Cleaning a 360 engine bay

[t1grm]

As per the title would it be OK to pop the bonnet and use a jet wash in the engine bay - whist the engine is still hot?

I can clean certain parts like the exhaust and air filters by hand with a damp chamois leather but I can’t see any other way of getting the textured finish on the cam covers and some of the more inaccessible areas clean.

[Big T]

t1grm said:

As per the title would it be OK to pop the bonnet and use a jet wash in the engine bay - whist the engine is still hot? I can clean certain parts like the exhaust and air filters by hand with a damp chamois leather but I can’t see any other way of getting the textured finish on the cam covers and some of the more inaccessible areas clean.

Jet washing?? You mad fella?? The cam covers come up lovely with a bowl full of fairy liquid and a scrubbing brush. Works a treat! The plastic bits in the bay can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth or/and a bit of polish. Then some good plastic back-to-black type of spray brings it all up nice and shiny. Make sure it's cleaned thoroughly first though or the spray will leave marks. Then a very good glass cleaner to show off that lovely motor engine All the unreachable places I would leave to a professional valeter possibly a couple times a year. Good luck...T

[chrisb0]

I clean my 360 engine bay with a power washer, no problem.
But you have to be careful.
1: don’t spray any electrical connectors
2: don’t spray behind the black plastic side covers (this is where all the ECU's are.
3: don’t spray the Air flow sensors ( the metal complicated bits in the air intake)
4: don’t go mad or the paint on the engine and oil res bottles will com off
5: if you use engine degreaser keep this away from all plastic, as it will make it go white as it removes oil from the plastic.

Other than this no problems at all and the engine and surrounding bits look fantastic.

[t1grm]

Cheers for that. I was thinking of just a quick blast from a few feet away to get the surface dust off. Then wipe down the smooth areas with a chamois and use some vinyl spray on the black side panels.

Where I am at the moment there is lots of fine dust in the air that settles on everything. I can wash my car, not drive it and park it in the garage for a week and come back to find it looking like it's just come back off the Paris Dakar rally.

I have to take the car to a garage pressure wash because I have nowhere to clean it in the street ATM. So bowls of fairy liquid and scrubbing brushes are out. Oh to spend 3 hours on Sunday afternoon buffing and polishing

[3200gt]

Ever thought of getting a dust cover?

[angelis]

t1grm said:

So bowls of fairy liquid and scrubbing brushes are out.

Don't use fairy liquid as it's not good for your paintwork.

My advice would be to zymol teh car and cleaning becomes a lot easier. although zymol'ing can become a bit addictive.

[bertie]

3200gt said:

Ever thought of getting a dust cover?

Tends to melt over the engine a bit when you drive it.

On the 360 the engine is visible under the back screen and gets mucky with use.

I too go the soapy water and hose route rather than the pressure washer, the'yre bad for getting water where it shouldn't be.

[t1grm]

angelis said:

t1grm said: So bowls of fairy liquid and scrubbing brushes are out. Don't use fairy liquid as it's not good for your paintwork. My advice would be to zymol teh car and cleaning becomes a lot easier. although zymol'ing can become a bit addictive.

Fairy Liquid was BigT's suggestion for cleaning the cam covers I have Autoglym shampoo for the bodywork but, as I say, nowhere to wash it in the street so it's a jetwash at the garage ATM

[bertie]

angelis said:

Don't use fairy liquid as it's not good for your paintwork. My advice would be to zymol teh car and cleaning becomes a lot easier. although zymol'ing can become a bit addictive.

Have you ever tried Zymoling the engine bay on a 360?

Takes a bit of rubbing to get it round the hose clips / nuts and bolts / connectors and into the crackle finish I'd imagine.

>> Edited by bertie on Friday 4th November 10:35

[angelis]

bertie said:

Have you ever tried Zymoling the engine bay on a 360? Takes a bit of rubbing to get it round the hose clips / nuts and bolts / connectors and into the crackle finish I'd imagine.

Yeah... but look at the result!!!!




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[burriana]

And this is simply using Gunk, an old paintbrush, then finished off with a spray of Armourall



Sy, have you tried Armourall? Look at the difference between the air boxes and the plastic bits. That's Armourall. Spray it on, watch it foam up and leave it to miraculously disappear, leaving it all nice and shiny, great for tyres too.


>> Edited by burriana on Saturday 5th November 08:26

[xxplod]

I used to valet cars as a job. I would not dream of putting a jet wash anywhere near the under-bonnet of any car, let alone a Ferrari. Burriana's advice is sound - these foam type products are very good for plastics. Personally, for the metal bits a damp rag with a bit of meths and a large dose of elbow grease. Plastic bits - the Autoglym Bumper Care is excellent but again it is a case of an old rag and do it by hand. IMHO - there are no quick fixes to an immaculate underbonnet.