Cleaning Enginee
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 5
From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
MBSA stopped engine washing at their dealers for one reason only. It was costing them money - & lot's of it. Most of the dealer network is owned by Benz in SA. The cars are sold with long warranties & a full maintenance plan. Electronics were failing under the maintenance plan & costing Benz big time & corroded connectors were driving up diagnosis time in workshops. Front SAMs are frequently first to go but as connectors corrode vehicles start throwing CELs for all sorts of corrupted signal information to the ECU, pins corrode on the throttle body & many other issues. Unless you go fording rivers you would be surprised at how dry the engine compartment remains in normal use. Look at all the trouble that minor oil leaks on cam sensors have caused on the M111 & M271 engines - and that's only oil which is not highly conductive or corrosive!
As for pressure washing or steam cleaning the modern, highly electronic engine & vehicle - well that's plain dumb.
This argument raged on the W204 forum as well until a few people started having trouble.
Frankly - people can do as they like. This forum is intended to give members good advice & I have attempted that along with other sensible members like laneshift & LILBENZ etc.
If you must wash your engine do it every couple of years & protect the electronics & connectors with plastic bags or similar.
My engine compartment is spotless & the dealer cleans it by the spray & wipe method at every service with Benz aerosol cleaner & cloths in the washing bay after all work is completed. The cars then do through a minor detail as well with vacuuming & tyre cleaning etc. You get your car back spotless after a service here at no charge.
As for pressure washing or steam cleaning the modern, highly electronic engine & vehicle - well that's plain dumb.
This argument raged on the W204 forum as well until a few people started having trouble.
Frankly - people can do as they like. This forum is intended to give members good advice & I have attempted that along with other sensible members like laneshift & LILBENZ etc.
If you must wash your engine do it every couple of years & protect the electronics & connectors with plastic bags or similar.
My engine compartment is spotless & the dealer cleans it by the spray & wipe method at every service with Benz aerosol cleaner & cloths in the washing bay after all work is completed. The cars then do through a minor detail as well with vacuuming & tyre cleaning etc. You get your car back spotless after a service here at no charge.
I think Ill stick to wiping up the bay to get it as clean as I can even if its not absolutely spotless. Come next winter, its going to get just as dirty as it is now anyway...lol.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Cali
2006 C230 Sedan
jc - your car is not more prone to electronic trouble than newer cars - only maybe more fragile SAMs than newer cars. The problem with this issue is that trouble only shows up later in the vehicles life - not immediately!
MBSA stopped engine washing at their dealers for one reason only. It was costing them money - & lot's of it. Most of the dealer network is owned by Benz in SA. The cars are sold with long warranties & a full maintenance plan. Electronics were failing under the maintenance plan & costing Benz big time & corroded connectors were driving up diagnosis time in workshops. Front SAMs are frequently first to go but as connectors corrode vehicles start throwing CELs for all sorts of corrupted signal information to the ECU, pins corrode on the throttle body & many other issues. Unless you go fording rivers you would be surprised at how dry the engine compartment remains in normal use. Look at all the trouble that minor oil leaks on cam sensors have caused on the M111 & M271 engines - and that's only oil which is not highly conductive or corrosive!
As for pressure washing or steam cleaning the modern, highly electronic engine & vehicle - well that's plain dumb.
This argument raged on the W204 forum as well until a few people started having trouble.
Frankly - people can do as they like. This forum is intended to give members good advice & I have attempted that along with other sensible members like laneshift & LILBENZ etc.
If you must wash your engine do it every couple of years & protect the electronics & connectors with plastic bags or similar.
My engine compartment is spotless & the dealer cleans it by the spray & wipe method at every service with Benz aerosol cleaner & cloths in the washing bay after all work is completed. The cars then do through a minor detail as well with vacuuming & tyre cleaning etc. You get your car back spotless after a service here at no charge.
MBSA stopped engine washing at their dealers for one reason only. It was costing them money - & lot's of it. Most of the dealer network is owned by Benz in SA. The cars are sold with long warranties & a full maintenance plan. Electronics were failing under the maintenance plan & costing Benz big time & corroded connectors were driving up diagnosis time in workshops. Front SAMs are frequently first to go but as connectors corrode vehicles start throwing CELs for all sorts of corrupted signal information to the ECU, pins corrode on the throttle body & many other issues. Unless you go fording rivers you would be surprised at how dry the engine compartment remains in normal use. Look at all the trouble that minor oil leaks on cam sensors have caused on the M111 & M271 engines - and that's only oil which is not highly conductive or corrosive!
As for pressure washing or steam cleaning the modern, highly electronic engine & vehicle - well that's plain dumb.
This argument raged on the W204 forum as well until a few people started having trouble.
Frankly - people can do as they like. This forum is intended to give members good advice & I have attempted that along with other sensible members like laneshift & LILBENZ etc.
If you must wash your engine do it every couple of years & protect the electronics & connectors with plastic bags or similar.
My engine compartment is spotless & the dealer cleans it by the spray & wipe method at every service with Benz aerosol cleaner & cloths in the washing bay after all work is completed. The cars then do through a minor detail as well with vacuuming & tyre cleaning etc. You get your car back spotless after a service here at no charge.
Wish we can bring over some of that service here in the states.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 24
From: Boston, MA
'14 ML350, '13 C220 CDI, '07 C280, '98 ML320
I use 'simple green' and just wipe with paper towels. If I need to get rid of oil spill/leak, I fix the root cause first and then I spray brake parts cleaner around the leak area. This has worked for me.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 3
From: Chicagoland
2008 ML350 4matic
WD-40 scares me.....it's a penetrating oil. It's going to work its way into places it shouldn't be. It doesn't evaporate or disapate either.
Nuts and bolts and fasteners should not be subjected to penetrating oil when you are not trying to break them loose.
Just my opinion....
Nuts and bolts and fasteners should not be subjected to penetrating oil when you are not trying to break them loose.
Just my opinion....
