Washing Engine
- Thread starter eskimochaos
- Start date
Uneek
Super Moderator
Simple Green and a garden hose with a shower or fan spray pattern. Avoid the jet or stream pattern to avoid forcing water in places it doesn't belong. Some suggest covering the alternator, but I'm too lazy to and have seen no ill effects.
When you're done, drive it around for about 10 minutes to get the engine warm and dry off the water.
When you're done, drive it around for about 10 minutes to get the engine warm and dry off the water.
CannondaleMan
New member
I must say you guys have come through once again. I have always been afraid of putting a lot of water into the engine compartment due to the electronics. Come Spring when it is warm again I might just Simple Green and clean. I keep the outside of the vehicles as clean and shiny as possible - so the engine should get the same.
4-Legged-Runner
New member
I will wash the engine and bay a couple of times a year in the driveway - but something I always do is I blow out the area with the leaf blower.
Will_4R
Member
After playing in mud I hose down the engine bay but try to keep it light on pressure (garden hose with spray nozzle). I figure driving in the rain gets the engine bay just as wet so it should be ok.
Somewhat off topic, but what about the undercarriage? I have used the full power pressure washers at gas stations to clean mud off the entire underside of the truck including wheels. Those things have seriously strong pressure. Any chance of damaging stuff, like break lines or wires/connections under there?
Somewhat off topic, but what about the undercarriage? I have used the full power pressure washers at gas stations to clean mud off the entire underside of the truck including wheels. Those things have seriously strong pressure. Any chance of damaging stuff, like break lines or wires/connections under there?
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Anything is possible but the thing is designed to plow through puddles at some speed. Somewhere there's a design spec that says it can plow through water at 70mph, or some highway speed, without damaging stuff or getting water where it shouldn't be.
I would use common sense: Don't blast the grease boots on the tie-rods, CV boots (4wd models) or ball-joints. Don't aim the pressure washer at the rear axle vent etc. Once again keeping it clean will be far better for it and worth the slight risk associated with hosing it down. All the lectrical connectores are sealed quite well and shouldn't cause you any grief.
:cheers:
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Uneek
Super Moderator
I've been washing the underbody/carriage with an angle attachment off my pressure washer for some time now to remove road salt after snowboarding. My pressure washer is rated for 1750psi. I haven't noticed any issues yet. Knock on wood.
PolkManiac
New member
So when you guys are talking about pressure washing your engine at the car wash, are you talking about using the hose on a low pressure setting, or are you talking about using it at full pressure?
If it's the latter, how does that not knock any wires or anything else loose en the engine bay? I'm gonna give this a go this weekend, just wondering...
If it's the latter, how does that not knock any wires or anything else loose en the engine bay? I'm gonna give this a go this weekend, just wondering...
HB 4X4
New member
Do not use the high pressure unless you know exactly where to spray and where not to spray. You can spray pretty much everything if it's on a lower setting, just be mindful of anything electrical.
I spray it pretty much everywhere. Make sure to get everything wet before it goes on with a good spray down. Let the simple green sit for about 5 minutes then spray it all off. Make sure you get it all off, I have heard stories of Simple Green eating through linoleum if left on.
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
It's great to see the Rocketdyne name still in use... I thought they had been lost into Morton-Thiokol(sp?).
What a great name... I love the 50's and 60's, the cool GM marketing (Olds Rockets, dyna-glyde and dyna-ride etc), the space program, the X planes etc. What a time and sorry for the WAY
fftopic:
747ifly
New member
Spray solid things at high pressure. True, watch your fluid reservoirs. Dont spray the coolers!! radiator, at fluid cooler, ac cooler
Just watch your distance from things with the tip. solid metal is cool. The gasket areas themselves, don't use so much pressure- back the tip away.
Just watch your distance from things with the tip. solid metal is cool. The gasket areas themselves, don't use so much pressure- back the tip away.
