After a tough winter with a lengthy commute (165 miles/day) my engine bay is looking pretty grim.

Dried on dust, grit and dirt giving everything a brown unloved look.

Checking and topping up the fluids this morning I've noticed a fair amount of dried salt covering most surfaces too.

I'm not one for spending hours cleaning the car, especially bits you can't see but I am concious of long term reliability if I leave things as they are. A recent unexpected cost for example was to replace a corroded fuel filter housing.

The questions I have are...

1) What is the best way to clean the engine bay without soaking all the electrical connections / components / sensors?

2) Will I do more harm than good by using a de-greaser, stiff brush and hosepipe?

Seeing people steam clean their engine compartments just makes me cringe, however after looking at mine just now I'm also not too happy to leave it as it is...

Won't do it any harm. No real need for degrease, use something like Stardrops etc and a brush. Rinse with a hose.

Do mine once every couple of months. No need to cover electrics, just don't blast it.

After a tough winter with a lengthy commute (165 miles/day) my engine bay is looking pretty grim.

Dried on dust, grit and dirt giving everything a brown unloved look.

Checking and topping up the fluids this morning I've noticed a fair amount of dried salt covering most surfaces too.

I'm not one for spending hours cleaning the car, especially bits you can't see but I am concious of long term reliability if I leave things as they are. A recent unexpected cost for example was to replace a corroded fuel filter housings

The questions I have are...

1) What is the best way to clean the engine bay without soaking all the electrical connections / components / sensors?

2) Will I do more harm than good by using a de-greaser, stiff brush and hosepipe?

Seeing people steam clean their engine compartments just makes me cringe, however after looking at mine just now I'm also not too happy to leave it as it is...

Mines clean

After a tough winter with a lengthy commute (165 miles/day) my engine bay is looking pretty grim.

Dried on dust, grit and dirt giving everything a brown unloved look.

Checking and topping up the fluids this morning I've noticed a fair amount of dried salt covering most surfaces too.

I'm not one for spending hours cleaning the car, especially bits you can't see but I am concious of long term reliability if I leave things as they are. A recent unexpected cost for example was to replace a corroded fuel filter housing.

The questions I have are...

1) What is the best way to clean the engine bay without soaking all the electrical connections / components / sensors?

2) Will I do more harm than good by using a de-greaser, stiff brush and hosepipe?

Seeing people steam clean their engine compartments just makes me cringe, however after looking at mine just now I'm also not too happy to leave it as it is...

Hi Silver 1011

Why does it make you cringe ? its only water ! but on saying that you don't need to force water into the main electrical bits, but I always

steam clean my verticals with out any problems, although I think you have a diesel which is better, but have done petrol's in the passed.

If you have any oil deposits then put some De-greaser on the oil leave a few mins then clean off with a steam cleaner, then take it for run down the motorway and you will be fine !

Radiotwo

Mines clean

Wow, you could eat your dinner off that!

Why does it make you cringe ? its only water ! but on saying that you don't need to force water into the main electrical bits, but I always

steam clean my verticals with out any problems, although I think you have a diesel which is better, but have done petrol's in the passed.

I'm not sure to be honest, I just assumed (perhaps wrongly) that spraying water into the engine bay at high pressure might force water into places where it shouldn't be, or in a place where it might do damage.

I know its common practice as I've seen it done at a main dealers, although experience has taught me that not all main dealers care as much about cars as I'd hoped.

Maybe a free flowing hose pipe would be better than using the pressure fitment, or jet wash?

Won't do it any harm. No real need for degrease, use something like Stardrops etc and a brush. Rinse with a hose.

Is this what you mean?

I've never heard of it before?

I would say you want to keep water away from battery compartment and under bonnet fuse box (Have read on here of people having problems with water in fuse/relay box), but otherwise it's water that got the dirt in there in the first place, just don't go overboard.

I do high mileage & I clean mine every time I wash the car, rarely less than once a week. I make sure I hoick dead leaves out the wings in Autumn. First car I've done it on - I guess cos I like it so much. Takes 10 mins. I don't jet wash as it's never that bad but clean what I can reach & do the underside of the bonnet. I dress the plastics several times a year. I'm sure it's not necessary but makes me feel better & having a chavy private plate I get some satisfaction when mechanics think the car is a lot newer than it is. Sad.

Steam cleaned mine yesterday,obviosly carefully around the electrics and got the engine bay red hot first to hopefully evaporate the water asap ..... No problems yet, and i have done this on all my cars over the years

Its on my list to give my engine bay a real, proper thorough clean. Once its clean, (apparently) it takes very little effort to keep it that way vs the outside of the car...

Spray with All purpose cleaner whilst still warm but not hot....agitate any greasy deposits and then jet wash....once washed apply Autoglym tyre dressing all rubber spray whilst still wet and then shut the bonnet..

Result:

Is this what you mean?

I've never heard of it before?

Thats the stuff. You will not have heard of it, you are a man!. Its about £1 a bottle in Asda etc and it does a great job without leaving any residue.

Thats the stuff. You will not have heard of it, you are a man!. Its about £1 a bottle in Asda etc and it does a great job without leaving any residue.

It's now on the wifes shopping list stuck to the fridge, just under 'more beer' :beer:

I now want my engine bay to look like that!

Seems I'm being over-cautious regarding spraying water on the engine, as long as I'm careful and apply a degree of common sense with regards to the fuse box area

Do this on a regular basis myself :p

Get a pump sprayer or a bottle with a foam action trigger, I use Megs Super Degreaser and foam all over the bay. Use various brushes or a cut down sponge, then rinse with an open hose.

I then spray over either AG plastic trim dressing or 303 plastic trim spray.

Man, I feel so inferior. Never cleaned an engine bay in my life, sure wipe here and there with baby wipes, but these pics are astonishing

A good de greaser and a small steam cleaner is what i use, will put a pic up tomorrow.

I'm sure there's a mention in the owners manual about this. From what I recall (better check), it said jetwashing was safe. I think it mentioned avoiding the radiator fins though - they'll bend with a pressure washer.

Also, would make sure the cover is definitely on the e-box (engine bay fuse box) correctly and avoid pointing any water straight at it, just in case. Getting water in there results in all sorts of electrical gremlins, most commonly the radiator fans coming on when the car is parked, draining the battery.

Oh, and don't do what I usually do! Remember to clean the underside of the bonnet first, else all the manky stuff drips on to the clean bits you've just done.

I use diluted TFR on the engine/bay keeping away from the right side(battery & fusebox) then hose it off.Allow it to dry then use Plastic dressing finally.

Can,t use our steam cleaner at work which i use on bus engines as its just way too powerful for a car :(

Damp cloth for me to get the worst of it off. Not brave enough to hose the engine

I use a sponge and bucket, it's enough to clean for me. Not a fan of loads of water going over the engine bay.

This was a post winter clean too. Tools used were, a cloth and window cleaner as it was too hand.