Engine Bay Cleanup

[stimshady]

Following on from the 'polished airbox' thread a couple of weeks ago... has anyone polished their containers under the bonnet, i.e. the expansion tank, water tank etc etc... basically all the aluminium parts.

If so, how did you do it and what did you use? is it a case of having to take the part out or the bonnet off or did you just work around it? Presumably taking the parts out becomes a mission because they are all filled with various liquids.

I'm keen to be put a bit of effort into the engine bay and make it look clean, tidy (and shiny!)under there.

[T350 Al]

Bonnet off is the easiest way to get access to all the chromed parts you might want to spruce up. In my case, I cleaned and de-greased where I could then used Brasso to clean and polish, using a coat of Autoglym polish to 'seal' the chrome. I don't know if the Autoglym actually will seal the chrome, but I thought it was worth a try!

I didn't go to the extent of taking the chrome parts out to polish them; just seemed more hassle than it was worth at the time!

[bomb]

I keep the aluminium bits nice and shiney.

I just use autosol (and Mrs Bombs toothbrush) to access the difficult bits.

Plenty of elbow grease works a treat.

[stimshady]

cool, cheers guys, might give it a go at the w'end...

[RM75]

Here's how you do it...





http://www.varleyhyd.com/fj062.asp

[stimshady]

nice!

what do people recommend using on the silicone hoses - Graham's look very shiny in those pics.

[VARLEYHYD]

stimshady said:

nice!

what do people recommend using on the silicone hoses - Graham's look very shiny in those pics.

Silicone hoses; just use autoglym show shine or turtle wax ice, then just light removal with a microfibre cloth

Try photo this to clean behind the water tower!!

















G

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Tuesday 22 September 20:47

[blackiepaul]

And this is why no one else had the guts to put pics of their engine bays up - LOL

VARLEYHYD said:

stimshady said:

nice!

what do people recommend using on the silicone hoses - Graham's look very shiny in those pics.

Silicone hoses; just use autoglym show shine or turtle wax ice, then just light removal with a microfibre cloth

Try photo this to clean behind the water tower!!

















G

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Tuesday 22 September 20:47

Edited by blackiepaul on Tuesday 22 September 21:47

[Overseas]

Fortunately it has been raining heavily in Spain, and not mainly on the plain, but on Costa Blanca, therefore Dirty Orange is back to original camouflage, both externally and in the engine bay.
Came dangerously close to being cleaned the other day, but managed to evade the hooligans, vandals and visigoths waving cloths and cleaners in the shopping mall car park. Close though.

Edited by Overseas on Tuesday 22 September 22:06

[stimshady]

Graham - wow, that takes some effort.

Do you try to avoid taking your Sag out in the wet?

[L33]

Plenty of old microfibres, some quick detailer, a tube of autosol and some meguiars engine dressing do the job for me:

[FEE 50]

Stunning on both accounts!

[blackiepaul]

nothing like Grahams but here you go, changed some more of the hoses since etc.

[stimshady]

you chaps have been busy, will post pics when mine's looking even vaguely similar...

[blackiepaul]

stimshady said:

you chaps have been busy, will post pics when mine's looking even vaguely similar...

I have to confess - mines easy it only has 6K on it

[hab1966]

Blackiepaul, what's the silver 'thing' to the right of the dipstick?

[glow worm]

It's that the oil cooler...

[KillerJim]

Isn't it just the water pump?

[SP6 Animal]

KillerJim said:

Isn't it just the water pump?

Nope oil cooler as said.

[w9lje]

wow guys very impressed, that even puts my dads 1960 courvette to shame and that only has 2,500km from new on it.
both my t350c's have oil leaks, is it ok to pressure wash under the car?

Dan