Cleaning the engine area (cosmetic)

[nodecentral]

I’ve just got my first T6 and would like to tidy it all up and ensure it’s in the best possible condition inside and out..

While service history shows good/regular checks (for 125k) part or buying the van was to learn more about them too, like the engine and the electrics

Lifting the bonnet, its very dirty/messy - how best should I clean the engine area, and is getting an engine cover advisable ?

What have people done to get their T6 engine area cleaned?

(Or am I over thinking it ?)

 

[MisterBadger]

Ah, my least favourite part of a detail
Lots of approaches, mainly common elements though. This is what I do. I'm not a pro, just a keen home/amateur detailer.

(There's probably threads on this already, and likely a detailing board somewhere, but my thoughts)

All at your own risk

Cold engine
Choose your location wisely, as it will spatter.
Bag any open induction cone/s or breathers
Glove up and take any other PPE precautions required. Goggles and wellies and a scene of crime type hazmat suit are useful in some cases. Seriously, pressure washing and engine bay at close quarters can fire all sorts of stuff back at you.
Read labels of any products you're going to use.

Remove loose stuff - vacuum, compressed air, use hands for leaves etc.

Some people opt to tape up exposed electricals so just assess whether you might be more comfortable taping/bagging any exposed wires or aftermarket electrics that aren't sealed very well (I've never done this but situation dependent)

You can then rinse off the entire bay at this point, depending on how much dusty crud there is and how tough any hardened gunk looks. Water can be your friend but will/can also dilute effectiveness of any products you then use, so all dependent on your sitch. No great shakes and I'd say it is probably more beneficial in most cases to wet it and blast off loose dirt so you have less work to do manually.

So loose stuff removed, electrical assessment done, and you've made it all moist by now

Have a brew

Apply gunk remover, degreaser or APC over everything, taking care not to get anything too aggressive on outer panels. Nowadays I just use varying solution strengths of Bilt Hamber Surfex HD as my all purpose cleaner through to heavy degreaser, but depends what you have in the cupboard. Pretty sure I've used CIF and Flash before

Let it dwell to take effect - 5-10 mins maybe?
Agitate with a stiff brush, tooth brush, old microfibre
The bonnet sound deadening can get super mucky and is quite resistant to becoming clean, just douse with cleaner then drive the dirt/cleaner down from the highest point (front of bonnet as it's up in the air) down or out.
Pressure wash/rinse it all.

Assess your work and revisit the above steps as required as you generally move detritus from one place to another on the first pass

Let it dry off and use towels you're not too fond of. Or blue roll, but think of the penguins.

At this point you have options as to finish. Shiny stuff can be applied, silicone spray can be used to rejuvenate hoses etc and plastics, or you can use vinyl detailer type stuff like the meguiars stuff. Personally, as with the whole vehicle, I don't like to go for the greasy second hand car sales pitch level of finish. Clean and a bit of a sheen for me

Exposed paint inside the bonnet and wings can even be polished/waxed if you like. Waxing makes it easier next time... Just saying.

The world is your lobster!

Engine covers do look nicer and tidier and make future cleans simpler

Oh, and we need pics!!!

Good luck

 

[JOG]

Ah, my least favourite part of a detail
Lots of approaches, mainly common elements though. This is what I do. I'm not a pro, just a keen home/amateur detailer.

(There's probably threads on this already, and likely a detailing board somewhere, but my thoughts)

All at your own risk

Cold engine
Choose your location wisely, as it will spatter.
Bag any open induction cone/s or breathers
Glove up and take any other PPE precautions required. Goggles and wellies and a scene of crime type hazmat suit are useful in some cases. Seriously, pressure washing and engine bay at close quarters can fire all sorts of stuff back at you.
Read labels of any products you're going to use.

Remove loose stuff - vacuum, compressed air, use hands for leaves etc.

Some people opt to tape up exposed electricals so just assess whether you might be more comfortable taping/bagging any exposed wires or aftermarket electrics that aren't sealed very well (I've never done this but situation dependent)

You can then rinse off the entire bay at this point, depending on how much dusty crud there is and how tough any hardened gunk looks. Water can be your friend but will/can also dilute effectiveness of any products you then use, so all dependent on your sitch. No great shakes and I'd say it is probably more beneficial in most cases to wet it and blast off loose dirt so you have less work to do manually.

So loose stuff removed, electrical assessment done, and you've made it all moist by now

Have a brew

Apply gunk remover, degreaser or APC over everything, taking care not to get anything too aggressive on outer panels. Nowadays I just use varying solution strengths of Bilt Hamber Surfex HD as my all purpose cleaner through to heavy degreaser, but depends what you have in the cupboard. Pretty sure I've used CIF and Flash before

Let it dwell to take effect - 5-10 mins maybe?
Agitate with a stiff brush, tooth brush, old microfibre
The bonnet sound deadening can get super mucky and is quite resistant to becoming clean, just douse with cleaner then drive the dirt/cleaner down from the highest point (front of bonnet as it's up in the air) down or out.
Pressure wash/rinse it all.

Assess your work and revisit the above steps as required as you generally move detritus from one place to another on the first pass

Let it dry off and use towels you're not too fond of. Or blue roll, but think of the penguins.

At this point you have options as to finish. Shiny stuff can be applied, silicone spray can be used to rejuvenate hoses etc and plastics, or you can use vinyl detailer type stuff like the meguiars stuff. Personally, as with the whole vehicle, I don't like to go for the greasy second hand car sales pitch level of finish. Clean and a bit of a sheen for me

Exposed paint inside the bonnet and wings can even be polished/waxed if you like. Waxing makes it easier next time... Just saying.

The world is your lobster!

Engine covers do look nicer and tidier and make future cleans simpler

Oh, and we need pics!!!

Good luck

Probably the best summary on how to do this job that I’ve seen! Nice one.

There are other threads on how to remove the scuttle cover (the plastic bit below the windscreen) where lots of leaves and crud can build up. You’ll find that a wiper removal tool will come in handy. Use a bit of masking tape on the windscreen to mark where the wipers sat before removal so that you can pop them back in the same place!

 

[MisterBadger]

Probably the best summary on how to do this job that I’ve seen! Nice one.

Kind words, thank you.
Nice to be able to chip in

 

[spooks007]

Spray some snow foam with some added citrus cleaner on it over the whole engine bay letvitvsit and dwelling while it works away at the grime. Rinse off with a pressure washer from.about a foot away.

Repeat the above but prior to rinse give it some agitation using a brisle brush then simply hose off again.

I use the following once done it an epic product for making the engine bay look

Koch Chemie Motorplast 500ml

 

[DaveD]

Years ago I used to spray TFR or degreaser all over an engine, give a few minutes to work, then blast it off with a pressure washer. I never had any real trouble, sometimes petrol engines would splutter and cough for a minute when I tried to start them afterwards, but they'd be fine after that. The old diesels with a mechanical injector pump were no issue at all.
Now I just don't clean engine bays, beyond a wipe of the plastics.
The idea of introducing moisture at high pressure where there are so many sensors and electronics scares me too much, I can live with a bit of dust under the bonnet.