Anyone got any tips or suggestions for cleaning up under the bonnet? I've seen pics of people using high pressure hoses for this sort of thing, but that seems a little dodgy to me. I want to basically clean off the built up dust and dirt, and maybe give the metal surfaces a bit of a spit and polish. Hot soapy water? A hose pipe?
A hose pipe and a brush will do fine, done it loads of times, but I put a plastic sheet over the engine to stop the water getting into though.
Get yourself some gunk or simlar degreasing stuff and use that (avalible from your local motor factors!) Pressure washer is helpful but not a nessecity. Hose pipe will do.
I'm guessing there's nowt under there that's gonna dislike being drenched in water then? I mean, it is an engine, and it's not as if it's sealed from the environment...
Theres not anything under there thats going to be damaged by water. It all gets wet in the rain anyway
or just take it to somebody that steam cleans cars for MOT's ect i am sure they can do under the bonet and know what they are doing
Um, does your car have a bonnet? Anything under the boonet doesn't get wet becasue it's, well.... under the bonnet! Excessive water to the engine will choke it, a simple plastic sheet over the engine and a hose to the bonnet along with a brush will do perfectly fine!
actually water in the air intake or fuel lines will choke it, and water on the sparks will short them... basically.. do you just share a polaroid of a Austin Maxi around the village and ooooh at it when it's your turn?
lmao of course it gets wet in the rain! theres a big hole in the front called a grille ffs! not to mention road spray. The engine bay is not close off you know its open so that air can pass though and cool the engine. Modern cars are waterproofed enough for it not to matter if it gets wet under there. They all have huge inuction systems that prevent water from getting in the intakes and all the electrics is waterproof. If its apetrol you can allways just spray the electrics with some WD40 before you start for extra protection. If your that worryed do it when its running any water it sucks in will just burn up.(pressure washer only of course!)
Based on all this, would a steam cleaner be the best option? It's a 15yr old Golf GTi, so it's not quite as sealed and watertight as a more modern vehicle. I just want to get all the dust and **** blasted out from in and around the engine and what-not.
The engine in mum's car is covered in a specail anti-corrosive coating. Its formulated from 15w40 mineral oil, and North Wales's finest road dirt . Personally i'd use a steam cleaner.
A bucket, and a cloth... wringed out so its only damp enough to move the dirt. Powerhosing under a bonnet is just asking for trouble, an engine bay is designed to a degree to cope with water, but forcefully spraying is just dumb. Steam Cleaning - Be bloody careful, there is in fact a warning on cars like mine, not to use a steam cleaner because condensation can build up on the coil packs.
steam cleaning only by a pro, there is potential for damage there, not to mention its pretty hard to find someone with steam cleaner they will let u borrow. the heat loosens all the junk, works real well pressure washer is not as effective, but itll work better than a hose the main concern is the pressure of the water/steam on the gaskets between the metal pieces. yes, engines are waterproof to a point. but when u put high pressure water or steam on a gasket you can blow water right into the engine, which i don't need to tell you is not good for it. gunky engine brite doesnt work all that great if your car is really old an filthy like mine.
