Your favourite engine bay cleaner

Hi all,

There’s rakes of info about this but I’ve not posted in a while so thought I’d use it as an opportunity to post and get some opinions.

I’m going to clean my engine bay on Friday, which is plastered with oil from various leaks which I’ve now had sorted (steering box, rocker gasket).

What’s your favourite product to use and how do you use it? Cheers!

Jizer is what I use you can get it in aerosol

Spray on use a stiff brush to work in & pressure wash off !!

Or use a little Romanian

http://www.swantek.com/html/products/sol15602.htm
We used this product to clean all the lube oil pump beds and floor area at work, and degrease other items, its water soluble as well and solvent free. Some degreasers are not suitable to use on aluminium so check carefully before buying, other solvent based products can damage seals and I remember my brother inlaw using Gunk cleaner on his engine and it disolved his tarmac drive.

I've found Gunk to be pretty good - although as above you need to keep it away from pets/wildlife/tarmac. Paint it on with an old brush, agitate with a dish brush and wipe/hose off.

Marine clean from frost automotive is my choice, dilute in hot water depending upon how strong you want it and use a water sprayer and brush to apply it then wash off with a hose or jet wash

We've a bunch or Turks doing a hand car wash near the local ASDA (inside and out on a Fender for £14.00 - nice job too).
Anyway, on a tangent, they offer an engine steam clean for £9.00 - any reason not to?

i use Gunk applied with a brush. i have a hot water tap on the out side of the house so i hose it off with a light spray of hot water. once the water has dried i spray WD40 all over the engine bay. looks clean and sexy!

Steam clean any engine bay at your peril especially anything modern.
For fast and easy results but strictly no smoking/naked flames! brake cleaner in a pump up pressurised bottle is awesome.
It evaporates as quick as can be leaving little to no evidence, great for pre mot cleans

Turktowner said:

We've a bunch or Turks doing a hand car wash near the local ASDA (inside and out on a Fender for £14.00 - nice job too).
Anyway, on a tangent, they offer an engine steam clean for £9.00 - any reason not to?

Click to expand...

I have thought of doing the same but can’t see them taking the care needed for me to be able to drive away haha

landy-lee said:

i use Gunk applied with a brush. i have a hot water tap on the out side of the house so i hose it off with a light spray of hot water. once the water has dried i spray WD40 all over the engine bay. looks clean and sexy!

Click to expand...

Gunk seems to be one of the more popular choices, but I’ve heard it can damage tarmac, which would be a nightmare if true.

Any areas to definitely not get wet? Alternator and air box, I’ve read so far. I’ll cover the alternator, and I have a disco air box so that shouldn’t be an issue. I’m thinking, wrap some plastic bags around exposed wiring and use some tape to keep in place. I also want to get under the truck with whatever cleaner I choose, and a stiff brush and clean flywheel housing and sump as they’re covered in oil from prior leaks. Any definite avoid areas under the truck?

lynall said:

Steam clean any engine bay at your peril especially anything modern.
For fast and easy results but strictly no smoking/naked flames! brake cleaner in a pump up pressurised bottle is awesome.
It evaporates as quick as can be leaving little to no evidence, great for pre mot cleans

Click to expand...

this.

you can buy brake cleaner and road traffic film remover in 5l bottles (or larger) you can decant - i use a 1l sprayer with an adjustable nozzle, i use ot whenever i have anything dismantled.
Engine clean i usually just give it a spray with the hose to get mud off, then use brake cleaner for the oily bits, leave for a bit and then rinse. I wouldnt jetwash my engine tbh, to many things that you could inadvertantly force water in i reckon :/