Steam Clean Engine

Desert Fox

Desert Fox

New member
I try to keep my 4Runner pretty clean but lets be realistic, offroading gets dirt everywhere. Either the trail is dry and dust collects everywhere or the trail is muddy and mud gets everywhere.

I have a steam cleaner but I have not had much luck getting general dirt and dust off the engine and under carriage.

Does anyone have a good detergent that you use in a steam cleaner ?
 
Register to hide this ad
My engine/engine bay is just stained brown from wheeling. There's no way it ever can be cleaned. My friend owns a detailing business and we tried everything. Pressure washer, steam cleaning, chemicals…you name it, we tried it. At least everything that was safe to do/use. I just have to live with it. Good luck and make sure to let me know what you did and used to clean it if it looks almost new again.
 
cbielat said:
My engine/engine bay is just stained brown from wheeling. There's no way it ever can be cleaned. My friend owns a detailing business and we tried everything. Pressure washer, steam cleaning, chemicals…you name it, we tried it. At least everything that was safe to do/use. I just have to live with it. Good luck and make sure to let me know what you did and used to clean it if it looks almost new again.
Click to expand...

Constant cleaning is the only way to keep it clean. That has been my experience anyway.
 
gm350reratliff said:
This^^

I just hose the engine off about once a year. I don't like to use a pressure washer under the hood unless it's really nasty.
Click to expand...

I have never had an issue using a pressure washer. Just be sure everything is dry before you try and start it. I will usually disconnect the ground on the battery first too but I forget that step sometimes. I'm probably going to jinx myself for saying this but I have never had an issue with pressure washing the engine bay.
 
The issue with power washing is gettin water inside the electronic plugs and such, they dont dry out very fast and can easily be ruined. Get a bucket mix with 2 cups dish detergent to gallon of water, get a soft brush (toothbrush or somethin) scrub all around your engine and then rinse thoroughly with a hose.
 
LuckyRunnerLTD said:
The issue with power washing is gettin water inside the electronic plugs and such, they dont dry out very fast and can easily be ruined. Get a bucket mix with 2 cups dish detergent to gallon of water, get a soft brush (toothbrush or somethin) scrub all around your engine and then rinse thoroughly with a hose.
Click to expand...

Um, have you ever taken the electrical connectors apart?

99% of them in the engine bay are WEATHERPROOF, meaning there is a rubber grommet in there that stops water from entering the actual prongs.

Sorry, but your logic is flawed for not pressure washing an engine.

I've taken a PW and washed the engine off numerous times, not on just the 4Runner, and never had problems.

I've also submerged my 4Runner, and the starter was the only thing that I had problems out of, in the enging bay. My ECU got wet, and I was able to rinse it off and keep going.

OEveryone else is right though. There really isn't a way to get the dirt and crap off of a 3.4L enging bay. Just not enought room. NOW, the 2.7L, you can probably get the wand close enough to the firewall and stuff to blast it off, but just not happening on a 3.4L.
 
I wheel Fri-Sun every week in super dusty conditions so I can only wish to wash the outside once a month much less the engine compartment. On the other hand, I do blow some compressed air throughout the engine bay, maybe nothing is better! :^)
 
The key is to wash the mud off as soon as you can. The longer you let it stay on the engine, the harder it's going to be to get off. My engine has been completely soaked with mud numerous times and I just go to one of those DIY car washes and power wash it clean. I leave the engine running when I do this.
 
Doc2012 said:
Um, have you ever taken the electrical connectors apart?

99% of them in the engine bay are WEATHERPROOF, meaning there is a rubber grommet in there that stops water from entering the actual prongs.

Sorry, but your logic is flawed for not pressure washing an engine.

I've taken a PW and washed the engine off numerous times, not on just the 4Runner, and never had problems.

I've also submerged my 4Runner, and the starter was the only thing that I had problems out of, in the enging bay. My ECU got wet, and I was able to rinse it off and keep going.

OEveryone else is right though. There really isn't a way to get the dirt and crap off of a 3.4L enging bay. Just not enought room. NOW, the 2.7L, you can probably get the wand close enough to the firewall and stuff to blast it off, but just not happening on a 3.4L.
Click to expand...


The weather proof plugs are supposed to be water tight but I've ran across a handful over the years that, for one reason or another, allowed water in and corroded causing some sort of issue. The problem is that 1% of the plugs that are not water proof. You are much more likely to force water into a plug with a pressure washer vs. garden hose pressure.

Like I said, sometimes I do use a pressure washer to wash an engine but only if it absolutely requires it.
 
@ Doc2012 Did you ever take any auto classes?? Pressure washing your engine is DUMB!!! Those waterproof rubber seals wear out just like everything else, a little water in your motor.... you gonna replace those waterproof seals an hope all is well??
 
LuckyRunnerLTD said:
@ Doc2012 Did you ever take any auto classes?? Pressure washing your engine is DUMB!!! Those waterproof rubber seals wear out just like everything else, a little water in your motor.... you gonna replace those waterproof seals an hope all is well??
Click to expand...

No, but from my experience, I have had no issues, and the seals have looked just fine to me.

I've pressure washed engines MULTIPLE times, and haven't had any problems.

The seals look good on my engine, transmission, t-case, O2 sensors, and everything else, on a 15 year old vehicle. I think your "wear out" comment is kind of moot....

Now, did I say hold the wand directly over the connectors and hit them with a blast of 1500psi water? No. Common sense dictates.

Then again, there isn't much common sense in the world anymore.....
 
SV_Dude said:
Constant cleaning is the only way to keep it clean. That has been my experience anyway.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on that. It's just that when I'm out wheeling it's usually pretty hot up here during the summer months and that coupled with the heat inside the engine bay, it pretty much burns the mud/dirt on to everything it touches and stains it.
 
cbielat said:
I agree with you on that. It's just that when I'm out wheeling it's usually pretty hot up here during the summer months and that coupled with the heat inside the engine bay, it pretty much burns the mud/dirt on to everything it touches and stains it.
Click to expand...

You gotta pay to play :D
 
Doc2012 said:
No, but from my experience, I have had no issues, and the seals have looked just fine to me.

I've pressure washed engines MULTIPLE times, and haven't had any problems.

The seals look good on my engine, transmission, t-case, O2 sensors, and everything else, on a 15 year old vehicle. I think your "wear out" comment is kind of moot....

Now, did I say hold the wand directly over the connectors and hit them with a blast of 1500psi water? No. Common sense dictates.

Then again, there isn't much common sense in the world anymore.....
Click to expand...

ive done the same. I worked detailing cars for a few years when I was younger, part of that job was to power wash the engine, and engine bay.


ive also done it to my own vehicles many times over the years.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 453 (members: 5, guests: 448)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,304
Messages
3,554,041
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top