Cleaning under the bonnet .....

[itskarl]

I'm itching now the worst of winter salt has been cast (well we hope!) to clean under the bonnet of the car. I like a clean under bonnet !

The question is how hard can we go at it ? I've got sensor connections everywhere !!! including the tops of suspension struts, god knows what would happen with a steam cleaner / pressure washer......

 

[DSM10000]

Tell you what, why do you not give it all a hot jet wash and let us know what still works?

Seriouisly, I really would not use a pressure washer on any under bonnet area. A lot of the connrectors will have a coating of moisture repellent on the contacts so you risk washing that of and starting corrosion leading to all sorts of difficult to trace problems.

Just use a series of clean damp cloths perhaps with some dilute car wash solution and clean off what dirt you can see / reach.

Use paint brushes for difficult areas but keep water down to a minimum at all times. If there are greasy or oily areas then use Gunk or similar again used sparingly as you do not want to wash any corrosion inhibitor off from elsewhere, remember it is a Mercedes!

 

[itskarl]

Well to be fair I wasn't going to get the pressure washer out......although my local hand car wash offers this service with big disclaimer notice !! LOL
In years gone by I used to pressure wash under bonnet but then engine bays were much simpler places.
I really want to get all the salt dust out, that itself when damp will lead to all sorts of corrosion. I'll do it the gentle way.

I'll have to find something else to pressure wash instead.........Oh no, I forgot hose pipe ban !!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

If I buy a car and the engine bay is filthy I use a can of WD40 and spray it all over and then give it a wipe with a cloth.

 

[prprandall51]

I think I have opened the bonnet on my car about 4 times in 7 years of ownership. Every time I look, I note that there is still an engine in there and it seems to me that this should be the limit of an owner's concerns in this area.

 

[grober]

Frankly apart from giving the main visible flat surface areas such as the engine cover or air cleaner and slam panel a quick wipe over with a cleaner such as Autoglym Rubber & Vinyl Care Autoglym - car cleaning products, car care products, car valeting, car detailing I WOULD LEAVE WELL ALONE. As vehicles age car engine compartments are frequently coated with oil , rubber particulates, brake dust hydraulic fluid , petrol or diesel antifreeze/coolant road grime salt etc. Other than rectifying large leaks/problems learn to live with it would be my advice.

 

[asad7860]

If it aint broke, dont fix it!
I cleaned the engine on my alfa v6 a few years ago, and it developed a strange electrical fault. Hence nowadays, I dont try and clean the engine. if there is visible salt, use a nappy wipe, but i dont touch wires, hoses etc.

 

[st4]

The rest of a Mercedes will rot before the engine does...

 

[Ream]

Loads of rags a degreaser in small spray bottle and a dresser and gloves, no water.

 

[C43AMG]

Loads of rags a degreaser in small spray bottle and a dresser and gloves, no water.

+ 1 That's Exacly how to clean the engine bay and a couple of paint brushes.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

The rest of a Mercedes will rot before the engine does...

The engines really are that strong arent they.

 

[itskarl]

A gentle thoughtful cleaning process...... I could give that a go !

Right about the engines, solid and dependable, the rest of the car..... not so sure thinking about my two W210s a few years ago, one of which was the German equivalent of the Friday afternoon built car, it was always in the dealer !

 

[MB-BTurbo]

To be honest Im with you on that. My B200Ts engine feels solid as a rock. The suspension...has pretty much all been replaced, the steering rack replaced, the front caliper replaced and the windows only sometimes go up when I want them to as sometimes they change their mind and go back down again, but the most annoying is the buzz from the trim that wasn't screwed together well. All at 29,000 miles!

 

[cheffy]

Best way to clean todays engines, imo, cover engine + all other exposed electrics with a tarp or a sheet/blanket, put some apc in a trigger spray bottle get a bucket of soapy water and some cloths, and spray your apc mix onto the painted bits inc underneath actual bonnet, then agitate with paint/detailing brush to loosen dirt etc, then wipe clean with your soapy water and cloth, dry with a clean mfc, then take your tarp / blanket off, and clean engine area / cover, with great care.

Covering the engine initially just means you can afford to be a wee bit more ruthless on these painted areas, this ofcourse depends on how dirty it is under there !

I do this to all my cars when I first get them, my current car took me nearly 2 hours, thereafter it only ever needs a quick wipe down every time I wash the car !
I also waxed the painted areas !

Hope this helps.

 

[Geoff A]

I sprayed Bilt Hamber degreaser on mine, then agitated with a brush before gently rinsing - and I mean gently rinsing - with a hose (I'd be using a watering can with a rose now there's a pipe ban in place).

I also have an airline with a long nozzle to push most of the water away, before coating in Autoglym vinyl and rubber care to shine up the plastics and hoses. Then take for a drive to create heat to finish drying everything out. Best done on a warm sunny day

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I sprayed Bilt Hamber degreaser on mine, then agitated with a brush before gently rinsing - and I mean gently rinsing - with a hose (I'd be using a watering can with a rose now there's a pipe ban in place).

I also have an airline with a long nozzle to push most of the water away, before coating in Autoglym vinyl and rubber care to shine up the plastics and hoses. Then take for a drive to create heat to finish drying everything out. Best done on a warm sunny day

I do it basically the same way: spray engine cleaner (Autoglym) onto cold engine and agitate with paint brush. I then start the engine and leave it running whilst carefully spraying with low power water - then go for a run to finish drying. I finally spray everything with engine lacquer so it all looks good and is protected from moisture whilst inhibiting corrosion. Never had a problem with anything failing.

 

[Mr.CAP]

There is no problem in using a pressure washer inn the enginebay in any of the newer MB models(2003-) except some Vito models. Just use a something like tar remover or any other petroleum based solutions made for use on cars and spray it all over the engine and the inside of the bonnet. Wait for 10 minutes then rinse it of with the washer and you're done. Just watch out a bit so you don't destroy they heat matt under the bonnet.
/ Mike