Bill Graham

I'd like to have my engine cleaned, or do it myself. I've got an '89 2CQT.
I'm the new owner and it's pretty cruddy under the hood. What precautions
should be taken? Is this o.k. to do?

Thanks for your tips and advice.

Bill Graham

Steve Sears

Bill,
I believe that you can get an "engine bay shampoo" or "Steam Claening" from
some places, including the Audi dealer's shop. There are some DIY
concoctions available at FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store) but,
depending on the chemical composition of the stuff being used, you might
find all the formerly shiny bits might haze over, you might develop vacuum
leaks from damaging hoses, or electrical problems from water being where it
shouldn't.
If you are set on DIY, I would suggest using as mild a detergent as you can,
a long handled brush or parts brush, pre-soak and rinse with a garden hose
(no sprayer nozzle) - No pressure washer blasting!!!. Be careful near the
firewall where many wires and vacuum hoses are strung between the engine and
the car, and take extra caution around those rubber fabric braided vacuum
hoses - the heat in the engine compartment of a turbo has a tendency for
making them age dramatically. cover the distributor, coil and wires - maybe
even mark the wires and remove them from the plugs and bag them, in which
case you'll need to blast off the plugs with compressed air, put some of
that "tune up" silicone grease on them before re-attaching the leads. When
I clean something up in the engine bay, I use some "Coat & Protect" spray
from Rust Check (green can lid - there are other similar wax/oil protectors)
to cover cleaned and (now) unprotected parts - after all, the layers of oil
help protect the part from corrosion.
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ - with many stainless steel fasteners, coated with gunk
1980 Audi 5k - had a bad engine cleaning once, the fuel lines went from
shiny to rusty
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - could use a floor sweeping
broom in the engine bay
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
"Bill Graham" <whgraham@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:BBCDE9CA.20A49%whgraham@nc.rr.com...
> I'd like to have my engine cleaned, or do it myself. I've got an '89 2CQT.
> I'm the new owner and it's pretty cruddy under the hood. What precautions
> should be taken? Is this o.k. to do?
>
> Thanks for your tips and advice.
>
> Bill Graham
>