engine bay cleaning

[imported_gfe76]

I have always kept my engine bays clean. I have a hot water faucet outside. I use water hose nozzle and spray engine when warm. I do this about every 3 mos and it keeps engine clean. Once a year I will use air compressor (90 psi) with wand and spray on degreaser (simple green, dawn diluted, etc), wait 5 mins, and then hose off with hot water.



My neighbor has a 2 year old audi A4 (1.8T). He wants the engine cleaned and asked if I would help him. Anybody got any experience with these vehicles and cleaning engine bay? Anything "peculiar" about them? thanks

[imageautodetail]

I have always kept my engine bays clean. I have a hot water faucet outside. I use water hose nozzle and spray engine when warm. I do this about every 3 mos and it keeps engine clean. Once a year I will use air compressor (90 psi) with wand and spray on degreaser (simple green, dawn diluted, etc), wait 5 mins, and then hose off with hot water.



My neighbor has a 2 year old audi A4 (1.8T). He wants the engine cleaned and asked if I would help him. Anybody got any experience with these vehicles and cleaning engine bay? Anything "peculiar" about them? thanks your method or similar should be fine, Audis are not that sensitive to water, just keep the water moving

[BlueLibby04]

Just dont use alot of pressure. Thats the #1 WRONG thing that people do, they use alot of pressure. Ive used the pressure washer at a coin-op but I keep my distance(at least 2feet).



Use a low pressure steady stream of water and let your degreaser do it work. Use a small scrub brush and agitate the areas that need it.

[imported_gfe76]

thanks for the replies. I have only used hot water from my home water hose (with spray nozzle). It is amazing how much better hot water (even used alone) will clean an engine bay. I haven`t been to a wand car wash, but may give it a try.....

[Twista616]

I have an A4...and I did the engine about a month ago...since it was my personal car, I took extreme car with cleaning it...no matter what engine I clean, I alway wrap any wires that are visable to me. Just in case! Granted all engines are supposed to be water resistant...but just be careful around the wires...

[blownvert]

wrap all wires like Twista said, you dont want to blow a fuse or short a spark plug.

[i12flytoday]

I have an A4...and I did the engine about a month ago...since it was my personal car, I took extreme car with cleaning it...no matter what engine I clean, I alway wrap any wires that are visable to me. Just in case! Granted all engines are supposed to be water resistant...but just be careful around the wires...



That`s what I love about the Mercedes. The engine is in a bay inside the engine bay. There is the engine block, alternator, ect..., and surrounding that is a kind of air dam, and all of the electronics and sensitive stuff are in sealed (with rubber o-rings and everything) plastic containers towards the top right and top left by the windshield. A bit of care and it`s SO easy to clean it and keep it nice. I clean mine about once a month if I get the chance... just to keep it nice. But because everything is sealed up so nice, it rarely needs it.



Wade

[imported_slicknickis3]

That`s what I love about the Mercedes. The engine is in a bay inside the engine bay. There is the engine block, alternator, ect..., and surrounding that is a kind of air dam, and all of the electronics and sensitive stuff are in sealed (with rubber o-rings and everything) plastic containers towards the top right and top left by the windshield. A bit of care and it`s SO easy to clean it and keep it nice. I clean mine about once a month if I get the chance... just to keep it nice. But because everything is sealed up so nice, it rarely needs it.



Wade

BMW is like that as well. I believe it`s one of those `German Engineering` things...