Steam Clean

[Lurch]

Any views on Steam cleaning the engine bay?

I have been gradually tidying/cleaning/polishing/improving the outside and interior, and want to tidy up the engine bay over the winter.

Steam cleaning seems the obvious way to start, but have heard things about it not doing some things any good.

Thoughts please.

[beano500]

Oooooooooooooo!!!!

I can see electrical problems "looming"



"Regards from a Pessimist"

[bugmeister]

TVR Electrics, steam cleaning. I'll let you work it out for yourself!!

I did make the mistake once of letting a valeting company steam clean. One call out from the RAC later and we eventually got her going again after about an hour

[Rozza!!!]

I know a few people who do it and a few who dont like doing it. I havent really heard many arguments for or against but I have been told that if you do do it, leave your engine running as it probably will not start afterwards. Not sure what effects this may have in terms of the engine sucking in hot steamy air. Maybe someone can give proper arguments for and against and how is the best way to do it.

I have never done it myself, better safe than sorry I say, I've been cleaning up the engine bay the hard way!!

Roy.

[Lurch]

bugmeister said:

TVR Electrics, steam cleaning. I'll let you work it out for yourself!! I did make the mistake once of letting a valeting company steam clean. One call out from the RAC later and we eventually got her going again after about an hour

So I'll do it in this order then:

1. Join RAC
2. Steam Clean engine bay
3. Call out RAC

[beano500]

"RAC"

Rectify After Cleaning?

[shpub]

The factory say don't do it as it can permanently damage bits of the car like ECUs and then of course as already mentioned the problem of electrics...

[z_chromozone]

I have not done this with the TVR, but my old golfs I used to clean the engines with Gunk. It's a degreaser, so paint it on and rinse off with cold water. As there is no need for high pressure the electrices don't suffer too much.

Z

[Podie]

er... wouldn't it melt the body...

[John Mac]

Personally wouldn't risk it for reasons already given, particularly the likelyhood of ruining the electrics especially those little bits of black insulating tape !
The Gunk route is sound but messy unless you have a good place to drain away the oily mess.
Podie - doubt if it would "melt" the body but it wouldn't do the painted underseal much good.

[plewis66]

I fell really lucky when I took my car to a valeter to have the underside cleaned. I asked him to also do the engine bay, and he declined saying he'd done one a few years ago, and didn't run right for ages afterwards.