Engine Cleaning
03-16-2012, 06:43 PM
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Engine Cleaning
My engine bay is starting to get a little dirty and I'm wondering whats the best way to go about cleaning it. At the BMW shop I work for, we always degrease and pressure wash the engine bay before we return the car to the customer. Of course the cars we work on are about 20 years newer and are well sealed. I'm just wondering if anyone here built up the courage to take a hose to their engine without water seeping into the electricals. I just got a bottle of Grime Reaper degreaser and I'm contemplating on weather or not I should hose down my engine bay or gently rinse and scrub off with a spray bottle of water and a brush.
03-16-2012, 11:33 PM
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I would spray degreaser, scrub, and rinse with low-ish pressure hose and stay away from the TPS, AFM, and any other little plastic boxes with 'lectronics inside as much as you can :-)
You could probably use a pressure washer on the "frame" rails or other solid metal parts, but don't go near any electrical stuff or sensitive hoses.
You could probably use a pressure washer on the "frame" rails or other solid metal parts, but don't go near any electrical stuff or sensitive hoses.
03-17-2012, 12:37 AM
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My engine bay is starting to get a little dirty and I'm wondering whats the best way to go about cleaning it. At the BMW shop I work for, we always degrease and pressure wash the engine bay before we return the car to the customer. Of course the cars we work on are about 20 years newer and are well sealed. I'm just wondering if anyone here built up the courage to take a hose to their engine without water seeping into the electricals. I just got a bottle of Grime Reaper degreaser and I'm contemplating on weather or not I should hose down my engine bay or gently rinse and scrub off with a spray bottle of water and a brush.
I will not admit this but Gas really works well in really greasy areas ( non sensitive areas )
Regards
Ed
I would spray degreaser, scrub, and rinse with low-ish pressure hose and stay away from the TPS, AFM, and any other little plastic boxes with 'electronics inside as much as you can :-)
You could probably use a pressure washer on the "frame" rails or other solid metal parts, but don't go near any electrical stuff or sensitive hoses.
You could probably use a pressure washer on the "frame" rails or other solid metal parts, but don't go near any electrical stuff or sensitive hoses.
03-17-2012, 04:57 AM
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Thanks guys. I'll probably end up using a spray bottle...and maybe a garden hose at the very most if it gets tough. I was just wondering if anyone had successful results with a pressure washer but I'd much rather not risk it. The degreasing agent I'm using (Grime Reaper by chemical guys) claims to work wonders anyway so I'm sure a spray bottle stream rinse with hot water will do just fine.
03-18-2012, 12:02 AM
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Keep in mind where you do this. It creates an Exxon Valdez-like slick in your driveway. Had a friend do this near pavers and the rain washed it over and discolored them.
03-18-2012, 10:57 AM
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Never dirty enough to have to use a power washer but even with a garden hose, if you don't cover some of the more vital electronics you may have to wait until it dries out before it will start...ask me how I know.
