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.
Pressure Wash Engine Bay
Moderator: martauto
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
-
beemerbird
- Married to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 8620
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk
I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay 
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is
- colinurquhart
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 74
- Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Sunny Kelty
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.
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.
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 likebeemerbird wrote:I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay
-
Ajsingh
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2378
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: West Laaaandaan init! / Milton Keynes
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...
Got wet
Never again...
E30 Crazy!
-
beemerbird
- Married to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 8620
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Now that makes sense! Don't forget people who know very little could be watching this threadpolsta wrote: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 likebeemerbird wrote:I wouldn't start putting bits of tinfoil in my engine bay![]()
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is





