asked before - I searched in vein and not being a detailing expert perhaps used the wrong terminology. Still with me? Ok here it goes:

1. I used a cleaner/degreaser on my engine bay that I found in my dad's garage (big mistake I know). Don't remember the name off hand, white cylindrical spray bottle with purple sticker, pink fluid. I did have enough brains to take a look at the back and check if in fact it was suitable for the engine bay (which it was). Sprayed the engine bay, waited a minute and rinsed off with a gaden hose set to gentle. When it dried it left a white powdery residue all over the engine bay! I tried to rinse it off again to no avail. It will come off with a rag, but I can't get it into every nook/cranny. Is there a solution?

2. My car has quite a bit of mileage accumulated (just turned over 137k) and with it pitted headlights. I am looking for some type of plastic polish(?) that I could use to treat my headlights and perhaps the instrument cluster. Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

 

Mike, try Meguiar's Plastx let me know, not the stuff I was telling you about but I read it was better. How are the tails!

Also you might want to try Gunk on the engine bay it's a degreaser.

 

I'll give Plastx and Gunk a try!

The tails worked out great BTW - thanx again. I washed the car today and (thankfully) there were no leaks.

 

It sounds like the cleaner was too corrosive. Sometimes you can re-apply the products use a stiff bristled brush and clean off all the white and then make sure you clean all of the product off of the motor completly before letting dry, or it will dry and corrode again. Also get a less agressive motor degreaser that is based on citrus or maybe use 303 aerospace cleaner if you can get it in your area or want to mail order it from one of the online retailers.