Steam Cleaning - any advice?

[Farmer_Terry]

I currently have an engine compartment and front suspension covered in engine oil (see here for why) and my initial thought was to have whole lot steam cleaned.

 

There is a local place in Derby that will do it for around £20 and most of the electronics seem to be out of the way in the passenger footwell.

 

So. Are there any "Hell No"s? Any other advice?

 

Farmer Terry (and his car)

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

67 reads, and no one wants to commit themselves !!

 

All on the fence then ......

 

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And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking...

 

And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

CC told me that it may have been steam cleaning that caused the coating to fall off Anthracite wheels !!

 

So on that basis, if you steam clean the engine bay, it may all end up down the drain ??

 

All together now - TADTS !!

 

PS: I haven't used steam anywhere near the 7 !!

 

******************

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking...

 

And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos

[Gavin H]

You should try Gunk - here. I used it to clean up old MG engine parts years ago and it is really effctive; best bit is that you just brush it on and then rinse of later with soapy water. The old bits came up like new

 

Not sure what effect it has on rubber (wiring and bushes) so best read the instructions carefully (or I'm sure someone will shout out if it is a problem).

 

Gavin

[mav]

I'd never ever steam clean any of my engine bays, let alone the 7.

 

Water will get into every connector and cause corosion, IMO.

 

Use gunk and low pressure water to wash it off with. make sure you dry it thoughly too.

[Whipsiderry]

My experience of steam cleaning is that its more like hot water under very high pressure. This means that water gets into every conceivable crack, crevice 😳 and connection which will cause more harm than good.

I can see why you are tempted but I would use some Gunk with low pressure water to wash it off. Philip

 

[GTD]

Not a chance I would do this with mine! I've experienced electrical problems after a bucket and sponge job!

 

They tried to make me go to Gatwick, I said No, No No

 

 

 

[Farmer_Terry]

Thank you one and all for that. That sounds pretty conclusive - Gunk it is then.

 

Farmer Terry (and his car)

[Hibster.]

"I've experienced electrical problems after a bucket and sponge job!"

 

Mind you, GTD was in hospital at the time and it was administered by a pretty young nurse

 

Supercheese R250

 

Caterham pictures here 😬

[Farmer_Terry]

after a bucket and sponge job!............ it was administered by a pretty young nurse

You've not been in hospital recently have you.

 

Farmer Terry (and his car)

[stevefoster]

No!

No subsitute for elbow grease.

 

 

 

[Howard R]

 

No subsitute for elbow grease.

 

for GTD's bed bath 😳

 

Agree with - don't steam clean

[Unclefester]

Here's a vote for steam cleaning.....my wife had a Grinnall Scorpion which the seller had coated in some vile waxy/oily muck (Waxoyl?) which meant I couldn't work on it. The engine bay and chassis were thick with this stuff, as was the suspension, inside the GRP body at the front and the engine had a fair old coating as well.

 

I put a plastic bag on the alternator and coils, but little else, as all the Grinnall leccy connections are very well protected with heatshrink sleeves.

 

It was very easy to get all the grot off quickly.

 

I'd have thought this, followed by a good drying off using compressed air should be ok.

 

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds..ooooh hooo hooo!!...

😬 😬Abbey Road Time-Machine *eek*

 

[Colin Mill]

I think most of the multi way connectors in the engine bay have seals on them but if you wanted to be sure of getting rid of water in them you could de-mate them and wash them off in isopropyl alcohol. This is pretty safe on any electronics as it the solvent used to wash circuit boards etc after assembly to remove flux etc. so the plastics used have to be compatible with it.

 

Edited by - Colin Mill on 15 Sep 2007 09:01:09

[Slipper man]

I have had oil all over the engine compartment too. I find Muckoff works well. Available from any bike shop or Halfords. I would never take the risk of steam cleaning a Caterham

[LazerBrain]

I used Autoglym engine and machine cleaner and some rags when I had to clean oil & coolant out of my engine bay.

 

cheers,

 

Darren.