[ROOBRYJ]

I was looking out the window this afternoon thinking to myself whether it was worth washing the car (as its been raining bad on and off)...so I decided to do the engine bay instead (of the Impreza) as there is no shammy required

The Impreza's engine bay was pretty clean when I bought it...but looked a bit tired as I don't think its been touched since new.

I used the following:-

1)AutoGylm engine cleaner (this stuff is very good)...but not as good as CO2 engine cleaner from Halfrauds (Its cheaper too, the CO2 stuff!)
2)A decorators big 'ol brush
3)CO2 Engine Detailer (part of a twin pack-having already used the CO2 engine cleaner once before)
4)Trusty hose

Here is the before shot



As you can see, its not THAT bad to start off with...
I have started work in the bottom left hand corner of the engine bay, and straight away the AutoGlym gear is stripping away all the grease and grime that has developed over the months...and its running away nicely with some elbow grease and the brush. Good liberal coating all over the COOL engine bay with this gear and get scrubbing with that brush. Do the underneath of the bonnet as well, also do the shuts and the locking mechanism which also is covered (for a reason) in grease and muck on top of that grease (not for a reason)

The oil caps (yellow) never looked so good! There was a mucky grime that ran all down the side of the bonnet where previously wax had run down after a good valet and set..and then gunk on top of that...left a horrid mark.....the AutoGylm eats through this.

Having previously used CO2 on an engine I can safely say that the AutoGlym is A LOT harder to get working. The CO2 is spray on-spray off....and leaves roughly the same finish. CO2 has the edge here, for the lazy! The AutoGlym though does make you get scrubbing in those hard to reach places.

Then its water on and rinse it all off (with engine running now) avoiding the electric's as much as possible-especially the flux capacitor and the alarm wiring. People make lots of noise about engine cleaning but I have only ever had a problem with cosworths (because the plugs are exposed on the top of the engine) and even then it clears after its warmed up. But be careful all the same is my advice....especially if you have induction kits etc (bag them up with sarnie bags and zip ties if your worried just don't start the engine with them still on-as breathing becomes an issue )

Take a look under the car, and see the muck that has come away. Then avoid the nosey neighbours glances (who must be thinking that bloke is a lunatic..he washes his engine) and also see how much of the tarmac has been eaten away....nice big CLEAN patch where the engine bay cleaner has cleaned the road

(Easier to do early morning soon as a petrol station opens at a jet wash-no pavement eating problems)

Then spray on the CO2 detailer and leave to dry for 30 mins. The last 15 with the engine running and bonnet closed leaving a small gap for steam to escape when remaining water evaporates!

And there you have it.

The finished article (needs a wipe down normally to get rid of excess CO2 residue)



Now all I got to do is the Cooper!

[danbanger]

That looks great, so you didn't cover anything while cleaning?

[ROOBRYJ]

Hi dangbanger...

In fact, no I didnt. I was carefull where I sprayed!

That said...all the belts will squeel and make you feel like you have just done a really bad thing...then whack the bonnet down and it steam cleans itself!