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Since the alternator is located not in the best area I haven't tried it. I'd thought a couple of times about that, but in the end decided to leave it as is (although it's not that dirty as could be) and avoid potential problems with electronics.
P.S. Probably a steam cleaning could help to be on the safe side.
Last edited by Nardoswiss; Aug 7, 2012 at 09:53 PM.
Hi there,
yes you can detail your egine bay as long as you're careful and watch out for the obvious.
I've included a few links below you might find useful....
Below is a before and after shot of my sons Renault Clio, a little 1.2 ten year old car.
Below Ford Mondeo ST Tdci
I know they're not Jags, but even so the same principle applies.
Don't use a pressure washer or you're asking for trouble.
Intially I'd use a spray bottle to dampen under the hood and in the general engine bay area. Have a good APC ( All purpose Cleaner ) to hand and perhaps a degreaser.
A 2" paintbrush is useful for when you've sprayed the cleaner, using the paintbrush to agitate in the tight and difficult to reach areas.
A good wash down on the underside of the boonet / hood area too is always a good idea.
You can if you're worried use a plastic bag to wrap around any delicate areas and use an elastic band to secure.
Once all washed down, give it a good drying off with a clean rag and then perhaps using some wet n black / trye dressing type product to blacken any hoses and plastics, then run the maybe take for a decent drive getting up to temp to aid the dying process, removing any plastic bags you may have used earlier.
Ive detailed my engine before. When I bought the car a few years back it had been sitting for about three years so it was REALLY dirty including the engine bay. Spent a full day cleaning it. Just make sure you cover up the ignition coils, air intake, and fuse box with a plastic bag. Good luck!
I used to be super paranoid about covering up certain stuff when hosing the engine bay. However, one day I was super busy and decided to skip that step and haven't looked back since. For both my Jag and Merc (and previous cars), I just spray a multi purpose cleaner, scrub, and hose down with light water pressure. Dry, and then apply Stoner Trim Shine which gives it a beautiful non-greasy finish.
Don't use an over-the-shelf engine degreaser unless you really have thick grease accumulated around the engine. Stick with a multi-purpose cleaner; less harsh and easier to rinse off.
I know this is an old post, but Spring is here. My preference to clean my engine is this =
1 can of tire foam cleaner
Lift hood and spray anything and everything. No need to mask or protect any component.
If very heavily soiled or greasy, you may need to brush it with a SOFT brush or cloth.
Let stand for 10 minutes.
Blow the remaining foam/firt/residue out with low pressure air = a weed blower works well.
The ingredients in the tire cleaner shine, renew and protect all the plastic and rubber parts.
I do mine monthly during warm seasons and it comes out like this =
I realize this is an old post but wanted to add information for any future member...
The engine design has the spark plugs located in deep recesses. While the plug and wiring has a rubber boot around it to protect from water infiltration, the rubber deteriorates over time or can be damaged from removal/install. If water is sprayed on the engine it will collect in the well (a good 2 inches (5 cm) depth exists). The water will not evaporate quickly no matter how long you run the engine. You will get a spark plug short resulting in fault codes, engine misfire, and limp home mode. Changing the firewall plugs may require manifold removal. Don't ask me how I know.
