Cleaning Engine Bay

Need to replace the alternator on The Hulk. Have a new one sat next to me ready to go in. Engine bay could do with a clean. How is best to tackle this? Engine on or off? Presumably when cold to avoid block cracking etc?

Will do it before replace the alternator obviously!

Always did mine with engine off, spray some degreaser about, brush in in the thck bits with either a paint brush or simmilar. :sick:

Then to hose off I used a presure washer, but with the POWER OFF, so it was just sort of tap presure and used this to wash off the thick of the muck and mud. :shock:

Also did the bonnect lining as well, then started it up and I never had any probs, seen as most of the mud and muck that came in was a lot deeper and dirtier than the water I was washing it off with :mrgreen:

Guess there's a bit more gubbins under the bonnet of a 2.2 DTI than the aged 2.8 TDI....
My normal approach is to remove the sump bashplate, then drive down to my local truck dealership of a weekend and get the bay steam cleaned by the guy who does the same thing to the trucks. Just make sure the air intake is covered, is all.

I've done this more than once on all three of the diesels I've had, never an issue afterwards beyond belts slipping for a few moments after startup.

Just done mine......yes believe it or not i have lol. You can use GUNK RED on warm engine or GUNK GREEN on a cold engine. I used the green. Cover any sparky bits with rubber gloves or similar. Paint it on and agitate the really messy bits. Leave for 15-20 minutes then rinse with the hose. Brought it up a treat

Last edited by rustynlc on Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Iv covered electrical connectors/alternator/and air intake, got everything soaked, rubbed on some Bizet degreaser, left for a while then rinsed it off, I must admits I use an old tea towel to dry the worst of it the treat the engine to some wd40 and the hoses and pipes to some silicone spray, just avoid using a full powered pressure washer, and be prepared to spot annoying oil leaks once the gunk and crud has been removed

Jizer degreaser, damn predictive text

I used to use MV engine degreaser on my modified cars not sure if it's still available now, or there's gunk.

Cheers chaps :thumbup:

changed alternator but didn't clean the engine bay in the end

still there is always another time

Ive always used Gunk spray on a warm engine. Hose it off with a garden hose after being left for a bit to work. Works really well.
Good thing about a diesel is you don't need to cover anything up.
Make sure all your insulating coverage is in good condition though on your electric plugs etc.
I hose off with the engine running as the fan helps to blow it all off. (Be careful here)
I then use compressed air to dry it all off. I have a long blow gun to reach the lower parts of the engine.