engine cleaning

[paulfrost88960]

Thinking for the first time in my life i would try and keep the engine bay of my car (3.6) clean i bought Meguiars engine cleaner and detailer. Having now looked at the instructions it suggests i should rinse the engine bay down before and after applying...........my engine is working well at the moment and i can see trouble ahead if i plonk a load of water on it! Any advice please?

[PaulGover]

In the past I've done all sorts of silly things, including a "full" cleanup consisting of
1) Spray engine and bay with Jizer from a pump-up garden sprayer
2) Leave to soak, then pressure-wash (on "fan" setting, not jet)
3) Go for a short drive to blow the loose water away
4) Spray anything I could reach with "Duck Oil" (from the company that brought you Jizer, and AFAIR Swarfega)

Obviously I kept the liquids away from sensitive electrics like the distributor.

Nothing died, and it was a lot cleaner afterwards. However, the following year, while sitting in my unheated draughty and damp pref-fab garage, all the cadmium-plated bits turned grey. That may have been down to the weather, rather than excessive cleaning, as the same colour change has happened on a different car's bits, and that never got the cleaning treatment.

[steve_m]

There are lots of how-to videos available online.
I would disconnect the battery first though (remember your radio code if you have one).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sZ9-e4BXlU

[JimMann]

Engine bay cleaning is now a regular feature of having a modern car serviced at a dealership - unless like me you have a 'Do Not Wash This Vehicle Policy' that forbids them to do so. In the instances where I have observed the valet team hose down an engine bay (full blast power washer), the golden rule appears to be to undertake it with the engine running, i.e. do not disconnect the battery.

Before attempting this brutal approach on something less modern, it might be a good idea to fully inspect all of the electrical items you can view from above and below and determine whether they are likely to catch / hold water / cleaner. Any unprotected connectors / wiring should be made good beforehand. Modern engines are much more water repellent than most people think.

Incidentally, the do not wash mantra is nothing to do with the engine bay cleaning, but modern dealerships tend to use a lazy man's approach to cleaning a vehicle which means using a traffic film remover in the power washer. This not only removes traffic film, but also any wax, polish or other protective coating on a pride and joy.

Jim

[paulfrost88960]

Thanks guys. I'll take the advice on board and give it a go next week. I'll let you know how i get on.

[cafcpete]

Jaguar TSB for the later cars.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/atta ... ashing.pdf

[paulfrost88960]

Thanks Pete.

[paulfrost88960]

I've now had a go at cleaning the engine. I covered the obvious electrical connections with freezer bags and then used a handspray to wet the engine bay down (to reduce the volume of water) followed by cleaner. I used a couple of brushesto get the worst crud removed and then used a fine spray nozzle on my hosepipe to wash it all off, followed by a treatment spray. It does look better, after only in total about an hours work and will clean up very well after a few more treatments i'm sure. (not being a detail man, i'm not likely to spend a huge amount of time on this) However, most importantly, afterwards it started straight away and so far everything seems to be working so hopefully no harm done to the electrics. I did take it out afterwards for a few miles to ensure it was dried off as well as it could be in the circumstances.