Engine Bay Cleaning

[Banshee]

You know when you've been doing a bit of Green Laning and you get back and you pop the bonnet and you have all that dirty dried on speckly water stains everywhere and mud all over the engine, pipe and everything else

Whats the best thing to remove it all?

Jet Washing my engine bay always scares me so I'd like to avoid that if possible :thumbs

 

[rustic]

Some detergent ( washing up liquid) in hot water, quite a strong solution, use an old car washing brush, like you would on the out side. Leave it to soak for a while.

Use a hose pipe on a spray, rather than a jet, use an old paint brush to remove any stubborn bits, and re-apply the solution.

You can aim the hose jet most places under the bonnet but a spray will remove most spots.
Try to avoid jetting the alternator too much.

If you remove the engine under shield, that might need some gunk, as there may be spills from old oil changes...:doh You will be able to power wash underneath, but avoid oil seals, like drive shafts, and ball joints etc

When you have washed it down, take a grease gun, and grease the rear prop shaft UJ's and if you have them, the two on the front UJ's and the nipple on the sliding joint the front prop shaft.

When you start the engine, don't be alarmed by the screeching... it's only the wet fan belts, also the power steering would have temporally failed, but comes back after a few minutes, due to the wet fan belts.

Wash under the wheel arches, and behind the front mud flaps, you'll be surprised just how much mud builds up, even on normal roads.
I've just this minute finished washing mine, and there was loads of dirt behind the mud flaps.

Nice to know someone else is caring for their truck.:thumb2:thumb2

Rustic

 

[Sweety]

I just make up a strong mix of soapy water & use a spray bottle to spray what I want, let it soak for a bit then use the pressure washer & never had any probs but if your worried just wrap a plastic bag around the electrics or have the engine running but be careful of the fan as it'll prob spray the water back at you:lol

 

[elty001]

This always works for me:lol

 

[exosteve]

You know when you've been doing a bit of Green Laning and you get back and you pop the bonnet and you have all that dirty dried on speckly water stains everywhere and mud all over the engine, pipe and everything else

Whats the best thing to remove it all?

Jet Washing my engine bay always scares me so I'd like to avoid that if possible :thumbs

what for:nenau
are you selling it:nenau
just squirt the electrics regular with wd40 can of sray grease jobs a gud un

although I did try to jet wash once but it don't arf rip rubbers and stuff to bits.

I thought I may get it professionally steam cleaned once a year or summat just to inspect everything

 

[AlexD333]

what for:nenau
are you selling it:nenau
just squirt the electrics regular with wd40 can of sray grease jobs a gud un

although I did try to jet wash once but it don't arf rip rubbers and stuff to bits.

I thought I may get it professionally steam cleaned once a year or summat just to inspect everything

The professional steam is prob one of the worst things you can do in my opinion, a bunch of guys who don't know or care for your truck spraying things they don't know. I enquired about this when I had my mr2, was not a good response :doh

 

[davenclaire]

cheap mans engine clean

step 1 spray everything under the bonnets with wd40 leave for 20 mins
step 2 go to a garage and pay the cheapest option for spray lance only
step 3 go nuts spray clean under the bonnet
step 4 stand back and admire your clean factor new looking engine bay

:thumbs

 

[exosteve]

cheap mans engine clean

step 1 spray everything under the bonnets with wd40 leave for 20 mins
step 2 go to a garage and pay the cheapest option for spray lance only
step 3 go nuts spray clean under the bonnet
step 4 stand back and admire your clean factor new looking engine bay

:thumbs

likey:clap

 

[exosteve]

truth is.
your probably going to cause more damage trying to clean your bay than not bothering at all.

chemicals aint good anytime unless its wd40 or grease.

jetwashing electrical components:doh nah ill just give em a blast of wd and grease.

only time things need a real clean is areas your messin with and don't want grit dropping into any inside engine bits.

If I change any injectors or anything like that a good brush and compresd air blast before removal.

 

[R1cho]

cleaning?? has everyone turned gay then :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

 

[Sweety]

jetwashing electrical components:doh .

When you hit deep water the fan sprays water over the electrics anyway:augie as long as you don't get to close your fine & aim directly at the components your fine

 

[davenclaire]

likey:clap

iv been doing this with cars and bikes for years never had a single problem

 

[exosteve]

When you hit deep water the fan sprays water over the electrics anyway:augie as long as you don't get to close your fine & aim directly at the components your fine

deep water spray????
if I damage me truck doin 30 or so through deep water I wont expect sympathy.
but my god its fun.

standin in asda service station with a jet wash aint.

 

[Sweety]

standin in asda service station with a jet wash aint.

You do what I do mine on my drive & while i'm busy my wife brings me cups of coffee:lol

 

[AlexD333]

Well this is obviously a good cause for debate. Why don't we agree to disagree :lol

Seems some people are more than happy to spray the bay (and I'm sure if you know what your doing its fine)

For the likes of me i am wary. I watched rick jet wash the engine bay, he did avoid a few electrical bits. :thumb2

 

[rustic]

You do what I do mine on my drive & while i'm busy my wife brings me cups of coffee:lol

Does she make good coffee, I'll bring mine round...:lol:lol


If you use spay engine cleaners, or gunk, don't do it over a tarmac drive...
It dissolves the bitumen in the tarmac.
It might also remove waxoyl too... :doh

I like the idea of the spray lance at a garage... all the gunk and cr*p can go into their water recovery system... :doh
You won't be very popular with the garage though...

I used a light hose spray on the fiesta (petrol version) a few years ago, to wash off the engine grime...

It wouldn't start then...:doh:doh:doh
Left the bonnet open to the sun and wind and it dried out in a few hours...

So moral of the story, before you start, clean it on a sunny day, with the engine facing the sun, so if it gets too wet, it will soon dry off.:thumb2

An air line helps to get rid of most of the surface water, but take care you don't force water where it shouldn't go.

 

[bry]

Don't forget to give the rad a blast,if ya using a jet wash.

 

[firebobby]

WHAT!!!, you lot don't remove your engine once a year to clean all the nooks and crannies :lol:lol

 

[rustic]

WHAT!!!, you lot don't remove your engine once a year to clean all the nooks and crannies :lol:lol

Well, if you lift the body off, you needn't remove the engine, and you can clean the underbody too.

Hmm... now there's a thought...

When I was younger I saw an army demonstration, they drove a Land Rover up to an area simulating a ravine, and got some telegraph poles to make an over bridge, they then stripped the land rover and lifted the pieces into a block and tackle attached to the telegraph pole, and slide the bits over piece by piece. They then assembled all the bits, and then all got into the Land Rove and drove off.

Now if Land Rovers were built that way...

 

[Banshee]

Well, if you lift the body off, you needn't remove the engine, and you can clean the underbody too.

Hmm... now there's a thought...

When I was younger I saw an army demonstration, they drove a Land Rover up to an area simulating a ravine, and got some telegraph poles to make an over bridge, they then stripped the land rover and lifted the pieces into a block and tackle attached to the telegraph pole, and slide the bits over piece by piece. They then assembled all the bits, and then all got into the Land Rove and drove off.

Now if Land Rovers were built that way...

I'd like to see that!!!!!