Cleaning Engine w203

[goski83]

Hi,

New on this forum. I own a 2004 w203 Sport Coupe 220 CDI, and recently topped up the oil (synthetic: Mobil 1) and managed to spill a little whilst doing so - managed to lose my grip on the funnel I was using. I would guess that around 50ml managed to spill.

Did my best to clean it up so there are no traces left on the top of the engine, but predictably this smoked after the engine warmed up, and there was enough spilled for me to be worried about the risk of fire if I just drive on it! Its clear that the engine is going to need a clean, have had a couple of oil leaks with other cars in the past and just used gunk & washed off.

However, the oil spill here seems to have gone over the rocker cover and into the depths of the engine (there's some evidence of it splashed on the cylindrical metal part [?] underneath the air filter box).

Any advice on how to clean it off? I've always been wary of doing anything using water anywhere near the air filter, and that side of the engine is particularly inaccessible. Do I need to remove the panel from underneath the car so that there's somewhere for any water to escape?

Thanks in advance.

 

[goski83]

Anyone able to help? Thanks!

 

[bennesspipers]

parafin & a paint brush

 

[horsesuitedfool]

Jet wash.......at your own risk......

 

[goski83]

It's the risk part of a jetwash that concerns me...!

 

[horsesuitedfool]

It's the risk part of a jetwash that concerns me...!

I have always done it without any issues, leave it running and just be careful not to dwell on anything for any period of time. I would do it but its your choice!!

 

[goski83]

Do you cover any of the engine parts while washing it? If so, which ones?

 

[horsesuitedfool]

Do you cover any of the engine parts while washing it? If so, which ones?

I usually take the cover off and clean that area with a sponge or something and rinse with normal hose. Then with covers on etc i jet wash the whole engine bay.....

 

[goski83]

Ok, that's useful - thanks. It's the bit under the cover I need to clean - think gunk and rinse off with a normal hose will do. I assume you don't remove the heat shield underneath? I assume the runoff water has some
way of escaping it in any event.

 

[Roger Jones]

The only time I allowed a servicing garage to jet-wash an engine, I had electrical problems.

I'd use Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner. A brush with a long handle and angled head may help.

 

[goski83]

Roger, excuse the ignorance, do you use water (not high pressure) to rinse off or does the autoglym not need that? Thanks.

 

[bennesspipers]

If you use GUNK, DONT let it dry on.

 

[James R]

Yup. I'd go with paraffin and paint brush too.

 

[louisv6]

I've always heard it's bad to jetwash an engine.

I guess that's to do with getting water into various electrical components? Or is there another reason I've not considered?

Many years ago I worked at a local Ford garage, washing cars post-service. Part of the cleaning regime was a jetwash of the engine bay (engine running)...