Steam cleaning engine bay..or not??

[gerrymoore]

Just bought a new (secondhand) car. Its a 2 year old BMW and the outside is immaculate.... but the engine bay is absolutely awful - and it has full BMW service history - so much for taking pride in their work.

Anyway, I like my engine bay to be immaculate if possible and need advice as to get it like that.

I have a pressure washer but don't think it's a good idea? Haven't heard much about steam cleaning for years? Alternative is Gunk or Paraffin, lots of hand brushing and rinsing?

Any advice welcome...and yes, I'm reading the manual right now to see what the indicators are for

 

[arther dailey]

I do my van, plastic bag over ECU and keep away from it, normally have the engine warm so it dries itself out quickly, maybe wait too hhear others advice before you start though.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'd not pressure wash as it can force water into places where you'd not want it. Cover electrical components like alternator etc with cling-film or kitchen foil, then spray on your degreaser of choice, agitate with suitable brushes [for reaching those hard-to-get-to corners, a long handled radiator brush is ideal], leave to dwell and rinse with an open hose. Close the bonnet [remove foil etc first!! ] and run the engine for a little while to help dry off the engine and job's jobbed .

For bringing up the plastic covers, Aerospace 303 is a good dressing. Have a look on detailing-world where there's loads of info, along with examples of how-to's and pics of results.

 

[cumbriasteve]

^^^^ Wot e sed

I think with a bit of care and covering risky areas you can usually get away with pressure washing but the time you don't can prove very costly, even more so on the likes of a BMW, they are not well known for cheap leccy bits.

 

[knighty]

I always just pressure wash or steam clean everything, normally with the engine running - keeps it nice and hot + fan running (if it's on the front of the engine) dries it off quick

if they're happy with you driving into rain at 100mph then a bit of pressure washing doesen't do any harm

(I must have done about 15 different vehicles, the work vans have all been done once every couple of months or as/when work needs doing)

 

[arther dailey]

Good advice ,the one thing I would say is dont get to close with the lance if you do use one, the pressure can damage placky bits easily.common sence dictates what not to get close to really.

 

[cumbriasteve]

if they're happy with you driving into rain at 100mph then a bit of pressure washing doesen't do any harm

On the autobahns with the bonnet up?

 

[123hotchef]

I'd not pressure wash as it can force water into places where you'd not want it. Cover electrical components like alternator etc with cling-film or kitchen foil, then spray on your degreaser of choice, agitate with suitable brushes [for reaching those hard-to-get-to corners, a long handled radiator brush is ideal], leave to dwell and rinse with an open hose. Close the bonnet [remove foil etc first!! ] and run the engine for a little while to help dry off the engine and job's jobbed .

For bringing up the plastic covers, Aerospace 303 is a good dressing. Have a look on detailing-world where there's loads of info, along with examples of how-to's and pics of results.

same but I wash it all off with a pressure bottle of warm-hot water removers the grease and crud better

 

[123hotchef]

what is a good degreaser now days I tried some gunk a few months back and it is not like it use to be

 

[gerrymoore]

Some good advice . .thanks guys . I used to use the original smelly gunk years ago but there's a new pink one on ebay ..anyone used this . .?

 

[Lufbramatt]

Bilt hamber surfex HD, you can dilute it loads but it still cuts through the crud

 

[123hotchef]

I think I will try the degreaser I use at work next time then water based like the bilt hamber stuff

 

[jenki]

Jizer and brushes followed by TFR in Hot water used in a Garden Sprayer works for me, blow off with an airline and leave in the sun to dry (spring job for me)

 

[Nick67GT]

How about some 'before' & 'after' pics?

Steam cleaning BTW stopped off all the paint from the bulkhead when I did a 2003 Polo.......

 

[tomsutton529]

My mate pressure washed his engine once, its came up brilliant. But the car wouldn't run properly and ended up with a large bill to put it right. He has now learnt that Steam cleaning is the way to go.

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks everyone for their input on this. I've just taken a good look - only bought the car yesterday - and it's not as bad as I first thought. As Nick said, I'll take some pics of before and after and what I've used. Quite a nice day here today but I've got other things to do first while the sun shines so watch this space.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

See you can find some one who does car valets, we have the polish lads down the road who do Vapour cleaning.

I seen it done. looks like the bay is sprayed with some for of de greaser and then a try of hot liquid is placed under the engine and you can watch the gunk and crud drip away.

 

[the snooper]

Ive power washed plenty with no problems, as mentioned earlier make sure the engine is hot

 

[zzr1200]

Start the engine get it warm, leave it running while you just blast away, use TFR if your cleaner has a soap injector function, obviously try not to sink/submerge the engine ecm.

I steam clean engines and DC electric motors at work, only have a problem when the control systems gets totally soaked.

hth.

 

[gerrymoore]

All done... Only took me about 40 minutes with a bucket of soapy water, elbow grease and a hosepipe...just didn't realise it wasn't really that bad..but I'm very appreciative of all the advice given. Here are the before and after pics..looks almost brand new now