Whats the best way to clean your engine bay?

[Tedswagon]

I have had my 88 reg 325i for just over a week now and have been watching the underside of the engine to see if there are any leaks. No sign of any drips.

There is evidence of old oil leaks / spillages as there is some old oil on the side of the engine. My local mechanic said its one of the cleanest e30s he has seen - but in the service history there is an advisory on a receipt from 2003 saying there is a slight leak from the head gasket. I know it's common enough for the M20 to leak a bit - but I'd like to clean it so I can monitor any leaks.

So here's the question

I've been toying with the idea of a steam clean at the local car wash. Is this a good or a bad thing to do to your engine bay??

[lenny-d]

autoglym engine bay cleaner or gunk both do a good job at cleaning engine bays and just powerwash off

[DaveD]

but do it when the engine is warm and cover the electrics in plastic bags

[hennabm]

Spray on gunk and wash off when engine warm.
As before watch the electrics.

The M20 always seems to leak from the osf corner of the engine to head joint. All the ones I have (had) do it even when using genuine gaskets etc.
It is never a bad leak, just one that needs a cloth and WD40 or such like every so often to keep it clean.

[Tedswagon]

Covering the electrics is a good idea. That is the bit I was worried about!

If I do it myself - with an engine bay cleaner how do you get to the areas like the engine block below the exhaust manifold!

[DaveD]

try a brush (toilet brush?) with a handle to get the cleaner into the caked on crap before you jet wash

[Tedswagon]

Thanks for that Dave D - Will get hunting my local brush shop!!!!!

[Alex]

pressure washer does the trick, i never cover electrics

gunk is also good stuff

[aj_mckay]

If you can't be bothered with all that yourself find a local car valeting place to steam clean the engine bay for you. They often have the proper kit and specialised drainage for all the crud that will get washed off onto the floor.

[bodger]

traffic film remover is the business, i never cover electrics just try not to direct the jet wash directly at them, never had a problem doing it this way

[Tedswagon]

Thanks for all of the advice. I've been out and bought an engine cleaner and a brush. Will be heading for the jet wash this afternoon.

[Hyperion]

all the above advice is sound. my engine is pretty clean, i just use a sponge and soapy water on all the bits, start the engine and hose it off with teh engine running, without spraying the fuse box directly or at all.
once done, let it run for a few secs, switch her off wipe any excess water from the fuse box, dizzy etc. start her up again to check that she does and thats it.

[aj_mckay]

Thinking about it you can also get Swarfega type stuff that you can add to a pressure qasher as detergent - that's probably be pretty good

[Felix79]

The old man steams the engine bay ( he not keen on doing it though ) and always trys to advoid the electrics.

Using TFR not really going to help much and if you spray it on and miss it when washing off it bloody stinks to high heaven when it's being roasted onto the engine.

[Grrrmachine]

Disconnect the battery, gaffer-tape a plastic sheet to the bottom of the car, then fill the engine bay with vinegar...

I accept no responsibilty for the possibly disastrous results this method may yield.

[Baz666]

i`v always used TFR bloody good stuff so good i went out and got 55 gallon of the stuff sitting in my gardan only because it was cheap at the time, spray it on neat and then give it a good seing too with the jetwash (just dont use it on chrome).

[spook]

Get your missus to do it

[Felix79]

i`v always used TFR bloody good stuff so good i went out and got 55 gallon of the stuff sitting in my gardan only because it was cheap at the time, spray it on neat and then give it a good seing too with the jetwash (just dont use it on chrome).

TFR is good stuff but bloody leathal neat and will take the laquer off your paint. Also got to be carefull about lettign it dry on paintwork as it can make it go a sstreaky as a chavets fake tan.

[Tedswagon]

Get your missus to do it

I'll try that - but you have to come and visit me when I'm in hospital!!!!!