I am just about to head down and simple green my engine bay, couple quams first.

I have seen people using pressure washers on their engines, without covering anything up, then driving off. WTF? I thought this was a big no-no.

I'll also be using a pressure washer (standing far away) for mine right now, will that be okay?

What should I be covering up? With what? Tinfoil?

 

Battery? (though obviously not with aluminum foil)

Fuse box?

Distributor?

Alternator?


My girlfriend's Uncles are Mechanics and one of them refuses to use a pressure washer to clean engines... In his words, "...it crams water where it's not supposed to go."

I can't see much harm in 'low-pressure washing,' as in, garden hose pressure, but again, I've no idea what I'm talking about.

^_^

 

Standing far away, as in misting the engine for awhile until it's rised, not diving right in there with the high pressure part.
I get free car washes, so time isn't a worry with the pressure hose

 

Seriously, just go to the fire station and ask them to hose down your engine compartment for a bit.

Sure it might take the head(s) off, but it'll be CLEAN inside!

^_^

 

You shouldn't wash your engine in cold weather and drive off. If the climate is warm you've nothing to worry about. Make sure your distributor cap is tight so you don't get water in it. Avoid the battery. You should be fine otherwise.

 

scofco,

i covered all the fuse boxes, alternator, drive belts and battery. thats all. i used a hose at low pressure to rinse off.

bob

 

What do you cover it with?
I've opted to use the garden hose
Just means I'll have to go and buy one tonight then.

 

Just Had my friend work on my wife's Durango and he steamed cleaned the engine with a pressure washer and had no problem with it. He is a lead tech and a dealership.
I have always washed my engines with a pressure washer and never covered up anything and not one problem has came from it.

 

I use regular plastic grocery bags in covering up the fuse box, battery and alternator. I've been using simple green for a long time and just use a garden hose to rinse it off. So far no problems. soak the engine bay with simple green for about 5 mins and rinse away.

George

 

I've opted to just not cover anything and then let it sit for a few hours, should be okay that way eh?

 

Here is the before:

 

I never cover anything on mine. I just let her rip! No problems.

(Aim carefully though)

 

The After:

 

Looks good! Did you use a brush or any scrubbing, or was it just the simple green and a hose? My only complaint with simple green is that it leaves a white pastey substance on stuff it seems.

 

I hose the engine off once a month and dress it with a silicone once dry. (pics in the website or sig)

Here is what to do:

Start engine and idle for about 2 minutes.
Shut off engine and spray dawn and water mixture from spray bottle on engine components. 2 tblsp to a quart.
Let mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
Spray off engine with fan setting on nozzle.
Repeat application of Dawn and brush with parts washer brush any stubborn areas.
Rinse.
Start engine and let idle for 5-10 minutes.
Take vehicle for a 15 minute ride to displace any remaining moisture.
Once engine is cool apply silicone dressing.

Note: Never hose off a HOT motor!!!!!!

 

I've cleaned several hundred engines and the only problems I've ever had were with Fords. GM, Toyota, no problem. Engine degreaser and blast away.

 

Yea, same hear. No problems. just don't hit the elctrical stuff at close rage and shoot selectively and it's no big deal.

 

I always just head to the carwash and spray on the degreser, wait..wait wait.. And then blow it all off with the high pressure. NO covering anything, no problems yet.

 

The engine stumbled a bit just now on the way home, and it was idling at 500 for some reason. Hopefully that will go away

 

You won't find a better, safer, more effective method than this. It's the same MO I've used on vehicles for years with no ill effects. I switched to this after drowning a Mercedes ECU on a car I had for sale. Killed it, and the profit potential, with a pressure wash on that one, but I considered it a seminar expense.