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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Cleaned my engine today
- Thread starter msm
- Start date
msm
Well-known member
Truvalu said:
I warmed the engine up a little bit (about 2 mins). Then sprayed some Clean Green (undiluted) on all the covers and bits, while staying away from the belts and electrical stuff.
After that, I gently hosed it down. Immediately after that I took the car for a 5 min drive to dry out. Then wiped everything that was still wet.
I used Meguirs dash treatment on all the plastic covers (as it is one of the only few that does not seem to leave a oily finish). After the dash treatment, I wiped everything down again with a damp chamois.
I know some okes don't like to hose the engine bay, but it was the first time I cleaned it since I got it and the easiest way to get some of the muck out. The dash treatment helps in restoring/reviving some of the plastic covers.
Now that it's clean, I'm just gonna wipe down with a damp cloth every few weeks.
Truvalu
New member
Thanks man!
Nice info!
What about engine cleaner?, no good?
This is a nice DIY and can be good if you use the right stuff, it can be bad if you do the wrong stuff.....
Should one spray/clean all electrical plugs and fittings with some of the electrical stuff... or should one rather stay away.
?
If one do... what do you use?
Nice info!
What about engine cleaner?, no good?
This is a nice DIY and can be good if you use the right stuff, it can be bad if you do the wrong stuff.....
Should one spray/clean all electrical plugs and fittings with some of the electrical stuff... or should one rather stay away.
?
If one do... what do you use?
K
Kobus328i
Guest
Nice job there MSM :thumbsup: !! I'll bring my M through to you tommorrow for the same treatment, seeing what you can do:clap:.
msm
Well-known member
Truvalu said:
I used Clean Green instead of engine cleaner, as most of the dirt was from accumulated dust/dirt, and not really grease/oil.
Not sure about the electrical stuff. I just stayed away from it. I may have a gotten a little water sprayed on it, but nothing else (i.e. no Clean Green or Megs spray) - that's the reason for the drive afterwards. To warm up the engine enough to get rid of most of the water, in case it got somewhere that it should'nt.
K
Kobus328i
Guest
Mmmmmm Nah, can't wait till then.
Sankekur
///Member
Looking good :thumbsup: I just give my engine a wipe down each time I wash the car, that helps to keep the engine clean so that it is never too much of a stuggle to get the engine clean.
I have used engine cleaner before, it seemed to be the exact same thing and work the same as clean green, but maybe it was just the engine clearer I used :dunno:
I have used engine cleaner before, it seemed to be the exact same thing and work the same as clean green, but maybe it was just the engine clearer I used :dunno:
Philip Foglar
///Member
Clean Green is very good at removing greasy grime especially if you allow it to soak for a bit. But the only thing that concerns me from past experience is I found that odd metal bolt would develop corrosion later on - maybe totally unrelated to the Clean Green and mostly due to the car itself and its age.
But my cleaning process was much the same as above. I let the engine warm up so that the core was at least decently warm and then allow the exhaust and manifold a few minutes to return to more ambient temperature. I then lightly sprayed the engine with a GENTLE stream of water before applying Clean Green. Keep the water flow away from the delicate electrics and air intake - prevent Clean Green from getting into contact with belts etc. If necessary used an angled brush (kitchen or around the house type brush) to clean those harder to reach places.
Then thoroughly rinse the entire engine bay (minus the electrical bits) again with a gentle stream of water - I usually park the car such that the available Sun is shining into the engine bay to help keep some warmth in the engine bay.
I then start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes while checking that all electrical items are functioning - then close bonnet and take for a decent drive so that any moisture is "burnt" off completely.
Never had any problem with this careful approach to cleaning an engine - although with the extra amount of electronics in my 330i's engine bay I will just have to be that much more careful!
Philip
But my cleaning process was much the same as above. I let the engine warm up so that the core was at least decently warm and then allow the exhaust and manifold a few minutes to return to more ambient temperature. I then lightly sprayed the engine with a GENTLE stream of water before applying Clean Green. Keep the water flow away from the delicate electrics and air intake - prevent Clean Green from getting into contact with belts etc. If necessary used an angled brush (kitchen or around the house type brush) to clean those harder to reach places.
Then thoroughly rinse the entire engine bay (minus the electrical bits) again with a gentle stream of water - I usually park the car such that the available Sun is shining into the engine bay to help keep some warmth in the engine bay.
I then start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes while checking that all electrical items are functioning - then close bonnet and take for a decent drive so that any moisture is "burnt" off completely.
Never had any problem with this careful approach to cleaning an engine - although with the extra amount of electronics in my 330i's engine bay I will just have to be that much more careful!
Philip
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