Steam cleaning the engine bay ??

Snoops

Snoops

Zorg Addict
Joined
Dec 10, 2011
Points
51
Location
Red Rose Country
Model of Z
2.8
I've got a steam cleaner that I use around the house for many different uses so I got to thinking about using it in the engine bay area and whether there could be any benefits over gunk and water??
I know I would have to take all the usual precautions with electrics etc. but does anyone have any experience/thoughts ??
I'm also about to go on Detailing World web site - I may be gone some time !!!! - I don't know what it is about that site but I can never "nip on and off" it's always 3-4 hrs minimum :-s
 
I bought a steam cleaner exclusively to use on the ///M but haven't got around to it yet so let me know how you get on. ;)
 
I hope you have a very narrow and flexible nozzle. If not, the steam will get in all the wrong places.
 
Snoops said:
I'm also about to go on Detailing World web site - I may be gone some time !!!! - I don't know what it is about that site but I can never "nip on and off" it's always 3-4 hrs minimum :-s
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Don't do it... You may never return :(
 
g8jka said:
Snoops said:
I'm also about to go on Detailing World web site - I may be gone some time !!!! - I don't know what it is about that site but I can never "nip on and off" it's always 3-4 hrs minimum :-s
Click to expand...

Don't do it... You may never return :(
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Phew - 2 hours - not bad for me, having said that I've registered :-s

Aceman said:
I bought a steam cleaner exclusively to use on the ///M but haven't got around to it yet so let me know how you get on. ;)
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See below


DangerousDave said:
I hope you have a very narrow and flexible nozzle. If not, the steam will get in all the wrong places.
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I do have one of those, I use it to clean the grout around the shower tiles - amazing for that, however...

From the threads I have read there is concern about the fact that steam can ingress easier than water droplets, but then form water droplets where you don't want them to, but I haven't yet found a thread specifically detailing how to steam an engine, people seem to prefer "products"..... as said above though I've only been on there 2 hours.... still like to have some direct feedback from anyone who's done it though.
 
i'd stay well away fromt he engine bay with a steam cleaner. The rates they get through water is very high as can be the steam pressures. a litre of water doesnt sound like alot and most will go into the atmosphere but if even 2-3 ml manage to get into the fusebox it would cause big problems. Additionally if you clean around the head or the engine covers you could get moist air down into the coilpacks which would be catastrophic. I know they are extreme examples but entirely possible ones with not so good outcomes. I'd stick to some good alcahol based de-greaser and half a mile of rag.
 
r37 said:
i'd stay well away fromt he engine bay with a steam cleaner. The rates they get through water is very high as can be the steam pressures. a litre of water doesnt sound like alot and most will go into the atmosphere but if even 2-3 ml manage to get into the fusebox it would cause big problems. Additionally if you clean around the head or the engine covers you could get moist air down into the coilpacks which would be catastrophic. I know they are extreme examples but entirely possible ones with not so good outcomes. I'd stick to some good alcahol based de-greaser and half a mile of rag.
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+1 on that. IMO only diesels can be steam cleaned, even then with caution.
Gunk and a brush (house (behind the) radiator paint brush good for the hard to reach long bits)
Plus, if you've steam cleaned the body, and done nothing else, but have used soap, you'll see it doesn't do half the job a hose and a sponge does.

BS
 
Big Slippy said:
......Plus, if you've steam cleaned the body, and done nothing else, but have used soap, you'll see it doesn't do half the job a hose and a sponge does.BS
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Am I being a bit thick, I don't understand this sentence... :ymblushing:
 
Snoops said:
Big Slippy said:
......Plus, if you've steam cleaned the body, and done nothing else, but have used soap, you'll see it doesn't do half the job a hose and a sponge does.BS
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Am I being a bit thick, I don't understand this sentence... :ymblushing:
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Snoops,

Just a comparison in relation to simply steamcleaning the engine bay. A brush, gunk and elbow grease does all the hard work and gets results. As in when you wash the car with a pressure washer, it only does half the job.

I knew what I meant, just didn't translate it very well. :-??

BS
 
Oh right, it's just when I read steam cleaning the body....


I think the concensus is keep steam away from the engine bay.
 
Snoops said:
Oh right, it's just when I read steam cleaning the body....


I think the concensus is keep steam away from the engine bay.
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are we still talking cars?
 
board said:
Snoops said:
Oh right, it's just when I read steam cleaning the body....


I think the concensus is keep steam away from the engine bay.
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are we still talking cars?
Click to expand...

Snoops said:
I've got a steam cleaner that I use around the house for many different uses
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:-o that's one I've not tried - nor am I likely to :-o
 
There is nothing wrong with steam cleaning.
With modern cars the electric's are covered, but still be careful
it's the older cars that wouldnt start after a steam clean.
As for gunk its an acid and that cant be goog, and when
you clean it off it goes everywhere.
After a steam clean have a good run and get the engine/bay very hot
I've alway fancied doing a steam clean in those hard to get places.
Go for it Snoop
Work up a steam
 
Why don't we try it on a silver zed we wouldn't miss one of those if it all went wrong...anyone have a spare silver zed :?:
Snoops ont'apatalk
 
Well I said I was going to do it so I will let you know if it disappears into a grey goo. :))
 
Snoops said:
Why don't we try it on a silver zed we wouldn't miss one of those if it all went wrong...anyone have a spare silver zed :?:
Snoops ont'apatalk
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I think I had better start my own bad girl list :D
 
Boysie said:
Snoops said:
Why don't we try it on a silver zed we wouldn't miss one of those if it all went wrong...anyone have a spare silver zed :?:
Snoops ont'apatalk
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I think I had better start my own bad girl list :D
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Is there any room on there...

Snoops ont'apatalk
 
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