best way to clean the whole engine bay?

[drsmith1979]

after fitting the gunnerchip (see my guide in the guides section) and a new accelerator cable, i have ordered a brand new heat shield as mine simply fell apart when i took it off! haha. the engine is looking a little grubby and seeing as though im making the car look better day by day im just wondering whats the best way to clean the engine bay? specialist steam clean? gunk oil cleaner and a jet wash? if it is a jet wash then what do you cover in plastic bags to protect it? theres too much general grime and dust (live on a converted farm so impossible to make sterile! lol) to simply do it by hand so looking for the safest way? suggestions? anyone got any pics of their engine bays so i can compare mine? thanks in advance

[steve740]

Good thread mate. Id like to know the same! :D

[Coops]

did mine with carb cleaner and elbow grease, but i cheated as it was in bits for head gasket change. went from left pic to right one

me next door neighbour uses degreaser in a insecticide sprayer thingie then jet wash on his rover, comes up a treat. have to leave it to dry before u try starting it tho but he doesnt cover anything

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/coopahstar/changes.jpg

[steve740]

That engine bay on the right is stunning mate! How did you get it all white?

[Coops]

rattle can plasticoat appliance paint 8)

[steve740]

Did you just mask off all the lettering then?

[Coops]

nope, as u will note, F16i.e. bit went from standard yellow type to blue, bought a sticker off RikiGT on the forums

[steve740]

That looks top bloody notch!

[drsmith1979]

oooh that looks good, yeah i have done the degreaser and jet was before but covered things like alarm, battery etc.. with plastic bags to protect from excess moisture. anyone here done the same?

[steve740]

I jetwashed my old 1.2 and it didnt run for 2 days lol

Was a bit scared to jetwash this engine now!

[FATBOY]

IIRC dont jet wash the engine! as it can cause no end of problems!

[drsmith1979]

does the same apply to steam clean fatboy?

[FATBOY]

i think so???? i looked into it but thought it wasnt worth it... do what other people on here have done, use some elbow grease :wink: big hp is a good person to ask. not sure if his was steamed? or elbow grease? but must admit his engine bay is the mintest ive ever seen!

[Winston]

Steam cleaners are ok ....just cover electricky shizz in you bay with tesco bags lol

[nyk]

Lee jet washed my engine bay at the garage when I first got the car, needless to say we was then stuck at the air line trying to dry it out for at least half an hour before the bleeding thing would start!!

LOL

[DaveH]

Dont jet wash french engines, German ones you're ok with lol Any de-greaser and a lot of hard work should see you right.

[Coops]

may be right on that, been lookin at my 15 year old polo and each connector on the loom has a water seal on it 8)

[drsmith1979]

elbow grease? do they sell that in Halfords............. :lol:

[DaveH]

Yeah ive never had a problem steam cleaning engines at work but as soon as my car see's a dark cloud it starts missing!

[drsmith1979]

where do you work? im only in warrington so would be looking for somewhere local to get it steam cleaned with good equipment?

[DaveH]

elbow grease? do they sell that in Halfords............. :lol:

I believe they do, just next to the left handed screwdrivers :wink:

Tbh i wouldnt bother with the steamer as it only starts to clean an engine if its quite grubby id only use that to finish it off. It really needs scrubbing to get dirt off with gunk or the like. I just pinch the valeter's steamer when ive fixed an oil leak just to get rid of the excess, it never really cleans the engine, plus if theres 10years+ worth of sh*t in there it tends to need a lot of work which is why mine is filthy!

[Allan]

cover up electricals with plastic bags leave the engine running and put loads of traffic film remover on it, then blast it
i used to do this for a living, and never wash a ford lol it will never run ever!

[northy]

I use white spirits and a stiff brush to get the worst off, then wd40 and a rag.

Came up quite good !

[VIPERONE]

coops get some probolt rocker cover bolts from primas ebay site...anodised in blue..look the business.

your bay is class..

im steam cleaning my bay.. but there will be no engine in lol

[Matt_16v]

i use some stuff call GUNK it works wonders, you just brush it on and wipe it off.. nice and easy

[ollie16v]

Elbow grease mate, all the plastic bits can be cleaned with soap and water then back to black them. Use rubber lubricant on the seals and hoses etc, it cleans and protects stopping them drying out.

[steve740]

Some top tips on this thread fair play! :D

[big hp]

Cover all electrics with carrier bags.
Lightly jet engine.
Spray whole engine in autoglym degreaser and work in with a brush, tooth brush, cloth aqnd anything else small enough to get in nooks and crannies.
Thoroughly jet off.
Whilst engine bay is wet spray WHOLE ingine in autoglym vinyl and rubber care (makes all plastics and pipes etc look brand new) and leave to dry for a few hours.
When dry wipe rocker cover and suspension turrets to remove vinyl and rubber care overspray and polish bulk head, turrets, under side of bonnet etc.

Thats what i did / do and this is what happens.........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/big_hp/hillpowerrrday11thfeb047.jpg

[Coops]

oooo, love that bay! 8)

sort that scuttle panel screw tho, thats rust i spy, shocking! :wink:

[katbloke]

As per bhps idea bag up all electricals ie distributor cover plug leads etc and if induction kit fitted put a carrier bag over it.

Get some meguiars apc cut 4:1 spray on brush in allow to soak for a bit gently hose it down dont use high pressure.

Start from the bottom up (engine wise :) )

When done mop up puddles of water from under bonnet then whilst are is still damp spray with autoglym rubber shine spray leave to dry naturally to shine or buff off to restore a matt black finish