Engine bay cleaning

[TeamG]

I’ve just been criticised by my 17 year old son as I’ve been teaching him how to check and top up engine bay fluids. His car’s engine bay is spotless, having been prepared and detailed thoroughly before we bought it used from the dealer in October. Mine is pretty bogging, despite a wipe over of the plastic covers at each annual service, the engine is now pretty dirty and I’ve a few sooty/oily areas.

I’d like to give it all a proper clean, preferably with a suitable product to degrease/de-soot/de-gunge the whole area that I can spray in then rinse out. Any ideas? What do you all use? Are there specific products for this?

With a clean engine, I can keep an eye out for the inevitable slow oil leaks that are causing the mess in the first place.

[Tannaton]

I know some people have a different view but I just hit it with a power washer. I do then to use my cheap Karcher which is quite low powered but always comes up clean, never any issues with the electrics.

I usually remove the undertray so I can do the bottom of the sump as well.

[ITSv40]

I like a clean engine bay, but not fanatical about it.

The method I have used for the past 20 years on all our cars is as follows. Minimal effort and no issues with electrics etc.

Run engine until warm, but not excessively hot.

Liberally spray Autoglym Machine Clean all over and agitate with an old paintbrush. Repeat on really dirty areas.

Fill a garden watering can, with a rose fitted, with hot water and rinse everything off. Repeat until all suds have gone.

Liberally spray everything with Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care while still wet. Start engine and take for a run to dry all water off and dry the Rubber care.

When engine has cooled wipe top surfaces over with a dry microfibre cloth.

In all I don't usually spend more than 45mins to an hour on the engine bay and usually do once a year as part of the routine service/mot prep.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by TeamG

I’ve just been criticised by my 17 year old son as I’ve been teaching him how to check and top up engine bay fluids. His car’s engine bay is spotless, having been prepared and detailed thoroughly before we bought it used from the dealer in October. Mine is pretty bogging, despite a wipe over of the plastic covers at each annual service, the engine is now pretty dirty and I’ve a few sooty/oily areas.

I’d like to give it all a proper clean, preferably with a suitable product to degrease/de-soot/de-gunge the whole area that I can spray in then rinse out. Any ideas? What do you all use? Are there specific products for this?

With a clean engine, I can keep an eye out for the inevitable slow oil leaks that are causing the mess in the first place.

I find Elbow Grease works wonders. No, I don't mean scrubbing hard, I mean the product you can buy for cleaning cookers and ovens

Spray it on, leave it for a few minutes and simply wipe away with a microfibre cloth. Eats through dirt and grime with ease.

[4x4]

This...

+ YouTube Video

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by 4x4

This...

^^^^^

That. Well not quite that. Never had a problem on a Volvo and I've cleaned 10's of them like that. But on my wife's Golf Mk7 had a strange cluster error for 3 hours until it all dried out.... so don't do it on a VW

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I find Elbow Grease works wonders. No, I don't mean scrubbing hard, I mean the product you can buy for cleaning cookers and ovens

Spray it on, leave it for a few minutes and simply wipe away with a microfibre cloth. Eats through dirt and grime with ease.

I wouldn't use 10 -30% caustic soda on my engine bay.

https://www.sampsonchemicalproducts...._-_SDS4724.pdf