Washing Your Engine Bay - A Step By Step Guide

[mercedised]

Thanks for sharing, this probably the most useful thread I came across in this forum.

 

[jazzyb5454]

Today i washed my Polo's engine bay. I was afraid to the bones but still went ahead with it. While covering alternator and battery with aluminum foil spark came from engine so i left alternator uncovered. Pics before and after washing.
My two words of advice, if you have big heart then only wash your Polo's Engine Bay.

 

[sumitsinha12]

Spark should not come untill and unless your ignition is in on position. Always Take out the key from the ignition whenever you wash the engine.

 

[jazzyb5454]

Spark should not come untill and unless your ignition is in on position. Always Take out the key from the ignition whenever you wash the engine.

Key was in my pocket. Its polo anything can happen

 

[adil3996]

woow Excellent Thread Sumit Bhai
hear i can post all my cars engine bay pictures

MARUTI 800 1986 ENGINE BAY


MARUTI ALTO 2011


HONDA CITY 2005


TOYOTA INNOVA 2006

 

[deville_56]

While covering alternator and battery with aluminum foil spark came from engine so i left alternator uncovered.

IMO, it is a dumb idea covering with aluminium foil as there is live positive at battery and foil being a conductor and negative everywhere around.

 

[jazzyb5454]

IMO, it is a dumb idea covering with aluminium foil as there is live positive at battery and foil being a conductor and negative everywhere around.

I think you are right but i read somewhere that while washing engine bay cover air intake and alternator with aluminium foil, but not doing it again.

 

[deville_56]

I think you are right but i read somewhere that while washing engine bay cover air intake and alternator with aluminium foil, but not doing it again.

Even at authorized service centers they simply block the air intake with cloth and spray air-diesel mix (they won't mix, but sprayed together with a attachment like spray paint gun) and sometimes blow dry, sometimes leave in sun. I have never seen someone washing every nook and cover with soap and water

 

[sumitsinha12]

woow Excellent Thread Sumit Bhai
hear i can post all my cars engine bay pictures

MARUTI 800 1986 ENGINE BAY
View attachment 175021

MARUTI ALTO 2011
View attachment 175018

HONDA CITY 2005
View attachment 175019

TOYOTA INNOVA 2006
View attachment 175020

Adil bhai, spectacular pics. Especially the 800 one. Hats off to your magic.

Guys, the best possible masking for everything is simple plastic. Use polythenes to cover them all. And use rubber bands to strap it. It wont spark, and it won't let water seep in also.

 

[GreyCruze]

Are you guys using any dressing for engine bay?

 

[sumitsinha12]

Earlier i used simple waxpol vinyl polish or any other polish to dress the plastic parts of the engine.
Now what i use is Zorrick 88. Wash the engine, let it dry completely, spray zorrick all over. Be careful that the engine is not hot while you spray, Wipe it off. It will leave good shine behind.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE DO NOT START THE CAR JUST AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED SPRAYING, LET IT DRY FOR ATLEAST 15-20 MINS THEN ONLY START.
One more benefit of zorrick is that rats don't come in your engine bay, once it is sprayed. And zorrick doesn't also attracts dust.

 

[GreyCruze]

Earlier i used simple waxpol vinyl polish or any other polish to dress the plastic parts of the engine.
Now what i use is Zorrick 88. Wash the engine, let it dry completely, spray zorrick all over. Be careful that the engine is not hot while you spray, Wipe it off. It will leave good shine behind.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE DO NOT START THE CAR JUST AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED SPRAYING, LET IT DRY FOR ATLEAST 15-20 MINS THEN ONLY START.
One more benefit of zorrick is that rats don't come in your engine bay, once it is sprayed. And zorrick doesn't also attracts dust.

This is definitely a huge benefit :-)

 

[swiftshashi]

Excellent Thread Sumit!!

Inspired by your work, I too tried my hands at cleaning the engine bay of my M800.



Regards,
Shashi

 

[sumitsinha12]

Shashi, i am inspired by your work. You are guru in detailing. I haven't seen such a squeaky clean emgine bay. This pic is the inspiration for fellow members.

 

[Volksjäger]

Today i washed my Polo's engine bay. I was afraid to the bones but still went ahead with it. While covering alternator and battery with aluminum foil spark came from engine so i left alternator uncovered. Pics before and after washing.
My two words of advice, if you have big heart then only wash your Polo's Engine Bay.

Dude you are really a brave man. I mean it !!! I had a bad experience cleaning my Ford ikons engine. So since then I have stopped cleaning engine compartments. I only vacuum it with a brush. I gently use a soft paint brush over the injectors and suck the dust off with my karcher vacuum cleaner. Same goes with the battery and other internals. And I religiously clean the engine's oil cap and the oil cap seal from dust and grime. I suck it up with a vacuum cleaner with utmost care so that the dust doesn't fall off inside. I do this every time before topping up my engine oil or giving it for a service . Because I doubt VW service guys would take such care while refilling the engine oil.

And I bought a plastic funnels from china market for topping up the engine oil as well as G13 coolant.