How to clean a VOLVO 240 engine bay?

tissueboxonwheels

The last time I cleaned the engine bay some water entered some parts and my mum's car didn't run smooth.

Is there a good safe way to clean the engine. Each time I open it up I'm confronted by these grease spots in hard to reach areas and it annoys me.

carnut1100

If concerned then put plastic bags over distributor and coil and so forth.
I've never had a problem with 240s using a garden hose on shower setting.
If nothing is cracked then low pressure water shouldn't be a problem.
My favorite way to clean engine bay is a rinse followed by a good spray with simple green then leave a while and wash the rest of the car and come back to the engine bay with the wheel sponge and a cloth or two for tight spots and go for it with the remaining car wash in the bucket.
Gentle shower rinse and all good.
If you want to make it really pop then go over all the exposed paint with wax and spray tyre shine on a rag then wipe all rubber hoses.

tissueboxonwheels

what is a "simple green" ?

familyman

From when I had more spare time: https://ozvolvo.org/discussion/comment/59746/#Comment_59746 :-)

Angus242164

Degreaser and pressure washer, don't spray the jet directly at the distributor or sensor connectors. If it does misfire afterwards, pull off the dizzy cap and leads and blow the ends out with compressed air, leave to dry in the sun for half an hour and it will be fine.

carnut1100

Simple green is a spray cleaner bit like a spray and wipe type stuff.
I get it at Bunnings.
Works well.
Probably a dozen other things that work just as well.

carnut1100

I should have said also that this is my method of cleaning the engine bay pretty much every time I wash the car.
If it's caked in thick grease as old cars often are when you buy them then you'll need to use a brush and degreaser to do it quickly as the soap and cloth method will take ages.
Once you've got threw worst off though it keeps things looking great.
Also good if you have a car with a dusty neglected engine bay that isn't caked in oil leak grease.

Did that to the engine bay of a really tidy 740t belonging to a mate and we took it to a car show and had the bonnet popped open. We took best in show for that age bracket.
All the exposed paint work and plastic and rubber was gleaming.

familyman

@carnut1100

Which one? https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/brands/s/simple-green

I do things the opposite way... bring the car degreaser inside - for the kitchen, LOL. Spray it on a rag to get that greasy film off the oven, top of fridge, walls, etc. Better than that useless sugar soap. (Reason for spraying on the rag is because spraying on the surface causes streaks in the paint when it beads together and runs down the wall.)