cleaning the engine bay

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Laney83
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:00 pm

hi, just after some advice on cleaning the engine bay. Whats the best way to do it, some people have said to me not to bother at all cos it can cause problems? cheers
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gooner1
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:13 pm

Gunk, TFR, or Auto Gylymms engine cleaner. Spray on agitate with a paintbrush and
just hose off. You might want to cover any electrical connections, i never have and have,nt had a problem yet. For the coolant hoses i just use any domestic surface cleaner that happens
to be knocking about the kitchen.
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Laney83
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:19 pm

excellent, cheers mate
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gooner1
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:20 pm

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Here you go Laney, not too shabby imho. :)
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asmith88
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:22 pm

shiny strut braces make everything look good
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The_Diddler
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:23 pm

I've seen guys on the detailing forums wrap any electrical connections or equipment they dont want to get wet in tin foil, i did the same and it worked a treat.

As gooner said get a good degreaser, spray on aggitate with a soft paintbrush etc, rinse off....

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Joe-318i
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:24 pm

just been giving mine bit of a clean, gunk/tfr cleaner, wirewool and a brush, only done 1 side quick
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and for paint work, i use any car polish and rag thats laying about :D
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powelly
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:03 am

I di mine with Jizer, it's a bit like gunk but better in my opinion, leave it soaking for a bit, aggitate with a brush and then jet wash it away, I then followed this up with a liberal application of TFR again scrubbed in with a brush and jet washed away, I have suffered no ill effects since doing this and it looks so much better under the bonnet now, if you're a bit paranoid, wrap up electricals in cling film, to be honest though the connectors on these cars seem pretty water tight, just try not to spray a jet washer directly at them
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Brianmoooore
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:04 am

I get in there with an industrial pressure washer, take no precautions at all, and have never had any consequential problems whatsoever!
B7
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:15 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:I get in there with an industrial pressure washer, take no precautions at all, and have never had any consequential problems whatsoever!
Neither have I. I got at them quite hard and they always start.
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pac1982
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:23 pm

I've just started work on mine but it seems to still have the factory wax sealent on top of the paint as, the car is white but certain bits in the engine bay are covered with a yellow substance that is proving quite hard to get rid off
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B7
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:09 pm

pac1982 wrote:I've just started work on mine but it seems to still have the factory wax sealent on top of the paint as, the car is white but certain bits in the engine bay are covered with a yellow substance that is proving quite hard to get rid off
Brake cleaner gets it off. Not a cheap method though :(
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
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gooner1
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:12 pm

Will it not steam clean off pac?
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pac1982
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:28 pm

Not tried steam yet will have a go and report back
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