Hosed...Literally!

[Ben Swann]

Definately agree with Huw here.  I always clean the engine bay as a matter
of course when I obtain a car.

If you find the car does not run right after a good powerwash followed by
compressed air drying, then be thankful you uncovered a problem that would
undoubtedly occur sometime in the near future when conditions are not ideal
for checking under the hood to see what is wrong.

Ben

[> You've just learned a valuable lesson about old German
> cars.  Leave the engine bay dirty!!!

I must respectfully disagree here... a clean engine bay is much easier
to work in, to see leaks, and lets everything work properly.

A grunged up engine may develop some "issues" upon the first major
cleaning, but everything you have to fix should be done anyway - undoing
all connectors, cleaning them, and reassembling with some dielectric gel
(one at a time!).

You'd be surprised what you can actually see under there after the 1/4"
layer of grrit, grease, and grime has been removed...
Huw Powell]