Best way to Clean your engine baY

[Vegas e30/e34]

I was once told by my automechanics class teacher in the 10th grade NOT TO STEAM CLEAN any engine..

I am in the process of going through my car and fixing, cleaning,painting and just getting everything done right! So the performance mods/engine bay caught my attention as the next area to focus on...

Being as how sensitive BMW's are with water and electrical gremlins, I want to clean my engine bay and show off my Racing Dynamics headers and Sebring Stainless Steel Exhaust but not sure how to get the grime and grease all off the entire engine area, valve cover, intake etc. etc


Any ideas?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2644342559_a1da254f3a.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2644342543_d9159b8e34_b.jpg

[attack eagle]

spray it down with simple green and water mix, wipe most of the grime off, then do it again and wash it with a hose or nozzle (or pressure wash it).

The caveat against steam cleaning is because the steam can infiltrate and condense inside connectors that would otherwise be protected from liquid water.

[Vegas e30/e34]

So simply by using a garden hose and simple green or any type of cleaner like that, its safe to do?

Do you cover anything?

Do you leave the car running?

Should I start it as soon as I am done rinsing the engine bay?

What about the alternator, back of the headlights, fan belts, fuse/LKM box and other electrica type of area? No Biggie? Really?

Any of you have any pics of your engine bays?

Any befor and after or any Do's and Donts?

:buttrock I am excited, if this is true, I will have an awesome engine bay for you all to peak at !

lastly, how do I get Headers clean? They were once all shiny and stuff, now they look all brown??

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2644342559_a1da254f3a.jpg?v=0

[MacR]

I don't know how well the RD headers are coated, but they could have just burnt off the "chrome" or whatever.

[Stir Fry A Lot]

I use a garden hose with no attachment with the water on a fairly low setting. First rinse off the surface dust with the hose and then hit it with some simple green, rinse and repeat, you'll need about 3 bottles and a rag to wipe with. After the final cleaning turn on your car and warm it up to dry out the water. After that hit the rubber hoses and plastic parts with some vinyl treatment such as meguires or armor all. Depending on how dirty your engine is you may want to grab a can of heavy duty engine degreaser as well.

[Binjammin]

I've pressure washed before, but let me tell you, I use Purple Power religiously now. Spray on, let sit a few minutes, hose off, stand back in amazement at how clean your engine is with minimum effort.

[lilxyoshi]

I've pressure washed before, but let me tell you, I use Purple Power religiously now. Spray on, let sit a few minutes, hose off, stand back in amazement at how clean your engine is with minimum effort.

hose off?

do you cover anything? I mean, there are some electrical wires and connectors in the engine bay.

[Russellc]

I put aluminum foil over anything basically electrical. Then spray an engine cleaner like gunk on a warm engine (top and bottom side). Let set for about 10 minutes. Then hose down, remove foil start engine let run a few minutes. Cool down and then detail with something like aerospace 303 or armorall.

[tonyroc14]

well i've sprayed my engine down before, quite alot of water, and the worst that happened was some water got into the coil, and i wasn't firing on that cylinder untill the engine bay warmed up and evaporated the water

[Binjammin]

hose off?

do you cover anything? I mean, there are some electrical wires and connectors in the engine bay.

It's only a 12v system, it's not like you're running house power where you'd have to worry about getting shocked. Most connectors in an engine compartment are sealed, and it's not like the car is being submerged. The only thing even worth being careful around would be the plug wires, and if the car runs like crap when I'm done I'll just blow them off with compressed air, or let it run till it heats up and the water dries. It's never been a problem for me.


well i've sprayed my engine down before, quite alot of water, and the worst that happened was some water got into the coil, and i wasn't firing on that cylinder untill the engine bay warmed up and evaporated the water

Exactly.

[WolfStrong]

Yeah I'm with everyone else here. I just douse the thing down with degreaser, and spray the hell out of it with a regular garden hose. Absolutely no problems and I have been doing that A LOT.

[Mr 535i]

Use a air compressor to remove water from the spark plug wells or spray some wd-40 to help evaporation.

[5mall5nail5]

Its easy! Pull the motor out and bead blast each and every part and powder coat it. Make sure you take the transmission out and bead blast that as well as clear coat it ;)

[BMRSEB]

Its easy! Pull the motor out and bead blast each and every part and powder coat it. Make sure you take the transmission out and bead blast that as well as clear coat it ;)

That's right.. I do mine weekly! :cool

[Vegas e30/e34]

Ok so apparently there are a bunch of E34's with pristine engine bays running around here on this forum from all of these reply's of "I do it all the time!!!"

Care to show any pics??


Thanks!

[Grush]

I'm curious also!

[eightynine535]

It's only a 12v system, it's not like you're running house power where you'd have to worry about getting shocked. Most connectors in an engine compartment are sealed, and it's not like the car is being submerged. The only thing even worth being careful around would be the plug wires, and if the car runs like crap when I'm done I'll just blow them off with compressed air, or let it run till it heats up and the water dries. It's never been a problem for me.



Exactly.

he's right.

if you have ever driven in the rain, water is getting into your engine bay.

[5mall5nail5]

Ok so apparently there are a bunch of E34's with pristine engine bays running around here on this forum from all of these reply's of "I do it all the time!!!"

Care to show any pics??


Thanks!

Sure - first, cut the face off:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/bay1.jpg

Then remove the heart:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/bay3.jpg


Then, scrub the insides:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/bay5.jpg

Be sure to mask parts off:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/bay7.jpg

and paint:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/bay9.jpg

[m60b30530i]

that looks really easy

[DuRWooD]

Ok so apparently there are a bunch of E34's with pristine engine bays running around here on this forum from all of these reply's of "I do it all the time!!!"

Care to show any pics??


Thanks!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh95/DuRWooD_bucket/850ihoodopened.jpg

[Frzninvt]

You need to at least wire tie or better yet permanently mount that fuse holder and wire for the stereo power cable since it is so close to the exhaust manifolds/headers or you won't have an engine bay or car left to clean.

[m60b30530i]

You need to at least wire tie or better yet permanently mount that fuse holder and wire for the stereo power cable since it is so close to the exhaust manifolds/headers or you won't have an engine bay or car left to clean.


thats what i was thinking :eek:

[Frzninvt]

Another method that works and does not stink like engine degreaser is a big can of Dow Scrubbing Bubbles. Use when the car has not been run like in the morning, spray the entire engine bay with it. Spray extra or go back over the greasy areas, let sit a few minutes and rinse with a water hose. It won't take off really thick grease or sludge but is does a great job and your engine compartment will smell nice and fresh. If you want the engine to shine afterwards use a can of Meguir's Black Tire Shine, it's oil based and leaves a nice sheen easy to wipe off if it gets too much dust build up as well. I used to compete in IASCA in the mid-90's and my engine compartment was immaculate. Every screw was clocked and everything was loomed and wire tied.

[tonyroc14]

grease lightning!!!

[Binjammin]

Its easy! Pull the motor out and bead blast each and every part and powder coat it. Make sure you take the transmission out and bead blast that as well as clear coat it ;)

I did that :)


Another method that works and does not stink like engine degreaser is a big can of Dow Scrubbing Bubbles. Use when the car has not been run like in the morning, spray the entire engine bay with it. Spray extra or go back over the greasy areas, let sit a few minutes and rinse with a water hose. It won't take off really thick grease or sludge but is does a great job and your engine compartment will smell nice and fresh. If you want the engine to shine afterwards use a can of Meguir's Black Tire Shine, it's oil based and leaves a nice sheen easy to wipe off if it gets too much dust build up as well. I used to compete in IASCA in the mid-90's and my engine compartment was immaculate. Every screw was clocked and everything was loomed and wire tied.

I don't think you want to be spraying anything oil based all over your engine compartment. Oil dissolves rubber, it will eat your hoses and belts. Try something silicone based in the future.

Here's my fun time:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2657000-2657999/2657002_2.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2657000-2657999/2657002_48.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2657000-2657999/2657002_52.jpg


Primed

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2657000-2657999/2657002_69.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2657000-2657999/2657002_82.jpg

The whole story:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2657002

[Frzninvt]

It is probably silicone based it just seems oily (I did not read the can), if it is designed to be put on your tires I don't think it is going to harm the rubber.

[5mall5nail5]

Check out this before and after:

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/trans1.jpg

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/trans2.jpg

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/trans4.jpg

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Progress/trans9.jpg

[Binjammin]

You missed a spot.

[erik024]

You don't need to cover anything. I just use P21s TAW with a soft Boar's brush and let that sit for a few minutes then rinse of using a light flow of water. Then use just a leaf blower to dry off most of the water.

[5mall5nail5]

You missed a spot.

thats only after the soda blasting, bead blasting was next :)

[Binjammin]

thats only after the soda blasting, bead blasting was next :)

Just trying to get you all riled up :evil2

[5mall5nail5]

Ain't happenin!

[RX7525I]

Purple power

[5mall5nail5]

Purple power

that has another meaning to me

[Binjammin]

What a knob...

[screwbiedoo15]

OP, how do you like your Racing Dynamics headers? Is the car louder now/ does it have any more top end power?

Also, did you install them brand new? If so, unfortunately you probably can't clean them up much without coating them with something (ceramic coating). If they're uncoated they'll probably start to look a bit rusty in time.

[attack eagle]

Ok so apparently there are a bunch of E34's with pristine engine bays running around here on this forum from all of these reply's of "I do it all the time!!!"

Care to show any pics??


Thanks!

click my sig pic.

[gcb]

You need to at least wire tie or better yet permanently mount that fuse holder and wire for the stereo power cable since it is so close to the exhaust manifolds/headers or you won't have an engine bay or car left to clean.

I really didn't understand any of that :(

i have a huge void around my exhaust manifolds :shifty

[cult4d5]

Use a leaf blower! It dries like...THAT! (snap of the finger)

[rotaryboots]

Go down to your typical self serve car wash and turn it on to the engine wash setting, then wash the engine bay, and then spray it off with the pressure washer setting.

Let it dry and then go at it with 409.

[91e34M5]

Purple Power, gentle scrubbing with a stiff paint brush and rinsing with a shower spray from the water hose works wonders.

[raceyBMW]

Purple power/Simple Green...agitate with a brush (I use a stiff wheel brush), then rinse.

Main thing is to make sure engine is cool, otherwise you will get waterspots.