Steam cleaning...

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 26 Apr 2009, 06:57

Guys, i know the jury is usually hung on these matters but, is it safe to steam clean the 1.9 TD engine or does it cause a load of electrical problems? Mine is a mess on the block and underneath due to a leaking rocker gasket.

Also, what about the underneath of the car front and back? I dont want to knacker up anything

Thanks
Vince

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 26 Apr 2009, 07:24

You should be alright on the TD, nothing much to go wrong... I did mine when i first got it.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 26 Apr 2009, 09:52

You need a steam cleaner ideally....

Alternatively you can degrease the engine bay and then with it hot and running jetwash it. This is what hand car washes tend to do.

Either way you end up needing to wash and wax the front end of the car after as the degreaser cuts through past waxes etc.

jmd · Unread post by **jmd** » 27 Apr 2009, 01:54

One Precaution.... I would be inclined to place a plastic bag around the alternator beforehand, just in case.

den169 · Unread post by **den169** » 27 Apr 2009, 08:31

Plastic bag over the alternator and make sure the air inlets are covered.

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 27 Apr 2009, 18:47

Be careful with a jetwasher on the radiator - it's very easy to distort and even rip out the thin fins between the water-tubes.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 27 Apr 2009, 22:38

Lol, no a wallpaper stripper wont do

Its like a jetwash but it throws out high pressure steam. Tends to only be garages that have them.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 28 Apr 2009, 08:49

a true STEAM cleaner will be fine definatly better than a jet wash,just go for it Vince

regards malcolm

uncle buck · Unread post by **uncle buck** » 28 Apr 2009, 09:55

I would recommend jet washing the engine when it is cold, I don't like the idea of squirting cold water at a hot engine and also if the engine is hot it will evaporate the degreaser.

You can also use washing up liquid ....put some in an old tub of some sort & use an old paint brush to apply it to the thick muck...work it in well & it will loosen the thick stuff. Quite often you have to repeat the cleaning a couple of times to get the thick muck off.

Don't forget once you have finished cleaning the engine & it has dried off to go round & check all electrical connection are nice & dry, I usually put a drop of oil on each one to stop any corrosion.

Cheers.

firstrebel · Unread post by **firstrebel** » 28 Apr 2009, 14:27

I am not keen on pressure washers under the bonnet, never know if water is getting in where it should not. I like to be more selective with under bonnet cleaning. I use Autoglym's engine and machine cleaner and a small brush to loosen the stubborn stuff. I then rinse down with a slow running hose and finish off with a watering can filled with limescale free water. I collect the water from my dehumidifiers in a large butt and is ideal for this.

Bob

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 28 Apr 2009, 18:40

I threw caution to the wind and, with the engine stone cold, sprayed all the grime with a can of gunk. Then drove appx 2 miles to use petrol forecourt pressure rinse after leaving the suspension setting high and engine running. I did avoid spraying the electrical areas, at least with high pressure. I got several appreciative comments later about how clean it all looked - and it did! I wouldn't hesistate to do it again personally but it was a cheap car to be begin with.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 28 Apr 2009, 18:53

Time to dig out my cans of gunk then

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 28 Apr 2009, 21:35

This is what i was hoping to hear boys 8) I love a clean motor

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Apr 2009, 07:01

vince wrote:This is what i was hoping to hear boys 8) I love a clean motor

Me too