General: Engine Bay cleaning

[VroomVroomClonk]

After a major (litres in just a few minutes) oil leak from a camshaft oil seal, the inside of my timing belt housing, and the engine mount below and all the area around that are soaked in oil.
I have an attachment for a compressor that will spray a cleaning solution on the engine, but most of the high-strength solutions I find advertised are also highly alkaline and come with warnings about using them on aluminium. I think I just want a low-foam detergent type of thing that I can spray on and then rinse off. Can anyone recommend one please?

[Markos01]

Nice video of how to clean a C30 engine bay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm211wyvcWM

[green van man]

Originally Posted by VroomVroomClonk

After a major (litres in just a few minutes) oil leak from a camshaft oil seal, the inside of my timing belt housing, and the engine mount below and all the area around that are soaked in oil.
I have an attachment for a compressor that will spray a cleaning solution on the engine, but most of the high-strength solutions I find advertised are also highly alkaline and come with warnings about using them on aluminium. I think I just want a low-foam detergent type of thing that I can spray on and then rinse off. Can anyone recommend one please?

I use Traffic Film Remover neat from a garden sprayer. Not had any problems with it attacking aluminium.
Spray TFR, give it time to soak a bit wash off with either hosepipe or press sure washer, repeat if needed.
Had weeping front crank oil seal on 300tdi discovery, as I had wadding plugs fitted it went un noticed for a while by which time the timeing chest was a right mess. When I changed the timeing belt, washed caseing out, changed seal and fitted new belt and tensioner.
Regularly use the TFR and pressure washer to clean engine bay, give it a wash with wash and wax shampoo once in a while so that the dirt has less of a surface to stick to, spray on hose off.

I use Gunk TFR the single streignth one rather than the double consentrate and pay around £20 for a 25 litre jack from local motor factors.

Paul.

[ITSv40]

Autoglym Machine Clean is the best and safest degreaser I have found. I use it on everything, not just car related, also good for getting oil stains out of fabrics and carpets.