C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

2001 c320 engine bay wash .

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Feb 11, 2013 | 10:57 PM
  #1  
Ivanrad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
2001 C320 Automatic
2001 c320 engine bay wash .

I would like to do an engine wash / clean. I think it will help me find any oil leaks if there are any. How should i go about doing this. Should I cover all electronic components in plastic bags . Double bag? Any tips would be appreciated

Last edited by Ivanrad; Feb 11, 2013 at 10:59 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2013 | 11:02 PM
  #2  
SunnyRayToronto's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
NO!

Just wipe with wet towel. Brush dirt with brush. Blow with compressed air.

Oil leaks should be very visible in dirty engine bay.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2013 | 03:54 AM
  #3  
Carsy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Originally Posted by SunnyRayToronto
NO!

Just wipe with wet towel. Brush dirt with brush. Blow with compressed air.

Oil leaks should be very visible in dirty engine bay.
+1.

There are too many electronic components & connections to go at the engine with a high pressure hose or a steam cleaner like it was done in times past !!

I keep my engine bay clean by cleaning regularly begining with a light blow with compressed air , wiping dust with a damp rag or any oil/diesel build up with a petrol or kerosine dampened cloth. A small or very small paint brush wet with some kero or petrol is used for hard to clean in- accessible at areas. Careful not to get a spark from any electrical gear & cause a fire. Best to have an extinguisher handy.

I do rinse down dust around the radiator & mudguard area with a very low pressure & very well controlled water hose.

Doing it regularly is the key.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2013 | 10:14 AM
  #4  
Glyn M Ruck's Avatar
Super Moderator
MBWorld Ambassador

 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1^
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 01:13 AM
  #5  
KHARBAT1's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320
Today , I drove to the mall (20 miles from where i live ) at 5 pm , at 8pm , i returned home ,a 20 miles drive . I parked the car in the garage. 2 hours later , i went to the car to chk the oil since i changed it the day before .I opened the hood and felt the heat under the hood .How long does the engine stay hot after the drive ? does it matter how many miles you drive ? Is this usual for Mercedes cars ? . I believe domestic cars cool off very quick after the drive . any explanation will be greatly appreciated .
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 02:15 AM
  #6  
SunnyRayToronto's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Any explanation as to how your post relates to Engine Bay Wash would be greatly appreciated,...

Knowing your location would help,... assuming you're in a warm climate (ie: not frozen in snow like Toronto, eh!),... having a larger engine that takes up more room in the engine bay and having the car in a garage with limited air circulation flow would limit the cooling of the engine.

When car is warmed up during driving, engine should be about 85C,... as displayed on instrument cluster display. In addition, car front radiator cooling fan may continue after car engine is stopped and key out of ignition.

BTW,.... why would domestic car cool off faster? Maybe that's because they have domestic heat,.... where as Mercedes have imported heat,... Probably has to do with different engine block material
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 04:49 AM
  #7  
Carsy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Originally Posted by KHARBAT1
Today , I drove to the mall (20 miles from where i live ) at 5 pm , at 8pm , i returned home ,a 20 miles drive . I parked the car in the garage. 2 hours later , i went to the car to chk the oil since i changed it the day before .I opened the hood and felt the heat under the hood .How long does the engine stay hot after the drive ? does it matter how many miles you drive ? Is this usual for Mercedes cars ? . I believe domestic cars cool off very quick after the drive . any explanation will be greatly appreciated .
As Ray says the rate your car cools will depend on your ambient temp.

My car would be still very warm after 2 hours at 25'C ambient.There is a large block of metal weighing probably over 150 Kg at 90'C together with higher temps of the exhaust manifold & head metals.

The engine is also sound insulated which holds the heat in.

Other cars probably don't have as much insulation around the engine & cool quicker.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 11:05 AM
  #8  
KHARBAT1's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320
Sunny and Carcy , Thank you for the reply , makes sense .
As to how my post relates to Engine Bay Wash , it actually does not , i was reading it as i thought about posting mine , i also remember reading that they donot want us newbee ( W203) to open a new thread , that is why . i am sorry if that is a wrong location . how should i do it next time on a new situation ? thanks for your understanding .
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

 
story-1

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 01:54 PM
  #9  
SunnyRayToronto's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Ideally use the Search function,... the Advance Search is great,... to find a solution.

If solution can't be found after an honest effort,... then try posting to an existing thread that's at least close in topic,... that way we get all the related post together in the same thread,... it helps the next guy doing a search.

If all else fails,... then by all means,... start a new thread,...

We're here to help,... not restrict. But I could just imagine,... sometime in the future, some confused soul doing a search on Engine Bay Wash and coming across this thread,... then wondering,... WTF does engine taking too long to cool off has to do with Engine Bay Wash,.... ;p
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 02:14 PM
  #10  
KHARBAT1's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
2002 MERCEDES BENZ C320
Agree .Thanks again .
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2013 | 09:48 PM
  #11  
kirax2's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
I drive a Toyota Hybrid...
i actually did use garden hose and wash my engine bay a few times... no cover up, just didn't spray pass the electronics side, even so they are meant to be water proof you can 100% avoid water going inside the engine bay and that's what all the seal now days are for,
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:43 PM.

story-0
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

Slideshow: Six gift ideas your AMG loving dad or grad will cherish.

By | 2026-06-03 17:26:18


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-4
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-5
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-7
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE