smudgedon Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 My engine bay looks a bit sorry for itself, full of muck and grime What's the best method and stuff to use to get it looking a bit better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I was wondering this also mine is hideous....it's not been cleaned ever and it's now 9 years old!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 There is a post in Detailing about cleaning your engine bay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 There is a post in Detailing about cleaning your engine bay... Link me up please Will, search function isn't working great for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Some people use brake cleaner and a jetwash. Never been to keen myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Smudgedon..I'm on my iPhone and cannot get the link to work, but its in Waxbox Detailing. If you still cannot find it, when I get into the office I will find it for you and post the link. Cheers . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanted Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I've just bought one of those steam cleaners for floors/cookers/tiles etc with the handheld concentrated nozzle thing. I'm going to have a go at my engine bay with it when it warms up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilogikal1 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 http://www.polishedswiss.com/#/engine-bay/4529645625 Have a nosey at this, it's a fairly detailed step by step. If it's not really that bad, I tend to just use a diluted APC rather degreaser though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 and I probably wouldn't recommend covering your battery terminals with tin foil.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 and I probably wouldn't recommend covering your battery terminals with tin foil.... Why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlp Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Plastic bags over electric units and battery, slow running hose or watering can, couple old toothbrushes and then I use the foam stuff that you spray onto foot carpets over all the engine bay scrub it in then rinse off, repeat 2-3 times. Then I spray some back to black over the plastics to freshen them up, lovely jubbly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Pop a jacket potato in the foil before attaching to battery. That's your lunch sorted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan27 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Plastic bags over electric units and battery, slow running hose or watering can, couple old toothbrushes and then I use the foam stuff that you spray onto foot carpets over all the engine bay scrub it in then rinse off, repeat 2-3 times. Then I spray some back to black over the plastics to freshen them up, lovely jubbly. Any pics of your results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinyflier Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) I use Autoglym Engine cleaner - spray on and agitate WELL with some good brushes. Part of the problem is the engine bay paint isn't highly lacquered so dirt can get ingrained and become more difficult to remove - but on the upside it looks so much better when cleaned up. To remove the engine cleaner I use a jet wash spray with no ill effects, although I do a) cover alternator with tin foil (is easier to use than a plastic bag), use the nozzle at an angle away from any electrical items and c) leave the engine running (so you need to avoid the spinning belts unless you want a mucky shower! As for covering the battery terminals ... errr ... isn't the battery well enough protected by the fact it lives in it's own little "house"? Autoglym vinyl & rubber care liberally sprayed on to the plastics (you don't need to buff this off it self dries to a lovely finish) and a spray of good quality wax on the paintwork (which you do need to buff up) finishes everything off. David Edited March 5, 2013 by Tinyflier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voodoo Vix Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) You will probably find it still has the manufacturer's wax on the bay so it won't be shiny, mine was matte and looked almost blue there was so much wax; 7 hours with a toothbrush and tar and glue remover later, she was all sparkly, after that, cover the essentials, I then used meguiars engine cleaner and the engine detailing stuff after, just don't get it on Samco hoses as they can react, only use warm water on them, not definite that's what happened to mine but its a possibility. Use autosol and polisher/fine steel wool/microfibre if you want to brighten up the metal work. Its tough going but so worth it!! Edited March 5, 2013 by Voodoo Vix 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Agreed if you're going to do the bay properly you need an entire day on it. Wax removal, engine parts out to reach the back, sides and underneath or hard to reach places. If the car was at my place some parts would be treated to a polish, bolts, arms, plates etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Agreed if you're going to do the bay properly you need an entire day on it. Wax removal, engine parts out to reach the back, sides and underneath or hard to reach places. If the car was at my place some parts would be treated to a polish, bolts, arms, plates etc. Is that a subtle hint Ian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RE Leather Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 There is a post in Detailing about cleaning your engine bay... Link me up please Will, search function isn't working great for me Lazy git! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 There is a post in Detailing about cleaning your engine bay... Link me up please Will, search function isn't working great for me Lazy git! You try surfing the internet using a phone that has WAP internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 WAP, that's so retro-chic! I remember my first WAP phone it was the one from the Matrix with a green screen, well cutting edge (in 2001). Took about 20 minutes to check one football score. You thinking about upgrading to 2G soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilogikal1 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 and I probably wouldn't recommend covering your battery terminals with tin foil.... Some people have no sense of adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianphampton Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I still have a few sets of these anodised engine bay washers with stanless steel bolts - once you have the oil cleaned off, you might want to bling it up a bit with some - red, blue or orange available (and 1 set in un-anodised plain silver) - £50 including delivery (caters for both with & without plenum spacer on the bolt lengths) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhuman Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Product wise I'd recommend autobrite Jaffa. Spray on, jet wash off. Buff dry and leaves a nice sheen. But for the ultimate eg not one step, use a citrus degreaser, agitate by brush and jet wash off. Start engine to dry off and check works. Then apply aerospace 303. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhuman Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/engine-compartment/engine-cleaners-degreasers/autobrite-jaffa-clean-degreaser-cleaner-protectant.html This stuff here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 WAP, that's so retro-chic! I remember my first WAP phone it was the one from the Matrix with a green screen, well cutting edge (in 2001). Took about 20 minutes to check one football score. You thinking about upgrading to 2G soon? It's painful Luckily only a temp phone until my replacement Galaxy S3 comes back to me after having my 1st one nicked I still have a few sets of these anodised engine bay washers with stanless steel bolts - once you have the oil cleaned off, you might want to bling it up a bit with some - red, blue or orange available (and 1 set in un-anodised plain silver) - £50 including delivery (caters for both with & without plenum spacer on the bolt lengths) No purple option, boooooo!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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