engine bay cleaning

[GTRboy]

i was thinking about this today, what is the best way to clean you engine bay, so it kind of gets rid of that "dusty" look and look nice and clean and that, just looking for some pointers,

thanks

[Bax]

well when i do mine i let loose with a can of degreaser, and a heap of elbow grease, solacare stuff on the plastics, and degreaser on the metal.

other people may have other techniques but i find that to be the easiest way.

[zzsprade]

i was thinking about this today, what is the best way to clean you engine bay, so it kind of gets rid of that "dusty" look and look nice and clean and that, just looking for some pointers,  

thanks

GTRboy,

Mate this is going to sound very stupid on my behalf, but be very careful. I read here that it would be alright to clean the engine bay using water. Unfortunatley I ended up killing my spark plugs and having to get them all changed. Now it was my mistake and I took the risk, but I certainly would hold off until someone who has successfully done it (God I make it sound like something so difficult) can give you some proper advice. Just hold back the temptation and don't jump in straight away.

-Alex

[GTRboy]

yer thanks for that, i might see if a car detailer can do it...

thanks

[saff_cossie]

Using water depends a lot on your engine and how sealed areas are. I used to work as a car valeter and were contracted by Range Rover, Jaguar and Honda to do their cars. None of those cars had problems with water and most were under 5 years old at the time (approx 2000). The instructions we were given were to keep the engine running and used to use a compressor with de-greasor to lightly spray and a jet wash to lightly spray it off. We used to put a bag over an alarm if it had one.

Having said all that I tried cleaning my older Fords and nearly killed one of them as everything is exposed.

My advice would be if you are not sure don't do it and if possible either speak to a car valeter or watch one on the job.

Hope this helps.

[[SweN]]

when i cleaned my shitbox i,

drowned it in degreaser

blasted it senseless with a high pressure water cleaner

left it to dry.

key here, left it to dry. didnt wet the batt and kept the ignition off.

ran fine first go after that. might have even got a whole 1fwkw from the effort!!

but yeah, i wouldnt exactly say my method was the best....

[ENTYSU]

best thing is too get an atomiser bottle(spray bottle) mixed with metho and water does great results plus the metho makes it dry quick so u dont have too use a hose .... after that i usually get the elbow grease into it with some mothers mirror glase .... comes up shiny as a mo fo

[Bax]

yep, entysu has a good technique, but you definately have to follow it up afterwards and polish everything off, kero or metho usually leave a white powdery finish if you leave it.

[ENTYSU]

just dont use thinners or any type of heavy stripper or you will see your pride and joy melting in fron of you ... had too add that cause i know what some ppl are like

[Guest INASNT]

I got my car detailed before the autosalon, they used degreaser and a gurnie to clean the engine bay. Just make sure u cover your afm, fuse box and plug covers.

Then use autosol on any metal in the engine bay and armoural on the rubber hoses.

[ENTYSU]

yeh auto sol works wonders