E30 Zone

Is it okay to pressure wash the engine bay or is it best to steam clean it?

obviously as much of the electrical parts will be covered up beforehand. Has anyone done this as mine is looking a little grubby and i want to smarten it up a little.

yea plenty of engine degreaser before hand, i have done this loads of time and never had any problems

Just make sure you cover all electrics under the hood properly first!

all i use is autoglym spray engibe cleaner/de greaser stuff, cover electric bits with cling film and foil, then just spray that stuff on and work in with a brush if need be, and rinse off with a gentle running hose (not full wack) , all and any crap and gunk just comes straight off and goes, leaves it looking nice and clean, you dont need a pressure/power washer or steam clean mate, pressure washer would take all the cling film etc straight off and generaly make it a messy affair

I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay

tin foil in the engine bay to cover electrics...............shocking

sorry for the pun, had to be done

I used to do mine with the engine running and kept it running for a while after I'd finished to

you can get hand pump (pressure) washers, they take about 2-3 litres of water, its not high pressure or a wide spray so quite good for engine bays, spray degreaser, agitate with a brush and rise down the hand washer.

Plus they are cheap too. also good to applying bug and tar remover to the bottom sections of the car to remove that really subborn stuff.

More pressure than a standard bottle spray nossle but not as much as a spray gun on a hose. Ideal.

beemerbird wrote:I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay

tin foil over the top of a couple of layers/good wrap of cling film, it wraps round trcky bits better, then once water gone its taken straight off, engines not started and dont put the foil near anything live like

Dont spray the electrics? I do mine from time to time and dont coverowt up... Just be carefull...

1st time i done this.. Used both pressure & steam clean.. The failed to start.. After a looooong time when it did... It missfired for ages... Eventually once the water dried out, it stopped. I think the dizzy cap
Got wet

Never again...

polsta wrote:

beemerbird wrote:I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay

tin foil over the top of a couple of layers/good wrap of cling film, it wraps round trcky bits better, then once water gone its taken straight off, engines not started and dont put the foil near anything live like

Now that makes sense! Don't forget people who know very little could be watching this thread