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colVR4
31-01-2005, 03:36 PM
In order to save any embarrasement when I take some pictures of my new air filter I need to tidy up the engine bay a bit (lot). I have heard mixed reports about using pressure washers, steam cleaners and degreasing creams around the engine so I thought I would ask before I break something. :$

What do other people do to clean around the engine bay?

cue Kieran.... :D

psbarham
31-01-2005, 06:31 PM
DO NOT use a pressure washer under the bonnet , they are way to powerful and force water into all the electrics in there, at first this won't cause to many problems until it starts to corrode all the terminals and you can imagine all the prob's this would cause , your best bet is a tub of gunk (its a degreaser ) a paint brush or two , a toothbrush , a normal hose pipe used very spareingly and a sh!t load of elbow grease , sorry there is no easy way of doing it on modern cars .

Big Ian
31-01-2005, 08:28 PM
YIP,load's of cloth's an elbow grease!
i spray the grubby bit's with a de-greaser,leave it for a day or 2 then spray the lot again rub in with a brush and wipe clean,once all the dirt has gone give tthe alloy,steel part's a good rub with a copper (wire)brush..
ive got a pici of my engine bay in the member's cars gallery...not a great picture but it's clean? ;)

wirdy
01-02-2005, 12:59 AM
Remember, if you use the original Gunk - do it round a friends house that you don't like that much :p
It leaves a stink that takes weeks to go away. :-D

(unfortunately, there ain't much that beats it).

colVR4
01-02-2005, 09:24 AM
so it looks like I am going to have to get in there and get dirty. If only I had the time at the moment, but with my Stag do this weekend (Nottingham) and our marriage on the 12th I don't think I am going to be allowed to spend a couple of hours tidying the engine bay on the car.

I think I will have to do some before and after shots, with the after shots coming some time in April :)

Trow
01-02-2005, 01:40 PM
carefull with the gunk mate - some people can have an allergic reaction to it (including me) skin swells and gets real itchy..... :(

not to put you of tho :$

Kieran
01-02-2005, 03:41 PM
Yeah, Gunk, worked in to the really mucky areas with a stiff bristled nylon 'toothbrush'.

I use an open (flowing, not spraying) hose to rinse, then squirt WD-40 onto any electrical bits that I accidentally get water on. When wipe with lots of cloths.

Make sure you dont spray gunk or water onto a hot engine... :)

colVR4
01-02-2005, 03:58 PM
So I take it that the WD-40 repels water?

Kieran
03-02-2005, 09:00 PM
So I take it that the WD-40 repels water?

Yeah, it'll chase water out... I used it on my Mk3 Escort's contact breaker thingy a few times in damp weather... Bloody pig of a car to start in the rain!!

Zeke
03-02-2005, 10:21 PM
So I take it that the WD-40 repels water?

Stands for Water Displacement (formula #) 40
:)

psbarham
03-02-2005, 11:16 PM
If you want to do a really smart job of it, use armour-all on all the plastic and rubber parts , just apply it using a kitchen sponge or a bit of foam from an old cushion etc it really gets all the muck out and makes it all shiney

colVR4
04-02-2005, 11:21 AM
Great advice, thanks.