Yesterday I did an oil change and replaced a faulty oil level sensor on my 2007 E61. I took it out for a short drive afterwards and everything seemed fine, but this morning I was greeted by a large puddle of oil in the garage. It would appear that the gasket at the top of the oil filter housing didn't seal properly and now there's oil all over the inside of the engine compartment (got sprayed around on the belts etc.). Although I haven't yet checked the drain bolt and sensor bolts, I'm hoping those aren't the problem. I've fixed the gasket so I believe my only issue now is cleaning the engine compartment. On the plus side, it's new, clean oil. Unfortunately there's probably about a litre (quart) of it.

What's the best way to clean it? I've read that having oil on your alternator can be very bad, so I'm most concerned about that. Should I simply do multiple washings with Dawn (or similar)? Is degreaser going to damage my alternator? I'd love to hear some suggestions...

 

I think simple green might work better as a degreaser.....not sure about damage to the alternator. I cant imagine that the alternator is any more susceptible to damage from external fluids (ie splashed up water, rain, oil, etc).

-r