How do you clean your engine bay?

[voiceinsideyou]

In reference to a thread in tech - just wondering how you guys reccomend cleaning engine bays? Basically, which option do you think is fine to do?

There seems to be quite different opinions on the matter...

[PumpN]

i have used steam cleaning before, i know of a few other garages who also do things this way, i would advise against using water

[Dell'Orto]

Steam cleaning works for me, I just cover filters, BOV's, dizzys etc with a plastic bag and go nuts.
I have used a waterblaster before, that worked just as well.

[phtwgn]

we got a water blaster @ werk dat jus has lots of pressure and temperature wich cleans off old grease and oil off craines and trucks beuty.

[voiceinsideyou]

Still such mixed opinion eh! I /really/ don't want to clean my Altezza with a high pressure hose and end up having to buy a new dizzy, or other electrics. But the elbow grease approach is a nightmare (although a good way to learn about where everything is in your engine... no doubt!)...

[Adamal]

I'd be keen to hear about the steam clean.
What kind of equipment do you need for that?

[voiceinsideyou]

I think most people go to car grooming places to get them done...

[Elmo]

You need a steam cleaner. Its a machine of its own. Water + fuel = steam at high pressure.

I steam clean mine all the time, I dont cover anything, just avoid direct blasts at the dizzy and filter.

Comes up mint (we have one at my work)

[boxxy]

spray a cheap degreaser every where....and then wash off with a no pressure hose... works like a charm and the waters got no presure to get were it shouldnt

[Shady_Dan]

geee you kids dont know how lucky you are with your technology, back in my day (when i used to walk 20miles to work barefoot, and shoveled rocking horse shit), we used elbow grease and a bit of spit and polish....damn whippersnappers *hits you with his walking stick*

[zEpHyRiNe]

Nothing like elbow grease, made my ex's engine bay come up just spankin'

[Mischief]

Degreaser sprayed all over it first, then water blasting it with a high pressure water blaster with warm water! Usually does the trick but I get told that doing that can damage my engine....

[semloshen]

[quote="Shady_Dan"]geee you kids dont know how lucky you are with your technology, back in my day (when i used to walk 20miles to work barefoot, and shoveled rocking horse sh*t), we used elbow grease and a bit of spit and polish....damn whippersnappers *hits you with his walking stick*[/quote

hahahahahahahahahahahhahhahaaaaaaahhahah

[voiceinsideyou]

In the end, I opted for degreaser, elbow grease and a low pressure hosing.

Consequence? One of my hideously expensive Xenon headlamps stopped working a day later. Hmmm, coincidence? Ended up taking the ballast box apart and getting it working - but the prospect of having to replace a several hundred dollar bulb was scary as hell. :-/

Think I'll stay away from the steam clean....

[strap-on]

i say......

rip everything out, pull it all to bits and use brakleen then put it back together :D:D

the again liek some ppl have said, thatd egreaser is awesome stuff

[Roush]

does a toothbrush and detergent count?