Oil Saturated Engine Compartment – Cleaning Tips Please!

I topped up the oil in our Zafira this evening & must have forgotten to screw the filler cap back in ‘cos a couple of miles down the road I had to pull over and evacuate the kids from the vehicle as plumes of foul smelling smoke started pouring out of the front. After cowering in a hedge for several minutes I decided that the car wasn’t going to burst into flames and ventured forth to open the bonnet. Nearly all the insides is splattered with oil. It’s a complete fookin’ mess :o(

I guess that, after topping up the oil and fitting a new cap, I’m going to have to do some sort of a roadside engine clean-up otherwise there’ll be more toxic clouds emmitted from under the bonnet as the engine heats up. And it might catch fire.

So, any tips from the STW posse regarding ad-hoc engine compartment clean ups greatly appreciated. Also, how should I go about undertaking a more thorough engine clean after recovering the vehicle? Muc-off and a jet wash any good?

Cheers in advance.

Get some decent degreaser from a motor factors [use comman if they have it, stay away from Gunk] then use a brush and work it in o dissolve the oil making it asier to wash away. Put a hose on the engine but cover all electrical item [fuse boxes, alternator, battery etc] that should clean it down quite nicely. Alternatively ohone a valetor and they will professionally steam clean it for about £20-30 notes

Don’t jetwash it if you intend to keep the car for longer than 1 month as the high pressure water will play havoc with the electrics.
Best bet is to let it run for a while with the bonnet up, this will burn the oil off the exhaust manifold, spray the rest with wd40 and wipe it off with a rag, this will get rid of most of it.

Jizer, sprayed on with a squirty bottle,then pressure wash off. Works best for me.

The plugs on the electrics under the bonet are very well water proofed, just don’t get to close with the lance and stay away from ECU’s.