Here my engine. Not completely standard as i have a custom built induction system.

James

I have been cleaning the engine slowly over the last year doing a little bit each time the weather nice and i am having a day of cleaning for the car. The gunk stuff is good, but it's best to work it in with a brush. I have an autoglym brush for doing this. Then you want to leave it for a while (30 mins). I have actually used the autolym engine cleaner as i had some. I have not removed anything to clean the engine and washed off the gunk using a pump action spray which ensured nothing got wet that i did not want to get wet.

Last year i also had it jet washed at my local velleter, but they bagged off all the important bits and sprayed it very carefully after adding a mild acid cleaner to the engine's metal bits. The had the engine running the whole time and told me to run the car for 45 mins before shutting it off.

Then for the show i polished all the painted bits carefully and cleaned all the metal bits with a metal polish. I then sprayed all the plastic and rubber bits with Autoglym vinyl and rubber care which works very well in this application.

Generally i use the meguires stuff, but i find the autoglym is better for this kind of work.

Hope this helps

James

 I use a product called Moto Clean. It is marketed for motorcycle engines and is very good on aluminium. It is expensive, about £25 for 5 litres and you will find if in any bike shop.It is verysafe on any plastics and paint.

Regards Tim