Engine Bay maintenance/clean

[Veteran78]

Hi All, just wondering what other people are doing to clean/maintain their engine bay appearance. I generally just wipe the dust with an old rag/cloth and dispose it after use. Are there any tips for keeping the engine bay pristine?

[Lucas_R]

So every 6 months or so i will give the engine bay a clean with some gentle all purpose cleaner and a high pressure Karcher. Just dont point the water directly at any electrical components. Then I use compressed air to blow water out of all electrical connections etc (although they are generally waterproof anyway).

Then every month or so I just wipe over with an old chamois that i only use for inside the door jambs and engine bay just to keep the dust under control.

I have used this method for many years on many different cars and never had an issue.

[dArK5HaD0w]

damp cloth/rag at the end of each wash. i was my car once every 3 months or so.

[Veteran78]

OK seems like I'm on the right track. I have not tried using the pressure washer method yet. Do you use any type of chemical to keep the plastics and rubbers protected?

[Lucas_R]

Do you use any type of chemical to keep the plastics and rubbers protected?

Nope - i dont like the shiny look and it just attracts dust. So i clean it and dry it and leave it there.

[flat6]

I clean mine every 3 or 4 months, after a long drive such as going interstate the engine bay can be full of bugs and other various grime..
I spray it down with some of this stuff, works a treat Orange Agent - for safe and powerful cleaning.
Then hit it with the Karcher avoiding any wiring directly, you can also use plastic bags to insulate certain areas if you are worried.

Once washed, wipe down any plastics and puddled areas with a micro fiber cloth to avoid spotting, then go for a short drive around the block to warm it up and dry it out.

[Veteran78]

Nope - i dont like the shiny look and it just attracts dust. So i clean it and dry it and leave it there.

Thanks good tip.

[Veteran78]

I clean mine every 3 or 4 months, after a long drive such as going interstate the engine bay can be full of bugs and other various grime..
I spray it down with some of this stuff, works a treat Orange Agent - for safe and powerful cleaning.
Then hit it with the Karcher avoiding any wiring directly, you can also use plastic bags to insulate certain areas if you are worried.

Once washed, wipe down any plastics and puddled areas with a micro fiber cloth to avoid spotting, then go for a short drive around the block to warm it up and dry it out.

Thanks will have a look at Orange Agent.