Volkswagen Golf Owners Manual: Cleaning the engine compartment

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings 

The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a hazardous area   .

The engine compartment should be cleaned by a qualified workshop. Corrosion protection could be removed and electrical components damaged if the compartment is cleaned incorrectly. Furthermore, water could enter the vehicle interior directly via the plenum chamber  .

If the engine compartment is very dirty, we recommend that you always go to a qualified workshop to have it cleaned by a professional mechanic. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.

Plenum chamber

The plenum chamber is located in the engine compartment between the windscreen and the engine and has a perforated cover. Air from outside is drawn in from the plenum chamber and is passed into the vehicle interior via the heating and fresh air system or via the air conditioning system.

Leaves and other loose objects must be removed from the cover of the plenum chamber at regular intervals using a vacuum cleaner or by hand.

WARNING

All work in the engine compartment carries the risk of injury, scalding, accidents and fire.

• Before carrying out any work ensure that you are familiar with the requisite procedures and general safety regulations   .

• Volkswagen recommends having the work carried out by a qualified workshop.

NOTICE

Water that has entered the plenum chamber via a manual process (e.g. from a high-pressure cleaner) can cause considerable damage to the vehicle.

In the interests of environmental protection, the engine compartment should be washed only in specially provided wash bays. This prevents toxic waste water containing oil, grease and fuel from entering the sewerage system. In some districts, washing the engine compartment anywhere else may be prohibited.