engine clean

[RJones]

Dear All

When I bought my 944 the previous owner had put semi-synthetic oil in and this was leaking - I changed the oil to 5w40 - which seemed to stop the problem.

However, I seem to still have a slight oil/coolant leak and when I took it to the garage for them to investigate they said it was very difficult to see what was leaking due the the amount of oil in the engine bay already (a mixture of the oil leak I have now and the semi-synthetic oil). They recommended having the engine 'stream cleaned' as this will enable them to see what is leaking.

Two questions.....
1. Having done a bit of research on the net some people think that steam cleaning an engine is a bad idea! So wondered if any of you had any experience of it???

2. Does anyone know a good place that does it in the Northampton are??


Many thanks
Becky

 

[zcacogp]

Becky,

There are lots of ways to clean an engine, not just with steam. Any engine cleaning has a risk that you will disturb a seal and make a leak worse (or, putting it another way, the grot on the outside of the engine is holding a fluid in and should therefore be left alone.) However, if this is the case, then you should be replacing the seal anyway, rather than relying on the grot to keep the wet bits where they belong ...

A cheaper way of cleaning an engine is to use a pressure washer, with some engine cleaner (strong detergent, usually sprayed over the engine, scrubbed with an old scrubbing brush an then washed off with the pressure washer.) BUT, if you go this route, make sure you don't spray the electrics as you risk damaging them.

Advantages of a clean engine are that leaks are much easier to trace (as you said), and clean engines are MUCH nicer to work on than oily, dirty ones.


Oli.

 

[appletonn]

Hmm, high pressure water/steam jets plus engine electrics = "why won't my car run properly/start/idle?" scenarios.

I cleaned mine using Gunk (other degreasing agents are available...[]) and then a damp cloth/sponge that i rinsed out in warm soapy water to clean off the emulsified oil and crud. I never got the engine wet as such and yes it took a while, but not a big fan of soaking engine components in water!

My engine was never spotless, but was pretty clean after my endeavors and certainly far better than when I got the car.

My new engine is very clean and shiny, as my empty piggy bank can attest...[8|][]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Have a look at the 968 forum.......
Mike

 

[Copperman05]

Bilt-Hambers Surfex HD is a VERY good degreaser, water based and doesnt hurt paintwaork so you can use it to clean, door jams, hinges etc, or pretty much anything where the dirt lingers.

Personnaly I would stay away from steam cleaners and power washers, use a good degreaser, lots of brushes and elbow grease.

Edd

 

[marcoturbo]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

Bilt-Hambers Surfex HD is a VERY good degreaser, water based and doesnt hurt paintwaork so you can use it to clean, door jams, hinges etc, or pretty much anything where the dirt lingers.

+1 !

Surfex works great.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: marcoturbo

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

Bilt-Hambers Surfex HD is a VERY good degreaser, water based and doesnt hurt paintwaork so you can use it to clean, door jams, hinges etc, or pretty much anything where the dirt lingers.

+1 !

Surfex works great.

'Nother surfex fan here. But find that a pressure washer is great for washing it off afterwards.


Oli.

 

[ChasR]

In the past I have used water based bike degreaser and then a power washer (on a gentle setting and near no electrics (clingfilm works great here)) or orifices (dipstick, crank pulley etc.) and come out with satisfactory results. I'm sure it's nowhere near as clean as others but it should give you an idea of what a mild degreaser can do. The best stuff I've found on an engine though is Deb Jizer. Again, the engine bays I've cleaned didn't see a clean in decades:

The bonnet I didn't clean but the engine bay was done in Jizer and the carb and engine were pretty much all black with crud. I did that by hand and rinsed with a watering can.

The next one I did with a pressure washer where possible and Muck Off Bike Degreaser:
Before anything

After:

Again I know the above aren't squeaky clean but it'll give you an idea of what you can do with the products in a given/short amount of time.

P.S. Whilst you may be ok with the 5W40 for now, most owners go for 10W40 or 15W40 in these engines, with some even putting in 15W50.

 

[944Turbo]

I use a pressure washer on engines as well - keep it away from distributor cap spark plugs alternator and all electrical connections. Run it before to warm it a bit, longer after to dry it. Its a messy job though.
Tony

 

[Big Dave]

Personally i wouldnt go near any engine bay with a steam cleaner OR pressure washer....
Way too many electrical sensors to mess up.. with water....
I did it a long time ago, + vowed NEVER to EVER do it again. Ity caused me a lot of heartache ....[8|][8|][8|][][][][][][]
You have been warned.....

 

[pwebb]

Here's a thread from Detailing World that might help - suggest cling film over the electrics and a hose to wash off the all purpose cleaner or degreaser (Meguirs make both and very economical to use) rather than a power washer.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=131879

 

[Copperman05]

Ditto the above, kitchen foil also wraps nicely around vulnerable parts and areas you dont want to get wet...

Edd

 

[rcsalmons]

Brake/Clutch cleaner sprayed on with an air gun. Evaporates - no water needed.

It works a treat.

Rich

 

[RJones]

Thank you for all you replies....think I will go for the degreaser and elbow grease!!

Cheers

 

[zcacogp]

Take care with the elbow grease. If you get it in the wrong place it's a bu99er to clean off. []


Oli.

 

[James_G]

Back when my BMW was new to me I gave the engine a clean using a hose set to a fine mist spray (so not much water actually coming out), some Halfords engine degreaser and some tin foil (to cover all the sensitive electrics)

Here's a before:

And here's an after:

And 2.5 years on there have been no ill effects. No rust, no starting problems, nada.

 

[Ez_101]

Always done mine 1st off using engine degreaser and then i use an APC (g101) with a thick brush for the big areas and a detailing brush for the harder to reach areas included in that a whole lot of time and elbow grease but i always think the more care you take the better the results and the less chance of messing up!

Good luck!!