engine bay cleaning 101 (archive)

A lot of people have asked me about engine bay cleaning methods. Put the car on the driveway or street. Ideally with a gentle grade so you don't have to stand it dirty water. Go buy a gallon of Castrol Super concentrate engine cleaner/degreaser. Purple bottle. Pour it into a pump spray bottle and spray liberally all over the engine bay though don't get much on the distributor. More often than not you'll have to aggitate it. I like to use a combination of a soft scrotchbright sponge, old dish washing brush and a tooth brush. Usually you will clog up the brushes but rinsing it with cleaner and water will magically bring it clean again. Rinse the engine bay with lots of water and you'll see where you missed. Some area's won't be accesible without removing things such as the air cleaner assembly. Sometime I start by spraying the bottom so I don't have to lie down in the muck that will drop during the processs. A High pressure spray gun works well too but you really have to use some sort of heavy cleaner. This cleaner won't leave an oily residue like most arisol cans of degreaser. If you're as picky as I, also clean the trans area, tunnel, differential, wheel wells etc.
Peter S

Peter:

I put the wiring diagram in the mail yesterday. You did a wonderful job on the E21. Can you tell me how you clean up the engine bay? What cleaner did you use?

Peter's 320i page

Follow Ups:

Before you start...... Colin 09:55 5/29/2001 (0)

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