Steam Clean - any views or experience?

Alan_uk

Alan_uk

A2OC Donor
My A2 is 5 years old so I was thinking about getting it steam cleaned underneath and the engine bay. Has anyone had this done? If so, how much? Any other comments welcome.

Is there any special aspects that needs to be taken into account with an aluminium car?
 
When cleaning the underbody and engine bay I have often used warm to medium hot water through a pressure washer and a mild degreasant to good effect. I'm not sure I'd be too comfy using a steam lance to do this unless you are very careful. It will clean things a whole lot quicker but I'd be concerned about damaging things or removing protective coatings with excessive heat / too much pressure or holding the jet too close to the car. Might be ok if you are considering having this done professionally but I'd prefer to get the trolley jack and axle stands out and get busy (and wet)! :D
 
murdo said:
When cleaning the underbody and engine bay I have often used warm to medium hot water through a pressure washer and a mild degreasant to good effect. I'm not sure I'd be too comfy using a steam lance to do this unless you are very careful. It will clean things a whole lot quicker but I'd be concerned about damaging things or removing protective coatings with excessive heat / too much pressure or holding the jet too close to the car. Might be ok if you are considering having this done professionally but I'd prefer to get the trolley jack and axle stands out and get busy (and wet)! :D
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With all that effort i hope your going in to show and shine, M ;)

Phil
 
I wouldnt bother as it will wash all the dirt off and leave whats left exposed to the elements.
I might do it if I was going to waxoyl it or simliar.
 
Hi Alan
There is always some risk in steam cleaning as the vapour gets in places even high pressure water won't. Definitely not good for engine sensors, electrical connectors and all the other sensitive hardware in the engine bay etc

Cheers Spike
 
APC, some agitation, leave it, rinse it. Then polish the head :)

Aerospace 303 to protect it. Much of my engine bay still looks OK six weeks and 5000km after I cleaned many of the plastics with a drop of APC (no rinsing allowed here as it's groundwater protection zone).

Bret
 
Hi Guys

Many thanks for all your comments.

I was thinking of doing it as a prelude to giving the A2 a good check to see whether any protection layer needed repairing. In the past I found with other cars there were places where the mud tended to build up, retain water and rust the car. I know aluminium can't rust but I believe it can deteriote from chemical pollution that's in the air and water off the road.

Based on the comments, the majority view seems to suggest I give this a miss.
 
Alan_uk said:
Based on the comments, the majority view seems to suggest I give this a miss.
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Dont know about that. Theres a swath of plastic protection under the A2 but regular cleaning of road grime et al will never go amiss, some statutory cleaner and a power washer should be all you need for this Alan.
 
murdo said:
Dont know about that. Theres a swath of plastic protection under the A2 but regular cleaning of road grime et al will never go amiss, some statutory cleaner and a power washer should be all you need for this Alan.
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Thanks Murdo. In the winter I do use a power waster with shampoo to give the car an initial rise (I find that it always needs a brush on the end of the hose to actually clean it - grime seems very sticky!). So at the same time I get on my hands and knees and try to clean underneath with the power washer and also around the wheel arches.

Maybe I should don a wet suit and get underneath and clean it like you do!

Cheers
 
APC. 4:1, brush it on, then get the scrubbing brush out (natural fibres, like you'd use when washing a mat) and it should all come off within 1-2 rounds.

Yes, I did my own, because it now has sound deadening on the outside and inside.

bret
 
Bret, I know a thing or twa about cleaning motors but you have stumped me with 'APC'. :confused: What is it you refer to? :eek:
 
Tesco's Daisy has a great rep over on detailingworld.co.uk......

I have something called "tolu" which you won't get ;)

Bret
 
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