How do I clean it off?

[Flannelmeister]

My 2.4 had a change of cylinder head a couple of months ago. The first head fitted was faulty and allowed a large amount of oil to go everywhere, over the engine, engine compartment, crossmember, the lot. This was then changed for one that seems ok.

I have noticed that there are a few spots of oil left under the car when I park it and I am losing about half a litre every 6 weeks or so.

I went to a garage to ask them to check the oil leak out but they have said that there is so much oil everywhere that they can't see where it is coming from and that it needs to be cleaned off first. I told them that I assumed that is exactly what they would do but apparently they aren't allowed to now with environmental rules about the oil getting into drains etc. I have tried the yellow pages, the internet and also phoned a few motor engineers for advice but it seems nobody steam cleans engines in this area any more.

Given that the engine bay on a 2.4 is pretty full and that cleaning would presumably have to be from below, how on earth can I clean it all up so that I can see what is happening? Working below the car with gunk and a supply of rags would seem impossible as I don't have (or know of anyone with ) a pit and there isn't that much room for manoeuvre. After all, it is possible that the oil seen is from the old stuff getting hot and dripping off and that the car may be burning a bit of oil - even though it has just passed emissions test at MOT with flying colours.

[TonyN]

I'd take it to a garage jet wash and give it a soapy blast all round the engine bay.

You could spreay it with Gunk or similar first.

[phoebelala]

even better, take it to an engine steam cleaning place. they will do a proper job for about 30 quid

[Flannelmeister]

even better, take it to an engine steam cleaning place. they will do a proper job for about 30 quid

I would love to but I have checked both th Cardiff and Swansea yellow pages (I live about halfway between the two), the internet and phoned various motor engineers, engine reconditioners etc and nobody knows of anybody doing engine steam cleaning.

The jetwash thing might be a goer but I am not sure how much of it I'll get to from above the engine.

[joker??]

id spray it with a degreaser , buy one of those little spray bottles fill it up with degreaser , spray away then get my jet wash out , or go to my garage and use theres,
what drains ???

[dave.j.robbo]

There's a place down the road from me that steam cleans engines for a tenner. Mine came up nice and shiny!!

[MattF]

I would love to but I have checked both th Cardiff and Swansea yellow pages (I live about halfway between the two), the internet and phoned various motor engineers, engine reconditioners etc and nobody knows of anybody doing engine steam cleaning.

The jetwash thing might be a goer but I am not sure how much of it I'll get to from above the engine.

Anywhere that does servicing/repairs on commercial vehicles
and HGV's should be able to steam clean it for you.

[Gizmo]

I think they're avin u on. A garage that can't remove the oil because of it getting into the drains....then how do they do all the servicing and engine stuff in the first place...

Basically they can't be arsed!!

[Flannelmeister]

I think they're avin u on. A garage that can't remove the oil because of it getting into the drains....then how do they do all the servicing and engine stuff in the first place...

Basically they can't be arsed!!

They have drums for waste oil that gets taken away for recycling/disposal. They say they have to account for every oil change and can't get water (from steam) mixed up in it. They even keep separate drums for used water containing anti freeze from doing radiator work, flushing through etc. They have to account for that too.

We are slowly getting strangled with regulations.

[dave.j.robbo]

Bring it up to Gloucester if you get stuck and can't find anyone down there.

It's not far from you... As per my previous post, a tenner, and it's job done..