Cleaning Engine Bits

Without being too anal about it, I would like to spruce up the engine bay on my 156 GTA a bit. I've got the general interior looking better, but the intake plenum and covers are stained. I've tried various degreasers and good hard scrubbing with a stiff brush with various metal polishes but I can't shift the staining. Anyone got any suggestions? Is this a specialist job?

Cheers,

Nigel

[Kelly]

I want to give my 147's engine a good clean too at some point, it's really dirty. Don't think the previous owner paid much attention to cleaning it under the bonnet

I've got some engine de-greaser to use, is that not going to be strong enough?

[Tifosi1976]

My sort of topic !!!

1. Autoglym Engine Cleaner sprayed liberally over dirty bits then a stiff wire detailing brush to clean off the bigger pieces of crud/rust
2. Wipe of with rag of some sort ('cept the chrome intakes)
3. wipe off any residue with a slightly cleaner cloth
4. Get a polishing cloth and cut a tiny, weeny bit off
5. Autoglym Metal Polis (little silver tube, bout a fiver) and using little bit of cloth rub side to side nd downwards. LEAVE FOR 15 minutes or so
6. Another weeny bit of cloth, polish off metal polish

et voila.......

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/just-...-it-today.html

nearly 12 yrs old, 134500 miles. SHINY !!!! and mine

[lowejackson]

Have a look at http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detai...detailing.html

[Tifosi1976]

Originally Posted by lowejackson

Have a look at http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detai...detailing.html

Whilst they are very impressive, how many of those things get used on a regular basis ?
In a UK winter

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by Tifosi1976

My sort of topic !!!

1. Autoglym Engine Cleaner sprayed liberally over dirty bits then a stiff wire detailing brush to clean off the bigger pieces of crud/rust
2. Wipe of with rag of some sort ('cept the chrome intakes)
3. wipe off any residue with a slightly cleaner cloth
4. Get a polishing cloth and cut a tiny, weeny bit off
5. Autoglym Metal Polis (little silver tube, bout a fiver) and using little bit of cloth rub side to side nd downwards. LEAVE FOR 15 minutes or so
6. Another weeny bit of cloth, polish off metal polish

et voila.......

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/just-...-it-today.html

nearly 12 yrs old, 134500 miles. SHINY !!!! and mine

That looks very shiny!

Think i'm gonna have to get started on cleaning mine at the weekend, see how i get on then order some more atoglym cleaning stuff if needed!

[bob]

heres my engine bay
6 years old and 80k used every day
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../cleaneng1.jpg
this is an old picture, its even cleaner now

[gavin dack]

Well this is a extreme but when i get roud to that area on the 75 im going to take the thing out. So then there are no electricals to worry about. Then have it steam cleaned and polished. But im a perfectionist.

[Tifosi1976]

Originally Posted by bob

heres my engine bay
6 years old and 80k used every day
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../cleaneng1.jpg
this is an old picture, its even cleaner now

liking it

[lowejackson]

Originally Posted by Tifosi1976

Whilst they are very impressive, how many of those things get used on a regular basis ?
In a UK winter

True, but the process is the same for a garage queen or a daily driven car

[Tifosi1976]

Originally Posted by lowejackson

True, but the process is the same for a garage queen or a daily driven car

would have to disagree there. One pic in that superb link shows a hose...WITH FLOWING WATER over the engine (and therefore lots of other bits, like electrics)............wanna try THAT with an Alfa

I like clean, I hate 'un driveable' concours stuff. Kinda misses the point of the car. and a GTA NEEEEDS to be driven...like it's stolen (but taken care of).

[bob]

i agree with you on this Tifosi1976, i have been to more than 60 car shows/events and had many a heated debate about cars arriving on trailers and only being driven from the tented area to the show arena

it doesnt take much to spot a show car from a daily driver.

back to the original question though, autosol is what i use

[Nickg]

Nice one Bob.

Dont forget the old services saying"Bull**** Baffles Brains"

When you have a beautiful engine its a crime not to keep it clean.

Nick

Originally Posted by Tifosi1976

My sort of topic !!!
<snip>
et voila.......

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/just-...-it-today.html

nearly 12 yrs old, 134500 miles. SHINY !!!! and mine

Thanks for the advice, and very impressive work. Mine looks just like yours did before you started, so I know your method works.

Agree with many of the other posts - I just want the engine bay to look neat and tidy and to make that beautiful engine at least look presentable. I shan't be going all concours, that's not my thing.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Mitch166]

Originally Posted by bob

i agree with you on this Tifosi1976, i have been to more than 60 car shows/events and had many a heated debate about cars arriving on trailers and only being driven from the tented area to the show arena

I think there is one class that states you have to drive the car to and from the show to enter. I think that makes scense.

Great looking engines chaps!!

[Junior]

Very smart - I'll be having mine steam cleaned now that it is spring and can't wait to polish those pipes!

Now quite interested to see the dirtiest Alfa engine in the forum. My old 146 had the remains of a pear hidden inside it when I came to clean it the first time. Had fur and everything..... least I think it was a pear...

[lowejackson]

Originally Posted by Tifosi1976

would have to disagree there. One pic in that superb link shows a hose...WITH FLOWING WATER over the engine (and therefore lots of other bits, like electrics)............wanna try THAT with an Alfa

I like clean, I hate 'un driveable' concours stuff. Kinda misses the point of the car. and a GTA NEEEEDS to be driven...like it's stolen (but taken care of).

I am not a big fan of concours cars that are not driven on a regular basis but as for the 'flowing water', the article does say

“The next very important step is to prepare your engine for getting wet. You must cover all sensors, the distributor, spark plug openings and any electrical devices that have the potential for water accumulation (which could cause a short).”