Took a look under the bonnet of the Jazz this morning and thought it could do with a bit of a spring clean !
Is there anything out there that I can simply spray on and wipe off without too much effort ? I mean the actual engine and bit and bobs attached, with much of the engine these days being alloy, they tend to get white deposits all over them ?
|
Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner.
www.autoglym.co.uk/enGB/product-quickselectorCar.a...p
Edited by Roger Jones on 05/03/2008 at 17:12
|
Don't be tempted by that waxy stuff the trade uses. It looks brilliant for ten minutes (or while a car is for sale) and worse than ever after six months.
I'm ashamed to say I speak as a man who puts a Nenette brush over his engine every week...and it doesn't even have these modern plastic hideaway covers.
|
GUNK brush on engine cleaner. Found this link: www.performance-oils.co.uk/acatalog/Gunk.html
Buy it in a litre tin and buy a cheap pump up style (Wilkos) plant sprayer and soak the engine (cold) with a good 'mizzing' of neat Gunk, work it in with an old paint brush and leave overnight. Stay out of the spray though - this stuff stinks and will stain clothes!!!
Now, carefully pressure wash (don't use a solid jet) the engine compartment down. Use just a 'fan spray' or you will penetrate electrical circuits. You may need to apply WD40 if the engine misfires when you start it up.
In any case don't apply high pressure water to your carbs or anywhere near the air intake, top of the battery, HT coils, Leads, wires, fuses, relays, etc.
Gunk v Tarmac = no contest. Gunk will soften and even lift tarmac!!!
I also use a strong mix (200ml per Litre) of Fairy washing up liquid (safe on tarmac) applied and removed as above every couple of months after doing the Gunk treatment for the first time. Keeps all spick & span!
Same Fairy washing up liquid sprayed on to your car paint work (but not in direct sunlight) and left until nearly dry and then gently sponged off removes all but the most stubborn of tar, road grime and dead flies.
|
I also use a strong mix (200ml per Litre) of Fairy washing up liquid
SNIPQUOTE
i was told fairy washing up liquid contained salt so was not a good idea to use on car paintwork or for cleaning the car full stop?
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 05/03/2008 at 22:11
|
|
|
|
Gunk (or Jizer) is OK for horrible oily stuff running all over the place, but I thought the OP had a clean-ish engine to start with! Feather duster?
|
|
|
|
|
Just remember where all that mess is going to go and don't park on your expensive block paving when you do it.
JH
|
Took a look under the bonnet of the Jazz this morning and thought it could do with a bit of a spring clean !
Make your checks; oil, water, washer fluid, brake fluid, drive belts, etc - then, quickly!, before deviant urges overcome you, close the bonnet!, and think of something more healthy and productive! (and much less likely to cause harm to underbonnet electrics and electronics)
|
Washing ngines is bad for them. Just wipe off with a clean rag.. and leave the rest. prevents rust.
Cleaning engines is for those who do not have a social life or any drinking habits. Both are deplorable traits:-)
|
If I\'m buying a car, nothing makes me happier than an engine bay with a light layer of dirt/dust and surface corrosion on the castings. Shows me that nobody\'s tried to clean it up to hide anything, and that that no oil has leaked out recently.
I confess to wiping down the Scenic\'s engine cover with Armor-all, but that was done off the car and took 30 seconds. The only time I would consciously let water near a modern engine bay is when topping up the cooling system or washer bottle.
Cheers
DP
|
I have never attempted to clean my engine in 8 years and 122,000 miles.
Never have any misfiring, starts on the button, looks absolutely filthy but runs like a dream!
|
|
My 1984 Jaguar XJ12 has one of the most complicated engine bays ever made. Cleaning is a slow process, using cloths, degreaser spray and a steam-jet cleaner. The steam cleaner is a device mostly marketed for bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and is like a sealed kettle. I have found that spraying degreaser onto a small area, scrubbing with a toothbrush, then steam cleaning the residue into a strategically placed absorbent cloth is very effective and poses no danger to the Lucas/Bosch electrics. A few evenings should see me right for the upcoming club concours.
|
|
Respect Pete - An XJ12 engine bay was and still is the acme automotive art, compared to the bland underbonnets of modern cars, its like comparing factory farm with organic.
|
Don't clean engines with any water based cleaners and never apply a hose unless you want long term electrical problems due to water penetrating electrical connectors and starting corosion.
Remember that cars have DC electrical systems and many parts are permanently live. If there is any moisture bridging (say) the inside or shell housing of a connector, electrolytic corrosion will occur. Have a look at some old French cars' connectors around the cooling fan area if you want an illustration of this.
If you get the opportunity to look at military automotive connectors, you will see what is actually required to keep water out - and these don't always work. They are, of course, an order of magnitude too expensive for consumer applications.
I would say that a large proportion of "difficult" electrical faults I have dealt with have been caused by electrolytic corrosion and a good measure of these will have been caused by water based engine cleaning. On an old engine, a uniform dirty greasy looking film over all components is the ideal.
659.
Edited by 659FBE on 07/03/2008 at 10:23
|
|
|
|
Hi All
Thanks for all the advice, I think I will effectively lightly dust it, as I would never dream of attacking it with a pressure washer, as said by others electrics and moisture do not mix well !!!!
|
What ever happened to the oily rag?
|
What ever happened to the oily rag? as far as i know he still posts now and again :)
|
|
zookeeper, can you not start your reply with '>>' in front of it because it makes it look like you've not actually typed anything as the '>>' is there to indicate the message to which you're replying to. Thanks.
|
zookeeper can you not start your reply with '>>' in front of it because it makes it look like you've not actually typed anything as the '>>' is there to
>>indicate the message to which you're replying to. Thanks.
sorry DD wasn't aware what the >> were , do now ....cheers
|
|
|
|
preview.tinyurl.com/ywnxbk
17th. March. It's supposed to be good.
|
|
|
