Cleaning Engine Bay

[ichbintk]

What is the best way to clean an engine bay to make it look like many that i have seen here before? Mine is covered in a sort of mud-dust which makes it look horrible. I've been told not to steam clean as this can ruin electrics (mine is a Mk3) and bearing in mind that the alarm and power cable for the sub is in there I dont think its a great idea.
Cheers, Tom

[Rhyso]

cover up sensitive bits with plastics bags etc then spray Autoglym Engine & Machine cleaner over the bay.  Agitate twith an old paint brush, then using a light pressure through your hose rinse off making sure you don't spend any length of time near sensitive parts.

after rinsing spray Autoglym Vinyl & Bumper care treatment on the plastics and leave to dry.  or you can start your car at this point to aid the drying and make sure everything is working as it should be.

Do this on a COLD engine.

Jog done

[Dub_Dude_16v]

This is always a hard one as water and electrics don't get on!

I use Autoglym engine bay cleaner. I spray it all over the engine, leave for a few mins and then using a soft brush get scrubbing. Then using a watering can i wash it off. May need to repeat a few times.

Never had a problem doing it that way. As it's a watering can the water flow is light so doesn't get forced into the little electric gubbins unlike if you used a jet wash!

Hope that makes sense and helps 

[Dub_Dude_16v]

Lol two good minds work alike. Ya replied just as i did 

[Rhyso]

Lol two good minds work alike. Ya replied just as i did 

ya beat you to it   

[VR6_ROB]

i use autoglyms TFR spray that everywhere jet wash it without gettin close to electrics then
use autoglym supersheen spray that on while its wet shut the bonnet but i leave the engine
running so it drys once dried the engine is immaculate all the hoses are jet black and plastics

it aint that sticky stuff either that your left with

[Veedub1989]

i use a similar method (e.g. pressure washer)and products described above but i run the car whilst doing it. never had any problems, i dont even cover the dizzy up. as long as you are sensible its fine.

[Simon8v91]

I use jizer  :embarassed: similar technique to ryhso. apply with old paint brush, rince carefully with water using a garden sprayer and go for a spin to dry it 

[kells]

i use a combination of autoglym engine cleaner, gunk spray, gunk brush on, and wd40, i use cloths, wire brushes, wire brushes on a drill (these for the first ever clean) and paint brushes.
I then rinse the safe parts with clean water using a watering can, then run engine to dry, at this point, the gearbox and some other parts go very dry/white looking (aluminium bits) and in my opinion look crap so i spray the whole lot again with wd40 again and leave to dry naturally. and then on the rubber and plastic bits i use engine detailer to give a nice shine, if i run out of that i just spray wd40 on those bits too but wipe it after iv sprayed.

end up with summart like this, although i spent many hours hand polishing and sanding this engine in my swift GTI

gonna do the same to my mk 3 GTI golf daily driver next

[tom26]

^ man that car sucks. steam cleaning is fine, i had mine done by john mitchell racing and it looks amazing afterwards. just make sure you keep the engine running all the time its being cleaned and be sure you dress the engine with a suitable product afterwards to prevent corrosion.