So I was in the engine bay monitoring the battery with a multimeter, and decided the engine bay was a bit grubby, since I was also trying to loosen the earth bolt with the stuff I decided to just give the plastics and rubber a quick spray and wipe. There's a before and after and I don't think the camera on my phone does it justice... just want to see what you guys thing of a 5 minute effort!

Looks like a worthwhile 5 mins.

We were given the advice once to use WD40 for cleaning tiles after grouting, it works really well on that too, lol.

I've used WD40 for this few times, I find it's better than using bumper gel in the engine bay, does look good.

WD40 will eat plastics and rubber over time though, I wouldn't use it more than a few times.

Did you grease the battery terminal back up though?

Just like new. A nice smell now too

thanks guys :D yeah for the odd quick clean (literally was only a 5 minute rub down) it seems to have done some good :)

As for the eating it up, yeah I wouldnt do it weekly but for the sake of a one off I should hope it works quite nicely :D with regards the battery, no I havent greased it up yet. Due to the problems I have had, I didnt want to add the copper grease possibly reducing conductivity and connectivity as a potential issue. So I have decided if the issues settle and I get a week or two of no issues at all with the battery, I will remove it, reseat the plastic box that should go around the battery, clean up the earth connection and then copper grease it all up and put it back together.

James I don't bother with grease on the battery leads. I've never had any issues with any cars in the last 8 or so years.

I'm sure the reason behind grease was on old batteries where the gas escaping from them used to corrode the terminals or something like that

That's fair enough, might just leave it but knowing my luck all crazy will break loose lol

I WD40'd my engine cover and plastics when I got my car, now I occasionally use a quick squirt of original black spray stuff I got one christmas.

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Pretty sure the engine covers are polypropylene - which according to the WD40 Chemical Data Sheet is not adversely affected by it (test was immersion for 168hrs)

Always been a fan of WD40 for cleaning engines and exhaust systems on bikes I had, and every now and then I'll attach the rocker cover on the ST with a toothbrush and WD40 to get clean up the bare alloy. Plus brings the tailpipes up nice after I've cleaned them.

Maybe I'm old school but there's not many jobs which aren't covered using WD40, Mr Sheen and Fairy Liquid. Plus duct tape and cable ties :P

Yeah, its so basic and works so well!

I am tempted to go through and try spit shine the EGR and things like that with it to see what happens :p as for fixing everything with duct tape, if duct tape doesnt fix it, your not using enough duct tape.

Awesome, who knows it may become a bi annual occurance :p

There is a bike shop in Newcastle who seem to favour wd40. From what I'm told they drench any second hand bikes in it and leave for a day or two before washing.

I am not kidding when I say all of their second hand stuff looks like brand new so they are definitely doing something to them. 5 year old bike for example that literally looks like it did from the factory.

The power of wd40 is awesome, If only it could bring paintwork out like new lol. Shame it can't fit scratches or chunks, as somebody has been sharing those with my car...

The power of wd40 is awesome, If only it could bring paintwork out like new lol. Shame it can't fit scratches or chunks, as somebody has been sharing those with my car...

Lmao my mrs would be getting a big tin for Xmas then so she could sort the damage to my car

Another thing I found which is good for shining up an engine is carb cleaner, just be sure to ventilate well and allow to fully evaporate before introducing any engine heat.

That the engine block itself or the plastics?

Engine block.

Might just have to try that...

WD40 is the answer, now what is the question?

See this link, over 2000 uses, http://wd40.com/img/WD-40_2000_uses.pdf

...ventilate well and allow to fully evaporate before introducing any engine heat.

On a side note, the same advice applies to filling lighters...especially when you fill a Turboflame lighter and then check it's still working (they can be a little awkward to fill) immediately after taking the can away.

Butane is heavier than air. It turns out that it pools quite nicely on the lap, around the groin.

Lighter worked...

Hahaha :-D made similar errors, except I squires it missed the pin hole and went up the side of the lighter to my palm, set the lighter off and had a hot moment...

On a side note, the same advice applies to filling lighters...especially when you fill a Turboflame lighter and then check it's still working (they can be a little awkward to fill) immediately after taking the can away.

Butane is heavier than air. It turns out that it pools quite nicely on the lap, around the groin.

Lighter worked...

Goodness gracious.....