How to clean the engine bay?

Technical Area Cleaning & Detailing
2

Hi

I’m interested in cleaning the engine area. I have no idea on how to go about this and was hoping some of you might be able to give me some pointers.

Many Thanks

Dorothy

3

 Hi Dorothy, Best way is to get it steam cleaned. You do take a chance that the water may get into electical components and connectors and cause a problem afterwards, if not in the future.

Mozza

4

 Which model car do you have?

5

Looks like a Mk2 in the avatar.

 

6

 

 

Could be, but you don’t look like your Avatar[;)]

7

Is steam cleaning the same as getting the engine aby wax cleaned? I’ve heard of this before but not sure of it’s purpose.

8

Could you not just keep the bonnet closed? Seems less risky, and it’s not like there is any point to cleaning the engine either.

9

Lazy ■■■■■■

 

A clean engine bay is less hassle to work on as you don’t get so dirty doing the little jobs, you can spot leaks etc. more easily on a clean engine and it can help keep everything in better condition. Looks nice too, which gains about 10-15bhp IIRC

 

I must admit though, all of the cleaning I did last year has been quickly dirtied through daily winter driving

10

It’s true, I am lazy [:)]

I did clean everything when I threw in the turbo, and every time I fix something I clean up afterwards, but if when I open the bonnet to check it the engine is just dusty I leave it alone.

I once had a Nissan that would run or not based on how hard you looked at the AFM harness plug. If that even got the slightest bit damp it wouldn’t go over 1500rpm. I would feel like an utter cretin if I induced that kind of unreliablity as a result of trying to make things under the bonnet look pretty.

11

Hi All

I have the mark II year 2000, not to keen on having problems with water getting in to equipment, might just forget about doing this. I don’t mind doing the work though[*-)]

Cheers All

Dorothy

12

 The other alternative is to degrease any of the lower parts of the engine front and sides then pressure wash avoiding the alternator and then liberally spray WD40 or duck oil and a use a rag to clean the rest of the engine bay. Can be used on the electric connectors and won’t harm any or the rubber components, infact helps to protect them.

Mozza

13

 

 

It’s surprising the amount of cleaning you can accomplish by using a wood dowel with a piece of cloth tied onto the end in the form of a ball. Keep the ball small so you can get into the awkward corners more easily. Just use a cleaner on the cloth ball to remove stubborn oily dirt. This is all I use now that I re-sprayed as much of the engine bay as possible.