cleaning up engine bay

[boab 0]

was wondering whats best way to clean up bay, its all dirty and oily!! was due to a cracked oil cap and oil got everywhere, whats best way to get this cleaned up, at a garage or by myself? do i have to cover up any electrical parts etc??

[Scott 0]

I have done this myself a few times.... I didnt bother covering anything except the alarm although I did use a air hose after to blow all the water off....

 

Use some decent engine cleaner on a cool engine

Blast it off with jet wash

Dry it out with a air hose

Spray over with something to give a nice shine (I use autoglym )

 

Scott

[Andy T 0]

I use Autoglym engine bay cleaner, its citrus based so doesn't rot the rubber hoses, paintwork or your hands, its bloody powerful too!

 

Use some plastic or brass bristled brushes to get the stubborn stuff off. All depends on how long you want to spend doing it really!

 

I'd cover the ECU, Dizzy Cap & Alarm, and just use the hose with a nice flow, not blasting out!

 

When its dry I just use a light rub of rubber/plastic protector on the hoses and some of the plastic to keep them looking nice :)

[VR6 0]

Gonna put this in Servicing as it's not exactly an engine mod.

[Guest]

don't they use steam cleaners to clean engine bays?

[Andy T 0]

Yeah but most of them are just hot water under pressure, not dry steam, which will cause havoc if it gets into the electrics.

 

There's no substute for solid graft and doing it properly IMHO ;)

[_leon_ 0]

so the autoglym stuff wont make seals etc brittle? i've been warned off using such cleaners due to negative effects they have on rubbers...

[gradeAfailure 0]

I had the bay on the rat steam cleaned twice by a valeters and didn't have any electrical issues at all - covered up the alarm and the alternator though... but my bay needed the industrial strength stuff they use! :lol:

[_leon_ 0]

how much was it?

[gradeAfailure 0]

bout £20 iirc... they did go at it three times to be fair, and wouldn't let me leave til it was immaculate!

[_leon_ 0]

been reading dry steam cleaning is ok, but the 'home use' equipment isnt...

[Trig 0]

I've got a can of 'gunk' in the garage reserved for a day when I can be bothered to do the engine bay. Do you just cover up the electrics with plastic bags then?

[Supercharged 2]

Don't use Spunk on the car itself, it stinks... far better products on the market!

[dazzyvr6 0]

gunk doesnt smell as bad now

[Trig 0]

Don't use Spunk on the car itself, it stinks... far better products on the market!

 

What can I use it on then?! ;)

[fla 9]

Is there any way of removing some of the waxoyl on the black plastics and vertical panels? Also, around my battery plate the waxoyl seems to have entrained some grit so it looks just terrible. I'm loathe to remove it as it is a flat area which could then corrode.

[Andy T 0]

Gunk and other chemical/solvent degreasers will do a great job of dissolving grease and muck, but will rapidly eat rubbers, some plastics and possibly the paintwork.

 

Citrus based degreasers are they way to go(still amazed at how good autoglym is without any scrubbing) but if you have to use solvent, cover up hoses etc, or just use it locally with a stiff brush.

.

Blasting hot water/steam at an engine bay might not cause problems immediately, but could corrode electrics over time, my local vw specialist refuse to steam clean engine bays now because of the complaints they've had from customers with running probs.

[_leon_ 0]

Andy - thanks a lot - thats the answer I have been waiting for :)