Engine Bay Cleaning

Chesmu · 12-28-2005, 04:21 PM

New to the world of keeping my bimmer clean. How often, and what should I use to keep my engine bay clean? Is cleaning the engine bay just for looks, or will it help maintain tehengine as well?

UncleWede · 12-28-2005, 05:06 PM

Helps if you watch what you are doing. Spending some time wiping hoses, etc. can alert you to early leaks, when they are new enough to do something about them. NOT that you should expect any, but . . .
About every 5 washes or so I pop the hood and wipe stuff down with a damp cloth.

Chesmu · 12-28-2005, 05:43 PM

should I use a degreaser? On one DIY site, the author said he used armor all every so infrequently to really shine it up. Is this woth it?

UncleWede · 12-29-2005, 12:03 PM

Degreasers are only needed if your engine is greasy. It sure better NOT be yet!!! If it is, you need to see the dealer and get it fixed. Just wiping down with a damp cloth that you could potentially toss in the trash should be fine. DO NOT use the cloth on the paint after wiping the inside.
I don't like the look of shiny hoses under my hood, but that's a personal preference. Plus, once you start with Armor-All or anything like that, you have to keep it up or risk damage/cracks to the hoses, etc.

younghov85 · 12-29-2005, 01:01 PM

after every wash i just use a damp towel to wipe everything down and i always make sure to clean the two removable catchers at the top under the hood. Leaves are always caught there. If u do this after like each wash, your engine bay wish continue to look nice.

Chesmu · 12-29-2005, 10:44 PM

excellent input! much appreciated. I tell you what, the damn thing is magnificent!

UncleWede · 12-30-2005, 02:12 PM

12-28-2005, 04:21 PM	#1
Chesmu Brigadier General 96 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Engine Bay Cleaning New to the world of keeping my bimmer clean. How often, and what should I use to keep my engine bay clean? Is cleaning the engine bay just for looks, or will it help maintain tehengine as well?
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12-28-2005, 05:06 PM	#2
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18683 Rep 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Helps if you watch what you are doing. Spending some time wiping hoses, etc. can alert you to early leaks, when they are new enough to do something about them. NOT that you should expect any, but . . . About every 5 washes or so I pop the hood and wipe stuff down with a damp cloth.
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12-28-2005, 05:43 PM	#3
Chesmu Brigadier General 96 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	should I use a degreaser? On one DIY site, the author said he used armor all every so infrequently to really shine it up. Is this woth it?
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12-29-2005, 12:03 PM	#4
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18683 Rep 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Degreasers are only needed if your engine is greasy. It sure better NOT be yet!!! If it is, you need to see the dealer and get it fixed. Just wiping down with a damp cloth that you could potentially toss in the trash should be fine. DO NOT use the cloth on the paint after wiping the inside. I don't like the look of shiny hoses under my hood, but that's a personal preference. Plus, once you start with Armor-All or anything like that, you have to keep it up or risk damage/cracks to the hoses, etc.
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12-29-2005, 01:01 PM	#5
younghov85 Captain 70 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland iTrader: (0)	after every wash i just use a damp towel to wipe everything down and i always make sure to clean the two removable catchers at the top under the hood. Leaves are always caught there. If u do this after like each wash, your engine bay wish continue to look nice.
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12-29-2005, 10:44 PM	#6
Chesmu Brigadier General 96 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	excellent input! much appreciated. I tell you what, the damn thing is magnificent!
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12-30-2005, 02:12 PM	#7
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18683 Rep 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)
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