Hi all,

Is it safe to wash the engine???

It's really dirty and I was thinking of using my hose.

thanks,

maguirre23
2000 SR5, V6, 5spd

 

yes...just don't get air filter or distributor/fuse box too wet....if they get wet its fine just don't soak em. I regularly spray mine off with the hose with no probs

 

shouldnt you wait till it completely dries before turning it on?

 

I never wait to turn it on and drive around, dries faster. Just saying what I do, never had any problems

 

ever since i went through a "puddle" and got my starter wet, i frequently cause the same problem of the starter failing when I wash my engine...usually just requires a few minutes of drying...kind of disconcerting, tho

 

Yea, I think you do need to run the engine right after washing to dry everything off.

 

It's also a good idea to warm up the engine first before hosing it down to help in the drying process...

 

am i the only one that runs the engine while cleaning it? spray some grease cleaner, and use a spray (not a stream) to rinse it off. also, to help, once clean, you can use a high temp clear coat paint. keeps it looking great, and easier to clean.

 

If the block is hot and you hose it with cold water I think it can crack, I am not saying it will, I have done it and not had a problem, but it could. Better safe than sorry. I always wash mine when it is cold, I spray it with engine cleaner then hose it off. Once I have completely sprayed (or streamed) the cleaner off I turn the truck on, I figure it shakes off or dries the water before it gets into anything it shouldn't.

 

Been washing mine all the time for years at the car wash with high presure soap and clean water rince. Every now and then I spray it down good with Simple green and let it sit for a few minutes before I wash it. It looks like the day it came out of the show room floor. My mechanic loves to work on my truck I never leave it running and wash everything real well.It starts right up and I dive it home it's all nice and dry and clean.
Got stuck in a river hole Sunday and part of the engine was under water. It never missed a beat and my 2.7 pulled me right through that hole. That Tacoma acted like It was having fun, Lol.