How do you clean your engine bay?

JapCarForum Cars, Cars, Cars! Car Care & Detailing How do you clean your engine bay?

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jimxms
Posting Freak

2,473

16-05-2018, 04:51 AM

The first time I cleaned my engine bay I did it like this:

- Run engine for a few minutes to heat it up.
- Covered over any electrical connectors and other bits I didnt think should get wet with cling film.
- Sprayed everything with Autoglym Engine Degreaser
- Left for a minute or two
- Used jet washer to wash it all off. Trying my best to avoid any electricals
- Left car for 30 mins to drip dry.
- Started engine to burn off anything left behind (lots of water in headers!)

Does that sound about right, or would you have done anything any differently? I'm planning to clean the engine again int he next few days.

jimxms

16-05-2018, 04:51 AM #1

Dare
Junior Member

16-05-2018, 05:07 AM

If yours is kept very clean then I reckon you should start thinking about polishes/wax to keep it more protected from dirt. From that point on you should just have torinse and top up on the polish every so often i suppose.

Dare

16-05-2018, 05:07 AM #2

I guess it depends how clean you keep your bay. Mine was covered in gunk and crusty dirt so I used the same method as you, bar the warming up.
Removed battery, avoided electrical connections, covered the bay in Auto Glym Engine & Machine cleaner, then lightly flowed water over the entire bay and left to dry.

Only this was my first attempt and i'd left the AG stuff on too long before rinsing which left me with some white chalky areas Sad

If yours is kept very clean then I reckon you should start thinking about polishes/wax to keep it more protected from dirt. From that point on you should just have torinse and top up on the polish every so often i suppose.

Stoney
Posting Freak

2,117

16-05-2018, 05:10 AM

There are these two Polish blokes down the end of the road, and they will get it all gleaming for £10. It takes them about an hour and I have no idea how they do it!

ad: It was a tough call to make, but the Supercharged IS200 is being retired. Confused

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Stoney

16-05-2018, 05:10 AM #3

There are these two Polish blokes down the end of the road, and they will get it all gleaming for £10. It takes them about an hour and I have no idea how they do it!

ad: It was a tough call to make, but the Supercharged IS200 is being retired. Confused

ad:

jimxms
Posting Freak

2,473

16-05-2018, 05:33 AM

I'm wondering if a steam cleaner is a better option than jet washing? I'd imagine you could be a little bit more blase about ti considering most of the steam would evaporate shortly after?

jimxms

16-05-2018, 05:33 AM #4

I'm wondering if a steam cleaner is a better option than jet washing? I'd imagine you could be a little bit more blase about ti considering most of the steam would evaporate shortly after?

Stoney
Posting Freak

2,117

16-05-2018, 06:08 AM

I do not have a jet wash/pressure washer, but I do have a steam cleaner. It's a £200 Karcher, not some cheapy job. It would be good for some of the finer detail, but it does take a long time to cover any area, so I would suggest maybe a steam after you have done the other method, just to get the details you have missed, if you want to get it stupidly clean.

ad: It was a tough call to make, but the Supercharged IS200 is being retired. Confused

ad:

Stoney

16-05-2018, 06:08 AM #5

ad: It was a tough call to make, but the Supercharged IS200 is being retired. Confused

ad:

fluff
Senior Member

688

16-05-2018, 06:46 AM

Cleaning my engine is easy. Don't take the engine cover off then you don't have to see the dirtiness underneath.

fluff

16-05-2018, 06:46 AM #6

Cleaning my engine is easy. Don't take the engine cover off then you don't have to see the dirtiness underneath.

jimxms
Posting Freak

2,473

16-05-2018, 06:48 AM

That's the 'good' thing about most modern cars. Engine is well hidden away and just a few colour coded filler caps.

jimxms

16-05-2018, 06:48 AM #7

That's the 'good' thing about most modern cars. Engine is well hidden away and just a few colour coded filler caps.

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

16-05-2018, 06:50 AM

How's that a good thing! You end up with engine bays like this...

http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/...cf8b_o.jpg

Can't see the important gubbins for the wires! It just makes the car manufacturers lazy...

toxo

16-05-2018, 06:50 AM #8

jimxms
Posting Freak

2,473

16-05-2018, 07:00 AM

Maybe more efficient engine designs don't lend themselves well to neatness? More direct routes, shorter wires and pipes = more efficiency?

Clutching at straws!

Personally though I'd rather see plastic covers than what 99% of engines look like.

jimxms

16-05-2018, 07:00 AM #9

DaveEdin
Posting Freak

5,657

16-05-2018, 07:02 AM

#10

Dunno Toxo - I look at that and think - "looks fast" :biggrin:

Might be a 1.0 Micra for all I know

IS200 Sport - Sold
Mazda 6 MPS - Zoom Zoom!

Modifications
Completed:
Currently 280bhp/295lbft; 3" Meercat custom exhaust; KW Suspension; FMIC; SSP; HPFP; Custom Stainless Steel Dials - for the moment, the only set in the world!! (Till the group buy for MPSOC anyway :lol: )

In Progress:
E-Tuning remap ongoing via Cobb Accessport; Braided brake lines; Stubby aerial; Tinted repeaters and sidelights; 3 Port Boost Control Solenoid; 3" HTP Intake