[daveyc2k8]

Can someone give me some advice on how to clean the engine bay safely!! Mine is absolutely filthy and really want it cleaned up and looking nice!! All help would be appreciated!! Cheers

[thebadun]

Here's a pretty detailed guide Car Care Advice - How to safely clean and protect your engine bay , that should get you going. Generally, the engine should be cold and you'll need a degreaser of some sort, something like AutoGlym Engine and Machine Cleaner is pretty good and avaiable from Halfords, then a brushs (some poeple use paintbrushes, which can be cut down) and finally a sealant for the plastics, going again with AutoGlym Vinyl and Rubber care should do, or more specialist is 303 Aerospace protector.

[Richard Crofts]

I will now make many cringe... but for years I've used liberal amounts Cillit Bang and a jet wash held a long way away (so as not to push pressurised water into the electrics)...then back to black and silicone etc to bring it up shiney. Works a treat but its not the best method and I'd never condone it

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by daveyc2k8 (original)

Can someone give me some advice on how to clean the engine bay safely!! Mine is absolutely filthy and really want it cleaned up and looking nice!! All help would be appreciated!! Cheers

Drive it into a lake*


*I accept no responsibility for any damage caused by my uninformed advice

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Drive it into a lake*


*I accept no responsibility for any damage caused by my uninformed advice

I'll get you for this Fiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnn!!!!!!

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by ARCrawford (original)

I'll get you for this Fiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnn!!!!!!

!

[Mark84]

Lmfao!!!

[Hartge210]

Is that what you call dipping the headlights














Sorry, i'll get my coat

[Tommo]

A good tip is to use some tin foil to cover relays and air flow sensors etc to keep the water off just mold it around when you come to washing the degreaser off

[daveyc2k8]

Only problem is that I don't know what these parts are!! I'm awful when it comes to things like that!! If anyone can show me a picture of all the parts I need to cover up it would be much appreciated!!

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by daveyc2k8 (original)

Can someone give me some advice on how to clean the engine bay safely!! Mine is absolutely filthy and really want it cleaned up and looking nice!! All help would be appreciated!! Cheers

Quote: Originally Posted by tommo13 (original)

A good tip is to use some tin foil to cover relays and air flow sensors etc to keep the water off just mold it around when you come to washing the degreaser off

As "tommo13" stated, use anything cling-film plastic bags etc... etc... especially if your using a power washer (to keep electrics dry), if you wrap that tin-foil too tightly around an exposed relays / electrics watch out for the sparks .

"Mark84" how did I end up with a Thanks! that I think should have gone to "ARCrawford", I wont be offended if you remove it "Mark84" .

[Sportspack Mark]

its a bmw you could stand with the hose on it all day long, no point pussy footing around

just lash a load of cheap pound shop wheel cleaner or something into it and power wash it off

thats what i do

[drainaudio]

Good advice here..
http://www.polishedbliss.com/

Spend a good few hours the first time getting it really clean (just go easy with water pressure - more of a sprinkle really) - use the right products to protect it and from then on it's an absolute doddle to keep it looking new, just 20mins once a month or so.
Autoglym Rubber and Vinyl Care is great for under the bonnet - spray on when wet and just let it dry.

Same with the underside, give it a really good scrub (those jetwashes with the foam brush are good for this if need be), apply protection to the wheel arch liners and all plastics - I actually take them off once a year to really give a good clean and waxoil behind etc.
Autoglym Bumper Care applied with a paintbrush is good for the underbody plastics - nice, black, new looking wheel arch liners always set the alloys (and the bodywork) off really nicely.

A bit of work protecting these parts makes all the difference, dirt, salt etc in winter just hoses off and I'm constantly surprised how good (clean and rust-free) the underside, wheel arches etc of my car look compared to others when I take it to the dealers.

Cheers, Geoff.