My 4.2 SC engine is caked in Mud, it's over the pipes, electrics and everything.

I gave it a quick clean with a sponge and low pressure hose carefully aimed at the worst bits yesterday evening, and I managed to cause the Amber Engine Warning light to come on (well I think that was the cause anyway)

I took the car to the dealers today and they cleared the fault and reported that they couldn't find anything wrong.

So how can I clean a very muddy engine without upsetting the ultra sensitive electrics?

Thanks

Justin 
Gone - Range Rover Supercharged 2006

interesting question..  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

working by hand and using swizoil(swissvax) products.
they are quite expensive. But I think they are the best on the market.
they have stuff for engine cleaning


And post some pictures how dirty your engine is

I personaly try to do it by hand starting with some APC and alot of microfibre cloths. As above will always depend how mucky your engine really is.

There's loads of differnt trim dressing to finish it up nicely. 


http://gallery.me.com/paul_harland/100010

Range Rover Vogue TD6 2002 "52"
Bonatti Grey

about the Swissvax Engine they say:

Quote:

* Waterthinnable Engine Cleaner concentrate enriched with citrus oils
* Allows effortless, effective and thorough but gentle engine cleaning without any negative side-effects neither affecting plastic parts nor electric components
* We recommend the combined use with a Micro Wash microfibre towel and a Swissvax Wheel Brush.

Swissvax Engine is a waterthinnable Engine Cleaner concentrate enriched with citrus oils for the effortless, effective and thorough but gentle engine cleaning without negative side-effects.

In contrary to many other aggressive acid containing engine cleaners, Swissvax Engine neither affects plastic parts nor electric components and therefore is guaranteed safe to use.

Swissvax engine is mixed with water in the correct mixing ratio using the Swissvax Mixing Bottle and is directly sprayed on the surface areas to be cleaned and then left it work for a few minutes. Clean the plain surface areas with a Micro Wash towel and hard to reach areas with a Swissvax Wheel Brush.

Not a range rover but on a golf gti i have covered all the electrics with bags etc, got it steam cleaned then sprayed the lot in GT-85, came out great without alot of work. 2004 black Vogue TD6

letsavit2 wrote:

Not a range rover but on a golf gti i have covered all the electrics with bags etc, got it steam cleaned then sprayed the lot in GT-85, came out great without alot of work.

I like the suggestion of bagging up the electric bits, as most of the mud is in hard to reach places. Its only mud no oil, so maybe a pressure washer will shift it rather than a steam cleaner. 
Gone - Range Rover Supercharged 2006

Virasol 50-50 mix then hose off no need to pressure wash Far to many gone...

may i suggest before anyone ventures into mud or water to try a product called FLUID FILM just google it, as we use this product to spray the engines and electrics on our jetskis. keeps water out and lasts a long time. maybe worth a go. ONE LIFE LIVE IT

tboner001 wrote:

Virasol 50-50 mix then hose off no need to pressure wash

A quick google of virasol suggests it's a degreaser, I only need to shirt some sandy dirt.

Can you post a link incase I'm looking at the wrong stuff? 
Gone - Range Rover Supercharged 2006

i honestly think that nothing would protect the engine bay from the stuff we went into..

justin, re the pressure washer, it took some of the 'big' muck off but its left a residue which i think only wiping will get it off ..steam cleaning sounds attractive though. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Up here we have had a spate of reported self destructing alternators on Defenders after playing in the mud - after washing, grit has got inside them and then acts like grinding paste so be very careful not to flush dirty water into the area around the alternator. Another place to clean carefully is around the side intakes - best to take off the vent finisher and wash carefully inside the panels to get the crud out so it doesn't become fine sandy dust that gets sucked into your engine 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Think yourself lucky, I remember several hours spent cleaning a Leyland DROPS after playing in the mud. The truck may have been clean, but I was definitely not!!

we had a little dust on our salisbury trip and got the ranges covered in fine dust but i can imagine how dusty the vehicles get in iraq, must be a nightmare cleaning them.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

I hope you had the aircon/ ventilation on recirc and all the windows closed otherwise you will be getting dust blown out at you for ages to come too! 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes