tips for cleaning the engine bay?? and yes or no on using a pressure washer
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
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Meg's Hyperdressing works better for me. It's water based so it doesnt attract as much dirt.
You can control how much gloss you get based on how much you water it down.
Works fantastic on the engine bay and fender liners in the wheel wells.
For cleaning I use Costco's Oil Eater APC either straight up for really greasy stuff or 50/50 dilution with water for general use. With engine cold I lightly hose it down and then spray the APC generously around the engine bay. I let it stand a while and then follow up with some light brushing before a rinse down. Then, I drip dry it for a bit before spraying my 4:1 water/hyperdressing mix generously. The hyperdressing drys on its own and there's little or no spotting.
Works fantastic on the engine bay and fender liners in the wheel wells.
For cleaning I use Costco's Oil Eater APC either straight up for really greasy stuff or 50/50 dilution with water for general use. With engine cold I lightly hose it down and then spray the APC generously around the engine bay. I let it stand a while and then follow up with some light brushing before a rinse down. Then, I drip dry it for a bit before spraying my 4:1 water/hyperdressing mix generously. The hyperdressing drys on its own and there's little or no spotting.
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AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Mar 2001
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I use diluted simple green, let sit on a slightly warm engine, agitate stubborn grime...
and i DO use a pressure washer- 1600psi electric one, from about 4 feet away it is not going to cause any damage to anything, doesn't have enough force to shove water where it shouldn't go, etc. The blanket statement 'no pressure washers' just makes no sense at all.
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pressure washing is just fine...just use common sense.
Never steam clean an engine bay though.
Wrap up open air filters, distributor caps (for older engines), etc.
We use Meguiar's super degreaser and a boar's hair brush to agitate heavy grease and dirt.
If you use a pressure washer, don't get to close with the nozzle.
After we pressure wash an engine bay, we expel excess water with our air compressor.
We pressure wash engine bays of all sorts of vehicles at the shop, from vintage vehicles to modern day Ferraris and have never had an issue.
Just be cautious.
Wrap up open air filters, distributor caps (for older engines), etc.
We use Meguiar's super degreaser and a boar's hair brush to agitate heavy grease and dirt.
If you use a pressure washer, don't get to close with the nozzle.
After we pressure wash an engine bay, we expel excess water with our air compressor.
We pressure wash engine bays of all sorts of vehicles at the shop, from vintage vehicles to modern day Ferraris and have never had an issue.
Just be cautious.
