Cleaning your Engine Bay

[DubSteve]

Hey All,

I was looking and I couldn't find a thread on it so I was wondering, how do you guys clean your engine bay from all dirt and grease

Is there a special way you need to do it?

Cheers Steve

[syncro]

Nifty.

Spray it on, let it sit for a minute then hose it off.
Scrub stubborn greasy areas with a nylon scrubbing brush and hard to get at areas with a toothbrush. CAUTION: Clean brushes and put away before wife gets home.

[rayray086]

CAUTION: Clean brushes and put away before wife gets home.

Haha, dirrrty!

Steve - great site to use is www.finalinspection.com.au. An Australian forum with a detail clinic in Melbourne, they're a good source for how-to's, product reviews, and general discussion on detailing just about every bit of your car.

Here's just an excerpt from a thread on this topic:

Here is a process used and recommended by a number of the car manufacturers. Just needs input from the DA community on product to use with the process.

Bring the engine to operating temperature, and switch the engine Off.

Cover or shield any component--such as the ignition distributor, multi-connectors, etc.--in the area to be cleaned with plastic sheeting or glad wrap. Remember that heat melts plastic so be careful where you put it

Apply engine degreaser or general engine cleaning solvent to the dirty area, allowing it to soak for at least five minutes. Simple Green has been suggested by a couple of members.

Spray warm water on the area to be cleaned, flushing the solvent and the contaminants.

Do not aim the water spray directly at components. Do not use the water spray any longer than necessary. Do not wash the entire engine compartment when only one area requires degreasing, such as the front crankshaft radial seal, oil filter replacement, etc.

Blow the cleaned area dry immediately with moderate-pressure compressed air. If you don't have access to compressed air, a vacuum on reverse can work but remember you are probably standing in water so use an isolating power supply. We don't want to lose DA members.

Start the engine immediately and road test the vehicle to ensure all is well. In fact, take it for a damn good drive. The drive will make you smile and help dry the car out.

Best to do this before an exterior detail too.

Kasi adds
I have read about people taking the writing off stickers when using strong degreasers and also discolouring aluminium parts especially if used on a hot engine. I don't think this applies to Simple Green, but I just thought I would mention it in case anyone intends to use a stronger degreaser. Air intakes should also shielded or plugged with an old cloth, to avoid any water or degreaser getting in the engine.

Also I read something about not using sprays that contain silicon in the engine bay because they can affect the MAF sensor and/or O² sensor. Others disagreed however and said it was only gasket sealant that contained silicon oil that was a problem for O² sensors, so I'm not certain about that one.

jrobbo adds his technique
* Spray down the entire engine with the high pressure spray to loosen of the dirt
* Use a fairly stong solution of Meguiars Hyperwash, spray it all over the engine bay and let it sit for 15 mins or so
* Use a combination of a thick sponge, a cloth, and a stuff paint brush to clean every surface, nook and cranny in the engine bay.
* Rinse with the high pressure spray
* Spray Meguiars Hyper-Dressing all over the engine bay
* Wipe over and remove excess hyper dressing with a terry cloth.

DJIntegr8, McNugget and tomee - product recommendation
Simple Green - diluted

tomee - product recommendation
Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner

Sometimes half the stuff I don't understand with all these different rotary orbitals and pads that they use for certain jobs, and products that I've never even heard of before. Off topic, but here's a crazy thread on a detail job:

http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/viewthread.php?tid=347865&page=1

[DubSteve]

Thats what you call fanatical cleaning, far out!!!

[syncro]

I'm not real keen on degreaser. Causes damage, fading and staining.

[gpk_gti]

use some of that alcohol based carby clean,evaporates quickly but enough time to wipe away grease and the such.use a rag and start wiping away.too much water and your in trouble.I wouldnt worry too much....its a daily driver and you will never beat a weekend show car..

[syncro]

....its a daily driver and you will never beat a weekend show car..

Fugly yellow thing used to be a daily driver.

[static1800]

fugly yellow things days are numbered though

[SOHC]

well...what i do is going to those self service where you put the coin in
leave the engine on, get a cloth wrap around the electrical stuff, then just give some degreasers...then just rinse it off...Easy

[WEDEL.1]

Degreaser or a mixture of kero, detergent and warm water. Paint on then hit with the Karcher. Works on the T4, but the Golf 3 doesn't like all the extra water.

A Karcher steam cleaner will work good too?

Maris

[hazards_golf74]

I'm not real keen on degreaser. Causes damage, fading and staining.

it won't un less you have it too strong water it down if water base. then hit it with pressure cleaner

[syncro]

I,m not keen on pressure cleaners either.

It's a bit like hitting a nail with a sledge hammer.

[DaveMack]

use some of that alcohol based carby clean,evaporates quickly but enough time to wipe away grease and the such.use a rag and start wiping away.too much water and your in trouble.I wouldnt worry too much....its a daily driver and you will never beat a weekend show car..

Also gives you something to drink while you're working, George.

Dave

[hazards_golf74]

I,m not keen on pressure cleaners either.

It's a bit like hitting a nail with a sledge hammer.

it s not like that its like scrubbing but quicker and it won t scratch it