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Cleaning your engine....


Super7
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Engine degreasers 1pix.gif1pix_grey.gif

The Test

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Blackened alloys, muddied bodywork and smeared glass will eventually make the most reluctant of car valeters reach for a bucket and sponge, but a grimy engine is easy to ignore.

 

Yet, as with wheels, wings and windows, leaving the grime to build up could cause trouble later. That thick layer of oil-soaked muck can hide a multitude of problems waiting to happen - or get progessively worse.

 

The main worry is that caked-on grime conceals oil, water or hydraulic leaks. These may be only slight now, but if left unrepaired could soon leave your vehicle stranded at the roadside.

 

As well as allowing you to spot potential faults early, a clean engine is easier to work on. Degreasing is not a job that needs to be done each week, but taking the trouble to do it every couple of months or so can save a lot of grief in the long term. And it is not only the engine bay that can benefit from a regular brush-up - your car's suspension, steering and transmission systems should also be treated.

 

As with polish or wheel cleaner, a degreaser is a workshop essential - but which is the best? There are two types - the petroleum distillate-based variety and those that are more environmentally and user-friendly. The distillates tend to clean better, while the biodegradable versions are more pleasant to use. All work in much the same way, being sprayed or brushed on, scrubbed in and rinsed off. So which is the one for the underbonnet wash and brush-up? We used 16 cleaners and an old propshaft to find out.

 

We went to a breaker's yard and rescued an extremely tired Ford Transit propshaft that had spent much too long behind a leaky diesel motor.

 

It was masked off in sections, and the cleaners were applied according to the maker's instructions - except for the need to warm the engine - as we wanted a product to deal with all grubby parts.

 

Although there was no limit on the amount of cleaner used, we kept the scrubbing down to a minimum. Each degreaser was used twice and the results marked. The price was factored in, based where possible on one-litre packs, but only played a small part in the ratings.

 

Tips

Take care when using these cleaners, because many are extremely flammable and can harm the skin. Breathing the spray or fumes can be hazardous, too, so work in a well ventilated area and wear household gloves, as most of the products will dissolve the latex versions.

 

When cleaning a car engine bay, first cover all electrical parts with plastic bags.

 

Wynn's Engine Degreaser car_portal_pic_12571_t.jpg

Rating: rate4.gif

 

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lidat everyone can have his own choice.... and next meetup open bonnets to see whose engine shines the brightest thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

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intresting and useful info indeed [thumbsup] ...but how can i wash the engine bay???? [rolleyes][rolleyes][rolleyes] .... can i just hose it down with water and the cleaning solution as mentioned.... [sweatdrop][sweatdrop]

 

 

Cheers

Darkness [thumbsup]

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if you want to hose the engine down, please wrap/cover the electrical/electronic components against moisture. smile.gifsmile.gif

Edited by Super7
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but with so many stuff lying all over the palce in the engine bay area...exactly wat do i cover???? is there any professional washers available for engine bay wash?

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