Engine Bay Steam Cleaning

**Ben** · 01-04-2011,08:47 PM

As per the title really.

Has any one ever had their engine steam cleaned?
Was it worth it?
Any after effects what with water and electrics not being the best of friends?
Any approximate costs?

**johnloaderuk** · 01-04-2011,09:20 PM

This place suggest an engine bay steam clean for £10, see their price list at the bottom of their page http://www.valetech-valeting.co.uk/

**burkey1** · 01-04-2011,11:41 PM

Honestly, i just wouldn't do it...

I think your asking for trouble for the very reasons stated in first post..

Most of the time you will be fine but every now and then you will be the unlucky one that is plagued by some electrical issue you just cant get to the bottom of..

Just my opinion!!!

**kite** · 02-04-2011,08:07 AM

I use Autoglym machine de-greaser, it comes in a trigger bottle.
Soak the engine, agitate with a brush and then use a hose pipe to rinse off

**A4 Lad** · 02-04-2011,09:12 AM

Few tins of brake cleaner. Is it covered in oil ?

**Ben** · 02-04-2011,08:06 PM

nope, i don't think its too bad, but if i get all shiny new clean engine covers, i want to know that what is under them is clean.

**A4 Lad** · 02-04-2011,08:45 PM

Oh ok, get you now. As long as you dont flood things you should be fine. I personally used alloy wheel cleaner, give it a brush with a dustpad brush and then a quick power wash on mine

**Zeb** · 07-04-2011,06:11 PM

NO! When I had my Audi A4 , I steamed cleaned the engine and a few days down the line a nasty smell occured from the N/S engine, it smelt like burning clutch. LOADS of smoke was coming out.

**JimC64** · 07-04-2011,06:33 PM

just recently done my sons 11 yr old Renault Clio.
She got a full detail including the engine bay. I did not use a pressure washer but instead did as follows....

used a garden hose and wet the underside of the bonnet and generally around the engine ( avoiding the electrics as far as possible )
Then a generous spray of GUNK or similar and agitated with a 2" thick paintbrush / sponge.....
I repeated this all over the engine bay and engine mounts....everywhere and then a good rinse.

I then used a few clean microfibre towels to dry everywhere as best I could and removed most of the remaining water to leave a clean / shiny appearance.

I had no issues to speak of at all

**langb20** · 12-04-2011,07:32 PM

i had a shocker with steam clean once, i will never do that again as electric gremlins are a pain to find, even had a hairdryer out on it afterwards! haha
i'd do as others have suggested, some degrease stuff and a brush then hose it down