Engine bay cleaning

[baek4055]

I am about to clean engine bay.
Thing is, I am kinda having a concern about the way of cleaning the engine bay.
What I have watched from Youtube was that people clean the engine bay with the high pressure water.
Since I am a big chicken, I am not sure whether I can just use water to clean the engine bay.
Of course, I will use some engine cleaner and brush it to remove dust and dirty stuff.
My question is, do I have to cover any electronics before I use water? and is there anything that I need to be careful before wash it?
My vehicle is 2003 e85 though.
Your responses or any tips will be very appreciated!

 

[mr.tourette]

I just put a couple of carrier bags over the alternator and then use warm water with a bit of car shampoo and used my wheel brush...rinsed off with a hose

 

[JINGLE]

also interested in this, wanna give it a good clean and make everything clean and shiny etc but never had the guts to pressure wash or use water in there myself either

 

[Disca]

I've just used altoglym machine cleaner on mine, wipe it on with microfibre, leave for a minute or so and wipe off again, didnt want to use any water.

That cleaned it up with a bit of scrubbing and then used multiple coats of Aerospace 303 to build up the plastic shine. Did this by literally spraying a coating of it over the entire engine bay, shutting bonnet for a few hours and coming back later to wipe away anything that hadn't soaked in

Also used metal polish and steel wool grade 0000 on the metal pipework to clean up. Great for exhausts too!

 

[cj10jeeper]

No problem with just using low pressure water in the engine bay as they are designed to tolerate water. You can get away with high pressure, but frankly best avoided as you always run the risk of driving water into places it's best not, like fuse boxes, seals, etc.

I have to do it on the Jeeps to get the mud out of the engine bay, but avoid delicate areas and use from a distance. I also have the engine warm and don't switch anything on until the heat of the engine has dried it, however..... For the Z4 I'd use an engine degreaser if it's really dirty, then then rinse off while the engine is warm, but not really hot.

 

[Swiftly]

I use the same as Disca except not used steel wool or metal polish. Just make dure you cover the alternator with shrink wrap or foil which ever is handy.

 

[PerryGunn]

If you have stubborn oily dirt in awkward places a steam cleaner works wonders

 

[JINGLE]

I use the same as Disca except not used steel wool or metal polish. Just make dure you cover the alternator with shrink wrap or foil which ever is handy.

where abouts is that? (i think i know but would rather double check haha)

 

[mr.tourette]

I use the same as Disca except not used steel wool or metal polish. Just make dure you cover the alternator with shrink wrap or foil which ever is handy.

where abouts is that? (i think i know but would rather double check haha)

just to tbe right and below the oil filter

 

[JINGLE]

as seen near the bottom here behind the air filter, thought so just wanted to double check haha

anywhere else thats a safe option to wrap a carrier bag to stop and water ingress?

 

[baek4055]

Thank you for all your tips

 

[Disca]

I'm sure someone can always show you if you're local enough to them Depends where you are based though!

 

[Disca]

I use the same as Disca except not used steel wool or metal polish. Just make dure you cover the alternator with shrink wrap or foil which ever is handy.

That brace doesn't need polishing anyway by the looks of it! My metal pipework was all filthy before I hit it with the wool!

 

[Gilles]

I was just wondering why the engine bay is darker than the color of the car is there a reason for that ?

 

[biojo]

the outside of car you see is lacquered and polished up

 

[Anonymous]

Nice but I'd never ever ever ever jet wash an engine bay!!
Steam yes
You have seals washers etc etc all quite easy to blow in and get yourself a lovely oil leak etc

Degrease then steam and clean then dry and Polish

 

[kis]

High pressure jet wash - no way!
Normal hose - on a low speed/pressure setting. Never had any issued myself. Not bagged any areas up either. A light hose down with de-greaser and jobs a good-un!