How do i clean the engine

[AnteGTI]

I wake up. i think hey why not get started on making my eninge spotless, walk outside move my mums car out the way, drive my gti in to the garage, put on some tunes open the bonnet look at the engine, think shyte thats dirty... grab some rags than look again and think what the hell is half the crap in there and how the **** am i meant to clean it ..., go back insisde grab the laptop hump on vwwatercooled search the forums to no avail which leaves me here. Also if anyone dont mind could i get a layout of whats what in that bay? but mainly how the fudge do i clean that thing. I swear ive been putting this one job off coz it such a mess i cant stand to look at it

[AnteGTI]

I only ask coz im scared of getting water in places i really dont need water coz i dont really know whats what exactly in the engine bay except for the obvious. and there is alot of grime build up is it safe to just spray degreser over it and low pressure rinse it? i swear ive never done this before not as straight forward as i thought or it is and i just dont know it

[h100vw]

If I ever do something like this, I run the engine to temp first. Then spray on the degreaser, agitate as required to get the muck loose, then rinse with a hose. I wouldn't do it in the garage though.
Do your best to avoid spraying the electrics, they should survive low pressure water though.

Gavin

[AnteGTI]

Is there anything i need to cover at all, so i can just go to the local car wash and put out the few dollars there than go everything with a rag?

Ante

[h100vw]

I thought you were doing it on the drive? I'd do it at home personally, the only time I did a servo job was on my AE86 and I nearly went under a bus pulling out of the servo. I got water in the plug holes and it was missing so badly, I couldn't out run the double decker.

I'd take the cover off the top of the motor but I reckon the rest of it is safe. Having the engine warm means that the water will evapourate pretty quickly.

[AnteGTI]

yeah i got to drop my brother off some place and pick up like an hour drive too (just told me now hence the change of plans) so in the mean time figured id go clean the engine and than a nice wash. its like an hour drive too, so no point coming back home true.

[h100vw]

Just being wary, cos if you do drown it, much better to be at home with a frdge full. I'd clean the outside if you have an hour to kill. Leave the engine bay til later.

Gavin

[Blitzen]

I found that interior upholstery cleaner sprayed on the engine and plastics works well to break down stuff, then using my hose nozzle on mist, spray off the leftovers...Then rag dry...Works for me.

[Jace]

I'd put a plastic bag over the alternator, give everything a good soak in degreaser (i've used truck stuff at tradeschool, works brilliantly) then use a high pressure hose (like the ones at a car wash) then spray the crap out of it.
Make sure the timing plug/cap (i think) is in the top of the box above the flywheel, don't blast the spark plugs, any electrical connections and just pay close attention to it and you'll be fine.

[DMS_Dan]

Wrap all your electrics in Gladwrap or Alfoil. (i prefer glad wrap as it cant short out). The main things are the coil packs, starter motor and alternator.

Get yourself a good quality degreaser. A cheap one can often discolor any raw aluminum bits or other metals.

Some that i have used and would recommend are Autoglym Engine and machine Cleaner, Autoglym PM3 and Duragloss Ultimate Orange Cleaner

I use the Vikan Brushes to get in and around the engine. It saves scraping your knuckles on things and it helps work the degreaser in.

Once you have sprayed it up and agitated it use a pressure cleaner on a low pressure setting and carefully rinse the grime away.

Repeat if necessary

[pedro]

You shouldn't have to worry about covering things up to much as long as you don't aim any hose or gurney directly at the alternator or relay's etc.

Heavy duty degreaser, oven cleaner also works. Then the key is to use a high pressure gurney with hot water.