Engine Steam Clean

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:10 pm

I have spent a couple of hours with a brush and the old can of Gunk from Halfrauds but still not really happy.
Has any one had their E30 Engine bay Steam Cleaned?
Is it a recommended thing or will it be a disaster with all the elcrics knackered?
Thanks

Lee

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:14 pm

Ive known a couple of guys do it but keep away from the alternator and fus box. There is a bloke on here thats just sold his beautiful 'iS' and i think he jet washes his engine bays.

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:29 pm

Stay away from your filter as well.

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:25 pm

Im a valeter and steam clean engines all the time, Stay away from your electrics and leave your engine running as you do it, leave it running afterwards for a while aswell.

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:26 pm

does anyone know anyone that does it in the worcs area?

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:43 pm

Sanchez wrote:Ive known a couple of guys do it but keep away from the alternator and fus box. There is a bloke on here thats just sold his beautiful 'iS' and i think he jet washes his engine bays.

that will be me then!!! 318iS gone, but not forgotten...

I jet wash my engines all the time! just be careful with the electrics...

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:47 pm

That engine bay's immaculate, Credit to ya fella !!

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:49 pm

E30Mark wrote:
Sanchez wrote:Ive known a couple of guys do it but keep away from the alternator and fus box. There is a bloke on here thats just sold his beautiful 'iS' and i think he jet washes his engine bays.
that will be me then!!! 318iS gone, but not forgotten...

I jet wash my engines all the time! just be careful with the electrics...

Defo go but not forgotten. Only seen pictures but thats enough to make me dribble.

Post Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:53 pm

Sanchez wrote:
Defo go but not forgotten. Only seen pictures but thats enough to make me dribble.

well the car is now up in Scotland!!! sold it to CraigG who lives in Livingstone...

Post Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:15 am

ill be hoping he goes to falkirk in it then.

Post Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:27 pm

Sanchez, can you give us a list of things to cover and how you do your jet wash? Do you use any degreaser first before jetwashing?

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:29 am

Is there a danger of cracking the head when having the engine running while jetwashing?

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:30 am

My dad chucked a bucket of water over it earlier still running so theres not harm in steam cleaning

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:24 pm

Hi. The engine looks exceptionally clean. A credit to you.
The problem when steam cleaning engines is that you eliminate all the original wax which was sprayed in the engine compartment when new.

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:26 pm

eldarvanyar wrote:Sanchez, can you give us a list of things to cover and how you do your jet wash? Do you use any degreaser first before jetwashing?

i havent done it jet but will give it a go. I no mercedes garages do it, my dads 190 got done no problem when it was in for a service.

Post Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:25 pm

Well it's going in for a steam clean this friday morning, and our digital camera has packed up, Iwill see if I can get some before and after pics. Hope is starts afterwards

Post Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:55 pm

i've always done it. it makes fixing things and tracing leaks sooooo easy! no more greasy hands!

if you do anything with sealed HT leads (multivalve angines mostly) then it might run lumpy a few days afterwards as teh water that got past the seals keeps evaporating and killing the spark with the damp. if this happens, run the engine up to temp, turn it off and pull the leads out. this usually dries them out a treat as there is a load of heat there.

Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:26 pm

Well just had the chassis and the engine bay steamcleaned at the Cardrome in Hornchurch by James and he did a great job, all for Ã‚£25, he spent well over an hour doing it. I am well pleased, just got to trace an oil leak now.
Car started first time no problems (so far) whatsoever.

I need to get the heat-shield fixed as you can see. I have a black alpiner style rocker cover that I might put on or should I go for the polished look?

Post Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:23 pm

looks nice!

i'd go for the alpina style rocker but then the manifold will look odd. that's a lot more work to do!

Post Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:26 pm

e36boy wrote:Im a valeter and steam clean engines all the time, Stay away from your electrics and leave your engine running as you do it, leave it running afterwards for a while aswell.

Agree with that!

or if u wanna be careless, cover all electrics!

and it her running!

Post Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:28 pm

matt black cover and silver the inlet up

Post Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:47 am

mikey-t wrote:matt black cover and silver the inlet up

When you say silver the inlet do you mean spray it or machine polished?

Post Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:52 am

my personal choice would be a nice textured spray, such as plain silver powdercoating. easy to keep clean, will look fresh a lot longer, and no spending hours with your old dears best polishing cloths removing fingerprints from the last 6 shows! just a lot tidier in my opinion

Post Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:18 pm

E30Mark wrote:that will be me then!!! 318iS gone, but not forgotten...

What sound deadening is on the underside of the iS' bonnet Mark? Havnt seen that before

Post Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:21 pm

REmove that little air filter thing next to your strut !!!!!!!!!

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:38 am

DanThe wrote:
E30Mark wrote:that will be me then!!! 318iS gone, but not forgotten...
What sound deadening is on the underside of the iS' bonnet Mark? Havnt seen that before

Genuine BMW ! as fitted to the 318iS only... assuming it's got the original bonnet!!!

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:06 pm

maxfield wrote:REmove that little air filter thing next to your strut !!!!!!!!!

Its an Ecotech Valve, saves a few quid on the petrol which is no bad thing on a 320 and it helps to sstop the kangarooing at low speeds.
Do they have a bad rep then?

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:14 pm

E30Mark wrote:
DanThe wrote:
E30Mark wrote:that will be me then!!! 318iS gone, but not forgotten...
What sound deadening is on the underside of the iS' bonnet Mark? Havnt seen that before
Genuine BMW ! as fitted to the 318iS only... assuming it's got the original bonnet!!!

So its different to the normal "touch me and I will disintegrate" foam?
If so its just what I need

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:57 pm

DanThe wrote:
E30Mark wrote:
DanThe wrote: What sound deadening is on the underside of the iS' bonnet Mark? Havnt seen that before
Genuine BMW ! as fitted to the 318iS only... assuming it's got the original bonnet!!!
So its different to the normal "touch me and I will disintegrate" foam?
If so its just what I need

The 318iS soundproofing is lovely! as you say sooooo much better than the standard foam... my tourer under bonnet looks like it's got lepracy!

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:58 pm

E30Mark wrote:my tourer under bonnet looks like it's got lepracy!

Think I will price this up