After years of living on the coast with the previous owner, my Zeds engine is looking pretty grimey and full of baked on sand and crap. I've managed to clean what i can using engine cleaner and elbow grease, but it still looks a state. I was thinking about getting the old jet wash on it, but i'm more than a little hesitant. Even with electrical connectors wrapped in film and protected from water i wouldnt feel 100% sure about it.

Has anybody ever cleaned there engine this way? or any other tips or tricks?

Here's a couple of pics to show what i'm dealing with. There isnt a single thing under the bonnet that isnt caked in sand

 

 

 

With so many electrical componants to these engines i wouldnt suggest a jet wash if you ever want it to run again, youve already got the best idea just start taking bits of here and there and carry on with the elbo grease. just my 2p

Trouble is i'm very unfamiliar with the engine so i'm nervous about taking things off incase i break something or lose bits.

What is the long solid pipe at the back of the plenums, going from left to right? I could do with taking it off to clean underneath, doesnt look too difficult to do, but i dont know what its filled with, dont really want oil or petrol spilling all over the engine.

i jet washed my engine a few weeks ago and havnt had any problems although i took caution whilst i did it by not spraying directly onto any of the connections....lee

Problem with jet washing is it can take time for the connections to corrode so it might work for a week or a month or 3 months but you never know what will happen, its just like getting your phone wet, might work fine for a while

 

craig

I think i'll take your advise and leave the jet washer in the garage and continue with the elbow grease.

Could you tell me what the long pipe is on the back of the plenums? and is it safe to just unblot and remove for cleaning?

Try that stuff called Gunk! Worked really well on an old R5 GT Turbo I had many moons ago :)

I've got autoglym engine cleaner which has worked well for me in the past. But i've heard nothing but good tales of Gunk. If the autoglym doesnt perform i think i'll get mayself some Gunk

I snow foamed mine and power hosed it. No problem just plastic bag any electrical bits.

its the ballance bar. not hard to take off, just watch for the o rings

Just remove 1 item at a time if you're worried.

 

You can also takes pictures before you start so you have a reference for when you get to put it so you'll know excatly what went where. Once you have taken off a couple of bits and cleaned and polished them you will soon have the bug :laugh:

Edited July 26, 201015 yr by bigh
s[peeeeling

should not be any problems to jet wash the engine bay. Just don't spray engine cleaner directly on electric contacts and be carefull when using the jet washer around the conntacts. When done. Have the hood up if the weather is nice to dry the engine bay. You can also unclip the electric connetors just to check for water. Better to be on the safe side before you start driving again

be sure not to use a steam washer (one of the garages round us has a steam/really stupidly hot wash) as steam will get into the electrics much more than water.