www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

As a few of you know, I recently had my Turbo blow up on my Astravan. It covered everything in oil and the engine and engine bay is a right mess. Covered in oil and muck.

Can and how do you clean the engine. I've a jet washer, but not sure thats a wise tool to use around electrical connections etc. I've heard about steam cleaning but to be honest I've not got a clue where to start!

Any ideas!

Steam is okay on diesels but you have to make sure that the bloke knows what he is doing to avoid blasting the electrics with the gun. Make sure the engine is nice an hot before it is done. Steam does do a lovely job though. Try one of the many Polish car wash sites as most do a full valeting service for the motor trade. Costs about £20.

DWD

I normally leave mine running when i do the engine bay. Avoid major electrics and the air intake.
Hot pressure washer is the tool.

I wouldn't use it on a petrol machine though.

get a can of gunk from Halfords or the like.

Runthe engine for 20 mins or so to get it warm, then get the Gunk degreaser on everything, then spray it off. carefull use of a pressure washer is ok, or just used a standard hose with a jet nozzle.
Cover up the electric bits liek the fuse box and the air intake with a plastic bags and rubber bands or straps.

I personally would not do this while the engine is running - too many moving parts for bits (and fingers) to get caught up in and also the air intake could suck in water if you happen to spray badly (if you got the engine off, least you can taje the filter box off and drain it)

having said all that, I like DWDs suggestion

Try the Auto Glym engine cleaner?

Used on a COLD engine, just spary on, brush in the stubbon bits, then rise off, either a hose or presure washer.
The good thing about this stuff, it leaves a dirt resistant coating, so future cleaning is a doddle.
Given you will be washing a diesel, elec's are a minor concern, it's the air intake, dont have the engine running when riseing, if diesels suck up water, it can be very bad news, un like petrol engines, that will stop when damp.
Just avoid, put a bag on it if req, the ECU, very expencive put right if water get's in there, another good reasion for engine off.

One thing which I was just reminded of .... bag up any alarm as well!!

I remember I bought a Celica GT4 which had an alarm and the Toyota Dealer steam cleaned the engine bay before I picked it up and screwed it up - Alarm boxes can be quite sensitive!!

Cheers guys.

I thought about using the valeting blokes you see about. I'll go ask them whether they do engine cleans or not? Might have to take a translator with me. The last ones I went to didn't speak a word or English. They just had a clipboard with prices on and what you got. You could only pay with the right money. They didn't do change?????

I think I'll probably end up doing it myself. Cheers once again!

i wouldn't wash an engine especially with a pressure washer. you can be as careful as you like but you cannot control where the water goes. the most common thing to happen is after a while some of the elec contacts (say for a sensor) rust up.... depending on the ecu and if it picks up the error codes the laborious task of finding the bad connection can take forever.

GUNK is one of the best easily available products on the market... spray it on and wipe off with a cloth; you may need to take alot of extra's off (plastics/pipes etc) to get access underneath stuff. tedious job but the proper way to do it.

HTH