Cleaning the Engine Bay

bmw528i · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007, 02:42 PM

Does anyone know any good tricks for really cleaning the engine bay. I've done it myself but it never really looked clean. I have sand and stuff in crevasses thats a real pain in the ass to get to. I have a lot of cool stuff I'm putting under the hood and I would like to be able to show it off at the next car show I go to. Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you.

jesselyons2002 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007, 12:17 AM

First blow air of all the spots you can't get

Then get some all purpose cleaner/degrease and spray it on the entire engine bay and hood

Then fill you bucket with some car wash soap and some APC

Get the brush or towel or mitt W/E you use, Put it in the car wash bucket and agitate the area that are dirty and the spots you sprayed APC on.

After you got every where (Engine, Engine bay and hood)

Spray the entire engine bay with a hose at the lowest setting and flush everything out.

dry everything after that and polish and wax whats needs to be wax and polish.

bmw528i · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 01:33 AM

Thanks man, when spring rolls around here in the Northeast cleaning out the engine bay will be the first thing I do. I appreciate the help.

CAP-E-TAN · #4 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 03:52 PM

Pressure washer........ common sense........degreaser or dawn

first i will have the nozzle about 12" away, i think i use 20 degree tip, quicky spray off all the dirt leaves dust whatever.....
next i will liberally apply a straight apc, or maybe a 50:50 ratio of water and dawn, spray the engine bay, let it soak in and set for about 10 minutes.......
spray off the engine again, maybe touch and clean a few missed spots if any.....
next i will turn the engine on for about 15 minutes to dry out the engine bay.....
then take a 1:4 ratio of an all purpose plastic, vinyl, rubber conditioner, spray over the engine ........ and your done
just make sure the air intake is covered
if the engine is not greasy and oily, it should take about 15 minutes to do an engine

mtechnik · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 04:17 PM

subscribed.

Dewey540i · #6 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 05:53 AM

Clean engine as mentioned above but when done spray everything (except belts) with WD-40. This will do 2 things, 1. displace any moisture where you don't want it and 2. leave the engine and bay nice and shinny!!!!