Beeacon said:Hi Hebbs,
I use this method below which brings it up looking like new. First time I cleaned it I went through a load of babywipes and then realised that I didn't need to do any scrubbing at all :roll:
I use Autoglym Engine Degreaser & Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care
Engine Bay Clean Method:
https://youtu.be/6LwCbmvLYb0
Work on a cloudy day and cover any electrical or sensitive components with plastic sheeting or a carrier bag (alternator / ECU housing / exposed air filters). Make sure all caps and dipsticks are fully secured. Also wear gloves, degreaser is nasty stuff on your hands.
1. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) on the underside of the bonnet and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Use large soft wheel brushes to clean the underside of the bonnet. Do not touch the heat shield.
2. Rinse using a normal hose or a pressure washer on the lowest setting.
3. Rinse the engine bay to remove loose dirt and contaminants.
4. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) in the engine bay and let it dwell for a couple of minutes.
5. Clean the engine bay with wheel brush, bendy thistle brush, and small detailing brush for hard to reach areas.
6. Rinse.
7. This can be done two ways: 1) Apply a wet dressing (Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care) and leave to dry before buffing off. 2) Dry the engine bay using either microfiber drying towels or air dryers/leaf blowers. Make sure it’s completely dry, then using a spray dressing to restore faded plastics.
8. Remove protective plastic bags and start the engine up and leave to run for a few minutes to dry out those last few hidden recesses. Done!
Hebbs said:Beeacon said:Hi Hebbs,
I use this method below which brings it up looking like new. First time I cleaned it I went through a load of babywipes and then realised that I didn't need to do any scrubbing at all :roll:
I use Autoglym Engine Degreaser & Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care
Engine Bay Clean Method:
https://youtu.be/6LwCbmvLYb0
Work on a cloudy day and cover any electrical or sensitive components with plastic sheeting or a carrier bag (alternator / ECU housing / exposed air filters). Make sure all caps and dipsticks are fully secured. Also wear gloves, degreaser is nasty stuff on your hands.
1. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) on the underside of the bonnet and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Use large soft wheel brushes to clean the underside of the bonnet. Do not touch the heat shield.
2. Rinse using a normal hose or a pressure washer on the lowest setting.
3. Rinse the engine bay to remove loose dirt and contaminants.
4. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) in the engine bay and let it dwell for a couple of minutes.
5. Clean the engine bay with wheel brush, bendy thistle brush, and small detailing brush for hard to reach areas.
6. Rinse.
7. This can be done two ways: 1) Apply a wet dressing (Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care) and leave to dry before buffing off. 2) Dry the engine bay using either microfiber drying towels or air dryers/leaf blowers. Make sure it’s completely dry, then using a spray dressing to restore faded plastics.
8. Remove protective plastic bags and start the engine up and leave to run for a few minutes to dry out those last few hidden recesses. Done!
cheers dude, ill give that a watch later today. got the Meguiars ultimate black plastic restorer to finish it, still waiting for my brushes which arrive on the 31st.
It can pay when using any product you're unfamiliar with to test it somewhere inconspicous first. I bought some Turtle Wax Jet Black Endura-Shine Trim Coating and tried it on the E85's fuse box - it was like applying a streaky watery paint, and left marks extremely difficult to fix. I should have tried it on a smaller area to find out what it was like, and perhaps learnt a different method to apply it better. In the end I used CRC Plastic & Rubber Doctor which goes on like a paste and has a much more even and lasting finish. Lesson learned but very annoying at the time.Michael181294 said:
