I finally found some time to get under the bonnet for a little "spring cleaning". Admittedly it was not too bad since my MINI is only about 5 months and 7000 mi. old, but it was still looking a bit grungy after a rougher than normal New England winter.

I don't think I'd go as far as calling it an engine "detail"...more of a thorough cleaning and treating. Looks good to me!

Before...


...and after


And one of the strangest thing I've ever seen. Apparently a bunch of worms took up residence under the bonnet:


I have no idea how they got up there!

Many more before & after pics can be found here: Spring '05 Engine Detail

 

Wow, that turned out pretty well. This is the project I have on my plate tomorrow as I prepare for the Huntington Beach car show that is coming up next Sunday. What type of chemicals did you use?

 

Been fishing lately

 

I don't drive my Mini that much in the winter, in fact after being almost three years old I only have 23,000 miles on it. But one time I found some mice poison that we put out in the garage to kill mice in the same locationyou found the worms. What the mice poison told me was they like the warmth the engine bay might provide and that location acts like a "dinning room table" for them. Chances are some critter brought those worms up there for a meal

 

Rick,

After vacuuming and using an air compressor to remove most of the heavy material (including worms...) I gave it a quick once-over with a shop towel and some soapy (car shampoo) water to remove some more of the surface dirt.

Once that was done I used Gunk Citrus Engine Brite, followed by CD-2 Engine Detailer. I then treated all of the plastic and rubber with NXT Tech Protect, and finished up by hitting all of the seals with Einszett 1Z Gummipflege.

I really should get back in there and do some more work on the painted areas, but the thought of claying my engine bay seems a bit too obsessive.

(but you know I'm gonna do it! )

 

A while back I pulled the cover off of my Spitfire after a winter's storage outside and discovered a family (4 of them) camped out under the driver's seat - I couldn't figure out why it was so lumpy and tilting it forward revealed quite a surprise. I was amazed they could fit down there.

 

A family of ... worms??? They must have been huge! :smile: