Is This Safe?

[VVProtocolVV]

Lo ppl.

Not too often i venture into this part of the forum as im not the cleanest driver about, but i have a question. I fully clean/dry/wax my car every 2 weeks or so depending on my mood and weather and the car looks brilliant, but the engine bay is like looking into a scrap yard (not cleaned it in 3 yrs!). Which begs the question, how do i clean the engine bay? when i say this i really don't intend to spend Hrs on it, so i was thinking, IF i was to water/steam/jet clean the engine :-

1) Is this safe/recommended?

2) If i do so, is it best to keep engine running or off?

3) Is there a particular place in the engine to avoid?

4) what do they spray into the engine bay to make it all like clean after the steam clean (seen a spray for this sort of thing but the name of the product escapes me)

Thanks!

[PJ S]

1) Yes/not exactly

2) Off

3) Any open areas (alternator, etc), Battery terminals - wrap in cling film

4) Heavy degreaser - Bilt Hamber Surfex HD, 303 Aerospace, Meg's Super Degreaser, and so on, and so forth.

[Bazza]

3. anywhere near the ECU box !

best bet is to apply a degreaser to a cold engine, brush it on with a paint brush, even plain washing up liquid will work

then gently hose off or use a watering can

[Rob]

it anyone can get hold of a degreaser called chesterton 801 or even better chesterton 803 it is the absolute dogs danglies at cleaning - end of. no discussion

[TheDon]

Autoglym engine and machine cleaner works well on a wetted enging bay with a brush... leave it for a while, was off with a watering can and do it once more.

i then use a product called finish (from autosmart range) and it rejuvinates all rubber and plastic components to a new like state.

Be carefull about getting water in the spark plug tubes though.. not a good thing!

[hodaz]

you can steam clean the engine bay no problem, get the engine hot, wrap all the exposed wiring and electrics in cling film, then spray degreaser and pressure wash off. jobs a goiod en imo

[sorted vti]

all i done when i done mine was keep it running and spray degreaser over everything then leave it for a bit. then after about 10 mins give everything a spray with the jet wash.

[Scarlet Pimpernell]

Carlack68 AIO - does the job quite well and you can use it on the rest of the car too