Best way to clean an engine / engine bay?

[Cunning Plan]

Steam cleaner?

[FUBAR]

probably, + some sort of Gunk product too for the nastier bits I guess. it'd be easier to control & keep away from electrics etc than a hose / jet washer.

[EDGE]

flat mate's tooth brush is always a winner.....

[F Body]

Making sure that the engine isn't hot, White Spirit works well to get most of the gunk and crap off to start with. It contains enough solvent to get the job done, but not enough to either damage paint finishes etc, or be highly flammable
Although you will need to use a brush or cloth

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: FUBAR

probably, + some sort of Gunk product too for the nastier bits I guess. it'd be easier to control & keep away from electrics etc than a hose / jet washer.

Yah I wasn't sure about the jet washer idea..

Quoting: EDGE

flat mate's tooth brush is always a winner.....

I always try to hide my tooth brush in hotels as I am constantly paranoid that the low-paid cleaners with a grudge against rude, dirty customers will do something to it, like the toilet bowl (I'm not a rude, dirty customer - I don't think anyway, but I'm sure they think most customers are).

Quoting: F Body

White Spirit works well to get most of the gunk and crap off to start with. It contains enough solvent to get the job done, but not enough to either damage paint finishes etc, or be highly flammable  
Although you will need to use a brush or cloth

Interesting Cheers FB.

[Roadkill]

Never had much joy with Gunk (or equivilant).

White Spirit and Wynns Brake/Carb cleaner but be careful with Wynns as it'll take off weak paint, too !

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

Never had much joy with Gunk (or equivilant).

White Spirit and Wynns Brake/Carb cleaner but be careful with Wynns as it'll take off weak paint, too !

Roger that

[FUBAR]

Quoting: Roadkill

Wynns

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Steam cleaner?

NEVER steam clean an engine.

TFR and a very very light mist on a hose is the absolute most liquid you should use, and even then, spend half an hour masking the alternator and other electrics.

if its a modern engine, i'd be inclined to find out why it was dirty to start with, it really should stay pretty clean...

[Big Mouse]

Easiest way to get an engine bay clean, proper clean, is to suggest to martyn that not even he could clean this muck.......10 minutes later

[Incursus]

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

NEVER steam clean an engine.

TFR and a very very light mist on a hose is the absolute most liquid you should use, and even then, spend half an hour masking the alternator and other electrics.

if its a modern engine, i'd be inclined to find out why it was dirty to start with, it really should stay pretty clean...

Okay..

It's my bus engine, then I thought about my Ford Mondeo engine too Not that it is filthy, I always give the easy to get to parts it a quick wipe if I'm checking the oil or something..

Quoting: Big Mouse

s to suggest to martyn that not even he could clean this muck.......10 minutes later

BAM!

[HardRockCamaro]

Halfords sell some sort of 2 step stuff, basically 2 aerosols.

Cover up all electrical connectors and items with a few layers of cling film.
Use a hose on a light spray setting to get the whole thing wet.
Then spray on the contents of the first can.
Leave several minutes but agitate any really stubborn marks with a stiff brush.
Rinse off with hose on light spray.
Spray on the second can to give it a nice shine and protect it.
When dry uncover the electrics and clean them manually.

Did it on the IROC and it worked well.

Do not use a jetwash and do not use a steam cleaner either.
You'll be chasing electrical problems forever...

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

Halfords sell some sort of 2 step stuff, basically 2 aerosols.

Cheers dude, I'll try the whitesprit first before giving Halfrauds even more money

[Andy]

I found the diesel leak from the injector return pipe did wonders for cleaning my fuel pump. Now it's sealed it's starting to get dirty again.

[HardRockCamaro]

If you don't mind elbow grease liberal amounts of WD40 and effort works surprisingly well.

[philoldsmobile]

WD40 is a great cleaning tool, nothing gets chain lube of a bike rear wheel better, seriously, NOTHING

[F Body]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

WD40 is a great cleaning tool,

True but it eats rubber, make sure you don't leave it on tyres etc

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: F Body

True but it eats rubber, make sure you don't leave it on tyres etc

Is that true?

I used to coat the chrome Wellar wheels on my old VW Wedge in them, but not really being careful to stay away from the rubber..

[F Body]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

I used to coat the chrome Wellar wheels on my old VW Wedge in them

I sprayed our GMC polished alloy wheels with WD40 over the first winter we had it, come spring time I had to fit new tyres because all the side walls were spliting

[philoldsmobile]

that might have been down to aged tyres and road salt... WD40 really shouldn't affect rubber or plastics at all. its a common dressing for squeaky belts. and wiring looms.

TBH, in winter you really should give the tyres a good coat of silicone based tyre black, it will be a far more effective barrier - salt really hurts tyres.