Guys, After being at the autobody shop for 6 months, my car's engine bay is very dusty and to my eyes its filthy! I've never cleaned an expensive car's engine bay before. I did this back when i was a teen, using a garden hose and a can of GUNK spray can product, but i wouldn't dare do this to an expensive and modern engine as the M5 motor, especially since there is a blower there, and i don't want to cause any possible water damage. What is the safest and best way to clean our engine bay and not dry out any rubber hoses or similar parts ?
thank you for your reply.
I was just looking to do this as well. Most of my detailing knowledge and products starts at properautocare.com. Today I ordered some swirl remover products but I'm not brave enough to spray a hose onto this motor.
i've rinsed my engine compartment down plenty of times. Used the hose, not a ton of pressure or volume. Take it for a nice drive after to dry out everything. The stuff is pretty waterproof. I have some zep degreaser that i dilute down quite a bit, spray and hose it down. Have used a pressure washer from below, but the garden hose is plenty usually.
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Mike
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
Guys, After being at the autobody shop for 6 months, my car's engine bay is very dusty and to my eyes its filthy! I've never cleaned an expensive car's engine bay before. I did this back when i was a teen, using a garden hose and a can of GUNK spray can product, but i wouldn't dare do this to an expensive and modern engine as the M5 motor, especially since there is a blower there, and i don't want to cause any possible water damage. What is the safest and best way to clean our engine bay and not dry out any rubber hoses or similar parts ?
thank you for your reply.
Robert,
Take it to Phil @ Detailers Domain and he'll take care of your car. He's in NJ as well so shouldn't be tough to get to his place.
I've washed engines on all my cars and so far, have not had a problem. I like using p21s Total Auto Wash, which is a citrus cleaner. This product has a million uses, and does a good job with the engine bay as long as it isn't heavily caked with grease. For those situations, WD-40 and a lot of elbow grease works well, followed by p21s TAW to remove the residues. Using a garden hose is fine. I wouldn't use a pressure washer or anything like it. Dry with a microfiber cloth or use an air compressor. Follow with something like 303 protectant on the rubber and plastic bits.
One more hint: be careful wiping the plenum. Its texture will cause it to collect lint, even from microfiber towels. Best bet is to dab the plenum dry, or use an air compressor or blower to dry it.
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Charles
Carbon Black/Champagne Individual interior '03 M5 - Tubi exhaust, SS headers, CNS Racing clutch, Fikse FM/5 18" wheels, Bluetooth retrofit.
'09 Honda Fit "dogmobile"/daily driver
'04 supercharged Acura NSX, 385RWHP
I've used $2 can engine degreasers for years on all my cars w/o issue. You pretty much use the entire can for each job. Do it before washing the car as the fenders will be wet and you will want to wash off any cleaner. Spray the degreaser on a cold engine...let sit for 5 minutes max. Use a regular garden hose on "spray" not "jet". Rinse from highest point of engine bay to lowest thoroughly. Rinse it off the paint if you got some on the fenders. Drive the car around 15 minutes right away. Let the engine cool. Spray regular Armor All on the rubber hoses and plastic pieces incl. air intake covers. Drive the car another 15 minutes (it will stink a bit but will dissipate with every drive). Engine bay will look brand spankin' new. Don't forget to wash the car!!
Jeff
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Supersprint headers, AA CAI, Velocity Stacks, D/A Software, Evosport Pulleys, SSR GT3 19" Wheels, AC Schnitzer Pedals/E-brake/Shift Knob, Euro Headlights, HID Fogs
Note: Make sure you wash engine bay when car is cool or cold. That way you can temporarilly place a plastic bag over the alternator without the bag melting. Make sure you wrap it up so water doesn't drip in when removing the bag.
Story:
No power in my car except the battery afternew alternator was installed?
Well my gf washed the engine with water and the alternator got shorted i suppose...got a refurbish alternator from honda..car ran good for few days...but when battery run out...the alternator dont charge battery or even work..car just lost power on me in the street and now wont go on unless a new battery is put on....WHT ELSE CAN BE THE PROBLEM..ALTERNATOR DEFEC??...OR WIRES THAT WAS ALSO SHORTED FROM WATER
I'm sure there must be other places where water shouldn't be...?
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2002-05 Build Carbon Black ///M5
First Aid Kit ~ Warning Triangle ~ Full BMW Tool Kit
what's the best way to clean engine bay ?
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