Cleaining engine bay - which way is best?

[Royalratch]

I've heard steam cleans are bad as they can mess with the electrics and if you must do it that way it's better to do it in the summer. In India.

Obviously loads of water isn't good in there either.

I'm thinking bucket of warm water, slightly damp cloth and just work my way round slowly by hand.

Mine is really filfthy at the mo.

Thoughts?

[DaveD]

warmish engine then jizer and a brush then rinse gently,from a bottle,,electrical bits in plastic bags

[Royalratch]

What's jizer?

[OBs]

Yea pop along to Halfords you can buy 'Gunk' I think its called its Engine / Bay degreaser (Instructions on back!) I work in a Body Shop so WaterBased degreaser works for me! And like DaveD said bags etc and use a old Fairy Liquid bottle (If you havent already made it in to a 'Blue Peter' Rocket!) Job Done

[OBs]

Same thing as Gunk

[OBs]

Oh and one of those brushes for cleaning pots and pans.....

[ivqii]

and marigolds

[Kos]

I've heard steam cleans are bad as they can mess with the electrics

nothing wrong with steam cleaning, you just need to be carefull and use some sort of cleaning additive to help it along

i've never had a problem in ten years

[maxfield]

if your steam cleaning it leave the engine running

[DanThe]

Use some neat TFR, better than most branded stuff

[Falkster]

Where can you buy TFR these days??

I used to get it from a mate whos dad worked at the bus depot.

[bennyboy]

i've seen my dad use diesel and a brush. works a treat!

[dazleeds]

parafin and a drop of fairy works a treat on a nice big paint brush

[IainB]

Ive used Gunk and Jizer for most of my engine bay cleaning, just wondered if anyone had any experience of this product yet - Marine Clean?
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8680

[ajm-e30]

iv used that b4 and its much better than gunk or jizer, gets everythin clean really easilly mate

[DaveGT]

For hard to reach areas I used the spray carb cleaner and a tooth brush, Once the oil and dirt is freed up it'll spray out with the carb cleaner, then I just rinse with hot water. Works great all over the engine just make sure you rinse well as it's solvent based!

[bigun]

i use tfr i find this the best result when worked in with a brush do you have access to an airline if so use the 'blower' and blow all the electrics out after i've never had a problem with steaming infact im going to put it over the pit today and steam all the underneath off ready for the resto

[dimebag_from_hell]

that sig is too big mate, get it sorted

[e36boy]

Ive steam cleaned loads of times and never had any problems.
Ive heard different opinions on steam cleaning though, Some people have told me not to do it because it can take the wax oil protection off your engine bay. Another issue is ELECTRICS, I would say cover these areas with plastic bag/Bin bag.
If you do decide to steam clean, Leave your engine running, Even when you have finished cleaning keep it running for about 10 or 15 minutes for it to dry off nicely.

[cliffybabe]

Polish it till it shine's

[CHRISP]

elbow grease and hard work and a bit of gunk

[tomtomiS]

that sig is too big mate, get it sorted

are you a moderator? was there any need for the angry tone????????

[bigun]

i know yeah its my sig so bore off

[lenny-d]

autoglym engine cleaner, spray it on, brush it in, rinse and then coat with autoglym rubber and vinyl looks mint

[E30Adam]

i know yeah its my sig so bore off

He's actually right, could you please reduce the size.