General: Engine Bay cleaning

[MarcX]

This probably has been asked before but what are your thoughts on cleaning the engine bay?
I personally would not prefer to go near it with water but have seen plenty of people use soapy water and a hose (even jetwasher!) to clean the engine bay.

To give it a proper de-grease a bit of wd40 is not going to cut it so what would you recommend?
Also I have seen people liberally spray detailler over everything, surely this can deteriorate the hoses / belt?

[TheLeeds]

I told my gf's daughter not to use the jet wash on her car engine. She did it anyway, then triumphantly declared it was fine and working perfectly.

1am, had to go and tow the car as it had broken down.
Checked in daylight, found water in all the spark plug recesses in the head. 1 kitchen roll and some WD40 later, all was well again.

I know you can get lucky with a hose pipe or jet wash, but I wouldn't risk it. They can force water into places it doesn't normally go, then, as in the example above, catch you out later.

I just clean engine bays with a cloth and whatever cleaning solution is required. If there's oil you want to clean off, a bit of white spirit is good. A mate of mine sprayed clear laquer on everything under the bonnet, and I have to admit it looks very good. But it absolutely stinks of burning paint when the engine gets hot.

[MikeGMT]

i just clean the bay down using Auto Glym engine & machine cleaner, and then liberally spray
on A/G Rubber and Vinyl Care and just let it dry.

[XCR]

This is what I do.
1. Run the engine for 5 mins to warm through and soften the grease.
2. Wrap any electrically sensitive parts with tin foil or cling film.
3. Using a 2" paint brush (wrap the ferrule with masking tape to avoid scratches) brush away any loose crud and either blow away with an air line or vacuum away.
4. Spray liberally with Meguiars Super De-Greaser and allow to dwell for 5 minutes.
5. Agitate with brushes and a scouring pad. I use a couple of brushes gaffer taped to lengths of dowel to get right down into the bowels of the engine bay.
6. Rinse with a hosepipe and spray nozzle on a fine mist from around 6-10 inches
7. Spray with a strong soap (Fairy Liquid) solution, agitate and rinse again.
8. Let drip for 5 mins.
9. Using old towels ripped into 6" squares carefully remove as much water as you can.
10. Fire up the beast !
11. Have a brew or go for a blast while the heat of the engine dries the nooks and crannies.
12. Once cool, spray with Aerospace 303 protectant and even it all up with a clean towelling rag.

[scorcher]

....and what's your drive/pavement look like at the end of all that ?

[XCR]

Clean.
Theres a secret.

[green van man]

Spray with neat Traffic Film Remover from garden pressure sprayer, fire up the presser washer and blast it off.

OK I've got diesels but it's easiest and quickest, especially the landrover.

Brush and shovel to clean drive, then presser wash drive..

Have used the technique on old technology petrols, provided they are dried off after no problem.

Paul.

[Cookeh]

Originally Posted by XCR

This is what I do.
1. Run the engine for 5 mins to warm through and soften the grease.
2. Wrap any electrically sensitive parts with tin foil or cling film.
3. Using a 2" paint brush (wrap the ferrule with masking tape to avoid scratches) brush away any loose crud and either blow away with an air line or vacuum away.
4. Spray liberally with Meguiars Super De-Greaser and allow to dwell for 5 minutes.
5. Agitate with brushes and a scouring pad. I use a couple of brushes gaffer taped to lengths of dowel to get right down into the bowels of the engine bay.
6. Rinse with a hosepipe and spray nozzle on a fine mist from around 6-10 inches
7. Spray with a strong soap (Fairy Liquid) solution, agitate and rinse again.
8. Let drip for 5 mins.
9. Using old towels ripped into 6" squares carefully remove as much water as you can.
10. Fire up the beast !
11. Have a brew or go for a blast while the heat of the engine dries the nooks and crannies.
12. Once cool, spray with Aerospace 303 protectant and even it all up with a clean towelling rag.

Pretty much what I do - different products though. It wont do anything to your engine unless you hold the pressure washer right next to the parts in the same place for a good time. Lower pressure or hosepipe and move it around and its perfectly fine. It is advisable to let it dry out before starting though - especially in spark plug wells etc.

[MarcX]

Thanks all for the advice.
Will have a look at the autoglym product and use a wet towel and brushes I think to get the worst off!

[GusGecko]

I've got so much plastic/rubbery stuff in my engine bay that it comes up clean really easily! (Shame about the logo which has faded somehow...)