I was looking through some of the guides the other day and it set off my OCD twitch, mainly one members car. So now I'm thinking about trying to tackle the engine bay over Easter. I know I need to protect some of the electrical parts like the battery and.....

This is where I'm stuck, anyone know which parts I need to wrap up and anything I should be careful of?

Any pictures with big arrows would be much appreciated as I can be thick sometimes

Cheers

I would not use a jetwash, Id prefer some paintbrushes, a watering can and a spray bottle of cleaning solution

Get some "daisy" cleaner from tesco. About a pound and works well as a degreaser! As said, paint brushes work well.

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ive used a jet wash loads and loads of times,remove battery and any bulky electrical items,wrap any plugs wires,and only aim at block and box sorted   never had any issues

I just use elbow grease degreaser from the quid shop and go hell for leather with a jetwash. I even jetwash the hell out of the battery with no ill effects

If your engine covers are still fitted you dont need to worry to much about the coilpacks etc..

For first attempt to clean probably a engine degreaser liberally spread brushed on all components and let soak a few minutes. Then hose off with just normal hose pressure. Would typically cover airbox, maf, battery but rest is OK if not perpetually soaked.
Thereafter I would use more specific detailing like plastic , rubber treatment to bring up hoses , pipework and general plastics etc. Then a metal polish like autosol for alloy manifold engine cam cover etc. A silicon spray for wiring looms electrical connectors. Then if you really get the bug like me go for specific brands and detailers. I never need to use pressure washers or water hoses now and just low maintainance of a good condition bay is needed.:]

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Cheers for the comments guys, bowders it's your engine that started my twitch lol. I want to remove the covers as I'm going to spray the cam cover and inlet manifold (as soon as I can get a spare set).

Would electrical tape be enough just to make sure the wiring and coil packs don't get soaked?

I'm thinking a whole day on the engine for the first wash so I can take my time and also because I can't use a pressure washer at home, garage is 100ft below. I've got a portable pressure washer (hand pump type) hopefully that should be alright.

Lastly any tips on good brands for dressings?

Cheers for the comments guys, bowders it's your engine that started my twitch lol. I want to remove the covers as I'm going to spray the cam cover and inlet manifold (as soon as I can get a spare set).

Would electrical tape be enough just to make sure the wiring and coil packs don't get soaked?

I'm thinking a whole day on the engine for the first wash so I can take my time and also because I can't use a pressure washer at home, garage is 100ft below. I've got a portable pressure washer (hand pump type) hopefully that should be alright.

Lastly any tips on good brands for dressings?

 

That's  nice to know my car caught you..

 

Mine does take very little maintenance now.

 

But to get it there took some time and patience.

 

Products i use are lot's of combinations really moving from various makes as not one make is really better than the other  tbh, it is just what you are used to.

 

If you are starting out then look at the link below for reference(not that I am promoting meguiars products just a way for you to see what is out there. 

 

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/products

 

If you browse by product under consumer section  they sort by type of product and what it's used for to help you.

 

Once you know what you are after you can check other sites out as comparisons..

 

Also browse the how to and video section as good ideas. 

 

For example I use this for silicon hoses and rubber and plastic (like battery cover , engine covers etc

 

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/autoglym/vinyl-and-rubber-care-vrc500.aspx

 

Then there are loads of engine dressings if you look at examples. You get a very good description these days of products and what they do and used for. 

 

Yeah electrical tape is ok for coil packs. 

 

And if you insist a few more pics.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternator needs a clean :

Bowders, everything about your car give everyone the itch.....

Along a few others  - Lloyd, and Clubley's Bus for example

Once clean it takes little effort to keep nice.

What about the alternator,exposed belts and pulleys?

Will these be alright subjected to a shower from the watering can?

What about the alternator,exposed belts and pulleys?

Will these be alright subjected to a shower from the watering can?

Yeah be alright

Stop it with the engine porn makes me want to start polishing the engine bay.

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Aint got to polish mine... have to clean 10 years of grime and filth out of the bay first!!!!

:sun: :sun: :sun: :sun:

hhmm... I think that might draw some comments Terkin!!!!!

hhmm... I think that might draw some comments Terkin!!!!!

:yes:

:yes:

Lol.

Like holly Jesus was there a sand storm in your engine bay.

And why is that y pipe disconnected to the cam cover.

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:sun: :sun: :sun: :sun:

Pretty much what mine looks like at the moment, gonna be a long day of cleaning lol

Lol.

Like holly Jesus was there a sand storm in your engine bay.

And why is that y pipe disconnected to the cam cover.

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lmao thats the day i bought it smoking stinking misfiring total beast funny thing is is the engine bay was the cleanest bit

 

looks like this now havent cleaned it yet was going to copy your bay pretty much bowders like the polishing if i keep it :think:

 

 

ive had my share of tasty bays my favorite was probably like this

So.... i finally caved - €2.49 can of engine cleaner form Aldi -

Gave the the covers a quick shot and a wipe down....

its a start!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Bowders,

 

Sorry for the thread divert - but what is the plastic coil pack loom cover and heat shield you have there matey?

 

Mine just has the bit of loom itself, and some of the insulation is past it's best. To be honest I am sort of waiting for a failure in that area! Did you replace the loom - can it be easily replaced? And where did the covers you have come from?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Bowders,

 

Sorry for the thread divert - but what is the plastic coil pack loom cover and heat shield you have there matey?

 

Mine just has the bit of loom itself, and some of the insulation is past it's best. To be honest I am sort of waiting for a failure in that area! Did you replace the loom - can it be easily replaced? And where did the covers you have come from?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Hi Buddy the first pic is a Audi TT heat shield i first fitted years ago, called a heat deflector hose part 06A971461

 

More recently I removed that and fitted a coilpack loom cover from  a std VW golf mk 5 gti  part 06F 971 824 C

 

It is still my std wiring loom

 

Here is a guide I just knocked up.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/312558-how-to-install-a-coilpack-loom-cable-guide/

 

the coil pack hold down brackets  are from ECS tuning but Awesome gti sell them now.

 

here is a link they come in different colours

 

http://www.awesomegti.com/ecs-coil-pack-hold-down-kit

 

hope this is helpful