Best items to use to clean up engine bay

[kerry-w]

Hey,

Just wondering what would be best to clean up the engine bay, just a simple bucket and cloth or does anyone recommend anything?

Also looking about cleaning up bits of the interior, will wet wipes and some elbow grease do the trick?

Thanks

 

[Pedro]

Megs APC with a brush/microfibre cloth.

Rinse off with water and common sence in mind (shield the electrics)

Leave to dry.

 

[kevin.s]

engine degreaser or wd40. try not to use water as the electronics dont like it (as i have found out before lol). maybe a little metal polish on the metal bits too.

 

[mx1_champ]

may not be the best but what i use and works well...
some kind of solvent based cleaner , forgot name (dont get on hoses as it marks them )
tfr this adds abit of a shine to the paint and plastics
then tyre shineor a silicone based gel on any hoses and blast plastics etc

 

[kerry-w]

Megs APC with a brush/microfibre cloth.

Rinse off with water and common sence in mind (shield the electrics)

Leave to dry.

engine degreaser or wd40. try not to use water as the electronics dont like it (as i have found out before lol). maybe a little metal polish on the metal bits too.

may not be the best but what i use and works well...
some kind of solvent based cleaner , forgot name (dont get on hoses as it marks them )
tfr this adds abit of a shine to the paint and plastics
then tyre shineor a silicone based gel on any hoses and blast plastics etc

Thanks, will have a rummage through the box of car cleaning stuff to find what I have and what ill need to go to halfords for

 

[JD]

Guys, no offence, but if you don't know, don't post.

APC is correct. WD40 and "some kind of solvent cleaner" is very wrong.

Kerry, as Pedro has posted, Meguirars APC (All Purpose Cleaner) liberally sprayed over the offending areas MAKING SURE THE ENGINE IS COLD. This can then be agitated to get rid of stubborn marks and dirt. Then sprayed with a lower pressure washer, again as posted by Pedro, using common sense. Some cover electrics, others don't but are careful not to aim the nozzle at particular areas.

Once finished, start the engine to aid drying. The plastics can then be dressed with something like Auto Glym Rubber and Vinyl dressing and metals polished. Paint work is treated in the same way as your bodywork, but sealed with a high temp sealent like Finish Kare 1000p.

Hope this helps.

Jamie

 

[Graham Gooch]

Using wd40 on an engines electrical connections is advised as it will drive out moisture from said connectors n

 

[JD]

That's fair enough, but it doesn't clean the engine bay. Spraying that all over the engine will also just make it greasy and messy within minutes of driving.

 

[J.B.]

I'm looking to clean my car's engine bay and tidy up the intake manifold a bit. I've seen a few intake manifolds that look like they've been sanded down and polished to remove the rough effect they have as standard - is that a bad idea?

 

[Dave..]

I'm looking to clean my car's engine bay and tidy up the intake manifold a bit. I've seen a few intake manifolds that look like they've been sanded down and polished to remove the rough effect they have as standard - is that a bad idea?

Polishing the inlet manifold has no effect on the health of the car. But if your doing it by hand it will take you a while. So far I've been going at it for 18 months, with varying levels of enthusiasm.

 

[J.B.]

Polishing the inlet manifold has no effect on the health of the car. But if your doing it by hand it will take you a while. So far I've been going at it for 18 months, with varying levels of enthusiasm.

Wow I really underestimated the time it takes by hand! Maybe I'll just use some APC or AG Engine cleaner on the other parts and think about some sort of electric polisher.

 

[RussZS]

Megs APC is good, but it's not the most effective product, especially if your engine bay is VERY dirty.

This stuff is the daddy, but it's not cheap!!

NOTHING cleans like this stuff and it's a pleasure to use.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/r222-total-auto-wash.html