Ok to hose off engine??

[jhmoore]

Stupid newby question:

I had a bit too much fun playing with mud puddles & now my engine is a total mess.

Is it OK to hose off the engine directly?? What are the rules to doing so, if any?

 

[ad_robotics]

Good question, I'd like to know as well. Are there certain gens where you can or can't hose down the engine?

 

[RL Lemke]

What I do, and have done for decades without any issues:

1) Pull into a self carwash.
2) Leave the engine running.
3) Open the hood.
4) Get out a pile of quarters.
5) Wash with the soap setting.
6) Rinse or wax setting.
7) Close the hood.
8) Blast off anything else on the exterior, including the wheels and under the fenders.
9) Drive away.

Engine bays are designed for being wet. Avoid a close direct blast on the alternator or A/C clutch. The sound mat under the hood needs a gentle touch and will hold a ton of water, dripping on the engine for a long time.

A clean engine is a happier engine.

I also have water heaters in the garage. So, I spray down the engine bay with safe cleaners. S-100 to Dawn. Then spray everything with hot water.

I keep my engine bay clean. I also treat the plastics and hoses with products that protect and look good.

The carwash is the easiest, but carwashes are getting to be harder to find.

 

[pDubs]

Never had a problem doing a 50/50 simple green/water in a windex style spray bottle.

On a slightly warm engine that is running, mist everything with simple green solution, avoid battery, alternator, and other electrical plugs, etc as much as possible, wait about 5 minutes.

Power wash with a lighter nozzle, then just leave hood open to dry for a little while.

I remove the engine cover and radiator cover and do these outside of the truck. After a little bit I just put the plastics back in an drive around for a bit to dry more.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

I spray on some Simple Green and then hose it off. BTW, I use the purple bottle SG because it's supposed to be safe for use on aluminum parts.

 

[leftyguns21]

yes, you can hose off your engine. just don't use high pressure and stay as clear as you can from the plugs.


lots lots lots more info in search

 

[NNV4Runner]

Just use a hose or a Hand Car wash, rinse everything off, don't go crazy, you don't need the engine on, simple WATER will clean it

 

[jspagna1]

What I do, and have done for decades without any issues:

1) Pull into a self carwash.
2) Leave the engine running.
3) Open the hood.
4) Get out a pile of quarters.
5) Wash with the soap setting.
6) Rinse or wax setting.
7) Close the hood.
8) Blast off anything else on the exterior, including the wheels and under the fenders.
9) Drive away.

Engine bays are designed for being wet. Avoid a close direct blast on the alternator or A/C clutch. The sound mat under the hood needs a gentle touch and will hold a ton of water, dripping on the engine for a long time.

A clean engine is a happier engine.

I also have water heaters in the garage. So, I spray down the engine bay with safe cleaners. S-100 to Dawn. Then spray everything with hot water.

I keep my engine bay clean. I also treat the plastics and hoses with products that protect and look good.

The carwash is the easiest, but carwashes are getting to be harder to find.

^^^^ What he said. I use Fantastic sometimes to. Not a problem. Keep that engine running and drive it so it dries.

 

[Dreadnaught]

I've been washing engine bays for years...okay decades. I agree with leftyguns21, dont get to close with whatever you're dispensing the water with be it a garden hose (my choise) or high pressure car wash.

My formula = spray Simple Green, let soak 5-10 mins, rinse with garden hose.

If you have stuck on mud DONT blast it off with water. Bad juju, too many electric connections can short out upon re-start. Stuck on mud means repeat Simple Green again, rinse.

Thats my 2 cents.

 

[mteolus]

I washed my engine on an old 1992 Toyota truck for many years. Sold it with 410,000 miles still running.

Not sure why you would wash it with the engine on or hot. I would cool the engine off before you use any soap, otherwise the soap will bake in.

I use McGuire's Super Degreaser. Dilute about 50/50 with water and it will last you a long time.

 

[MBZ300CD]

I do it with a cold engine, not running, spray Simple Green, use a brush on the real dirty areas, hose it off. I then use my compressor or I use a leaf blower to dry it. Gets rid of the excess water and leaves no water spots.

 

[4runnerbemore]

I did it many times. I was told to let the engine cool off a little bit before you spray it. there some parts that can't take an immediate change in temperature. with heat they tend to expand then shrink then crack. hope this helps

 

[LandCruiser]

What I do, and have done for decades without any issues:

1) Pull into a self carwash.
2) Leave the engine running.
3) Open the hood.
4) Get out a pile of quarters.
5) Wash with the soap setting.
6) Rinse or wax setting.
7) Close the hood.
8) Blast off anything else on the exterior, including the wheels and under the fenders.
9) Drive away.

Engine bays are designed for being wet. Avoid a close direct blast on the alternator or A/C clutch. The sound mat under the hood needs a gentle touch and will hold a ton of water, dripping on the engine for a long time.

A clean engine is a happier engine.

I also have water heaters in the garage. So, I spray down the engine bay with safe cleaners. S-100 to Dawn. Then spray everything with hot water.

I keep my engine bay clean. I also treat the plastics and hoses with products that protect and look good.

The carwash is the easiest, but carwashes are getting to be harder to find.

Wash it with the soap and rinse but do not press down on the trigger, just use the low pressure setting.

 

[NJSalsaRed]

Warm engine, not hot! Simple Green, a big sponge to get the inner fenders clean, then a rinse and most importantly, a blow dry with your leaf blower.

Mist it with your favorite dressing and it will look showroom new.

 

[RL Lemke]

I'm cautious about letting Simple Green touch any painted surface. Especially dry painted surfaces. Dawn removes grease, oil and dirt without the potential damage. BOTH will strip and wax or other protection.

I'm not too cautious about what gets washed with power washers, or car wash, but desire to keep from getting any closer to any surface than I'm willing to place my hand. This eliminates the risk of forcing water where it doesn't belong.

As for engine gloss sprays, I am careful to prevent the application on the serpentine belt as it will function as a lubricant.

 

[4runnerfever67]

Should be ok

It should be fine. I hosed mine off and everything was ok. Just try not to force water into anything electrical. Especially if you use a power washer

 

[codrMechanix]

Like others have said, I spray on Simple Green, let is soak for a short time, then hose it off carefully.

 

[DiracSea]

This was really informative, I thought there was going to be an established procedure but it seems there's just a few common things people do haha