Engine Cleaning

[Palmer]

Im going to tackle cleaning my engine bay this week.


Whats the best way?

On previous cars ive used auto glym engine degrease, fairy liquid, various de greasers etc and I can never get a shiny engine bay! Its always streaky and still greasy!

The only way I can think is to remove stuff clean and put back but this is a LONG way to do it, I also seem to struggle to clean areas where my sausage fingers cant reach :/

 

[Dieselman]

Use a degreaser then some "Aluminium cleaner" to brighten the alloy parts. Then shut the bonnet and keep driving it.

 

[Palmer]

LOL! Can you recommend a product dude?

Got a week off so gonna be tinkering all week haha Time to crack my rotary out as well for a full detail New exhaust this week too

 

[Dieselman]

Go to your local cleaning chemicals supplier. All you need is a regular degreaser at about £5 a gallon.

 

[salesac1]

Someone on here (I think) recommended finishing off with a liberal spray of Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care, then leaving it for a few hours and taking another look under the bonnet - I did that a few weeks ago and wow, it really does leave a great shine .

 

[guydewdney]

Alloy wheel cleaner!

 

[tonyc280]

Yeh i always use brake and clutch cleaner. £10.00 a gallon.

 

[gurpz]

I have found WD40 works really well breaking down grease and grime followed by some scrubbing.

 

[Spinal]

I use "gunk" - it comes in 2 spray cans.

Part 1 is an engine degreaser. Spray liberally, move stiffer crud with a brush and then wipe down.

Part 2 is an engine shiner. Spray liberally, wait for it to dry then start car to warm engine.

Done. Looks quite good; but tbh I tend to only do it before selling a car...

M.

EDIT: Like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161131225585 (yes, I realise it's in the USA)

 

[gIzzE]

Yeh i always use brake and clutch cleaner. £10.00 a gallon.

Same here, or.....and this will sound like absolute madness......engine cleaner!!

Both about £5 a tin from your local parts supplier.


This was my S203 at 12 years old, I wish I had got a before picture as it looked like it had never been done before, but this was a jam jar full of engine cleaner, a paint brush and around 5-10 minutes.....

 

[sjmaxwell]

I use "gunk" - it comes in 2 spray cans. Part 1 is an engine degreaser. Spray liberally, move stiffer crud with a brush and then wipe down. Part 2 is an engine shiner. Spray liberally, wait for it to dry then start car to warm engine. Done. Looks quite good; but tbh I tend to only do it before selling a car... M. EDIT: Like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161131225585 (yes, I realise it's in the USA)

Why would you want a citrus smelling engine!

 

[WDB124066]

The Chicks like it!!

 

[sjmaxwell]

The Chicks like it!!

Got it! For when you open the bonnet to show how big it is!!

 

[norfolkngood]

OK, my tuppence worth... starting point is don't under any circumstances, use a pressure hose on your engine.

Any de-greaser will do the job - I use Auto-Glym but any other will do the same job, including the cheap sh*te from Poundshops. Wrap anything electrical in old carrier bags and secure with tape. Apply cleaner and agitate with brush (wife's tooth brush especially recommended here).

Stand back and use water from watering can or gentle spray from hose to remove the crap-cleanser.

Start the engine so heat will dry the water you've just sprayed all over the shop. Probably worth a run round the block to make sure everything is dry.

If you want to guild the lily, spray under the bonnet with AG plastic treatment (or probably anything shiny that does the same job)