Whats the best and safest way to give the whole engine bay a good clean?

[Ade33]

I'm considering cleaning the whole on the inside of my engine bay as on my car there is minimal signs of corrosion and I believe it could come up looking very nice!

HOWEVER!

I'm very concerned that I may damage/wreck electrical components ..(ending up with a car that won't start) if I go about it the wrong way and use a pressure washer or the like!

Any ideas how the pro's do it..Has anybody done theirs using and special steamers or chemicals or whatever..I'd be interested in tapping into folks knowledge and experience on this one!

 

[Zephyr]

For years of grime I use about two or three cans of 3M Foaming Engine Degreaser, rinse and blow with my air compresor.
For persistent dirt, brake cleaner and compessed air.
I usually never cover any parts, but work with some caution around alternator and fusebox.

 

[Sajk]

Autoglym machine and engine cleaner works well

 

[John_B]

I was scrubbing away at my washer bottle on and off for months and couldn't shift oily marks. My wife gave me permission to use her 'astonish' (which is like an abrasive cleaner) and it came out looking brand new. That made a big difference in my engine bay

 

[colb]

I cover the Alternator with a plastic bag then apply a degreaser to the engine block working it in with a brush then use a pressure washer on a lowish spray to rinse it all off. Get good results doing it this way. You could run the engine whilst doing this it would aid drying time or use an airline.

 

[Barron]

I always snow foam and jet wash, after applying snow foam go over with a stiff detailing brush then gentle jet wash. I've done literally hundreds and never one had an issue.

 

[Nodzed]

I don't clean mine!

 

[t-tony]

Cold water pressure washers, especially on low pressure don’t cause problems. Steam cleaners, on the other hand did, by causing things to “sweat” , making condensation which took a long time to dry out. Not many people use steam cleaners any more.

Tony.

 

[AntStark]

....although probably not best to run the engine with the bag still on the alternator

Autoglym machine and engine cleaner works well

This stuff with a soft brush to agitate the dirt.. cover air intakes, fusebox and alternator then low pressure jetwash .. WD40 is also good for cleaning

 

[as400]

Get a pro to come and do it for you then pop on a cup of tea for you both.

 

[andyglym]

Lashings of Autoglym Engine and Machine Cleaner, agitate with a brush, cover the airbox then rinse with a low flow hose. Lashings of Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care, close bonnet. Once you've washed the car, pop the bonnet and buff up.

 

[bear2020]

I just did both of mine, sprayed it with Autoglym degreaser, pressure wash on a very fine spray and cleaned them. No issues re-starting. I think if you have the pressure wash on a powerful setting water will get in but a fine spray is fine. They get worse than that when it rains. Then give it a buff up on the black bits and looks clean enough!

 

[Oddly Godly]

If its a six cylinder just doing all the black plastic makes a big difference. I use this.