washing the engine

Is it ok to high pressure down the engine at the local wash rack as is or are there areas that need to be covered before spraying?

 

i just dont spray the alternator directly.

i use the regular pressure that comes out of the carwash gun. I dont squeeze the trigger of the wand.

 

I keep mine clean so no high psi needed.

 

Honestly, I would do it at home with a garden hose. I cover the battery and fuse box with a plastic bag. Then I take a garden hose to lightly spray in the bay, keeping in mind not to leave it in one area for too long. Spray some simple green and let it soak, and then wash off. Tougher areas will take more time, and possibly a brush to clean. I follow up with a leaf blower to dry most of the bay.

Check out the Detailing section. A lot of good ideas in there.

Bonus, Aerospace 303 on the plastic and rubber makes it look amazing.

This is over 15K miles.

 

leave the engine running while you clean it, our detail guys at work do it all the time. they get it wet, spray purple power on everything and and spray it off a couple min later and leave the vehicle run for like 10 min. to get everything dried nicely.
The cars now a days you don't need to worry too to much, as you would with carburetors and distributor's ect.., As greeneggsandspam said, you don't want to hold a pressure washer at your fuse box for 60seconds, just keep it moving.

 

Looks like mine with 48k

 

I pressure wash the tires and wheel knock some dirt off the frame work open the hood hit the engine compartment close the hood and park it, as far as the alternator I guess you should never take it out in the rain if you afraid of getting it wet.

 

NO.... dont do that shit. the detail guys do that cus they want it done as quick as possible.


Dumping cool water onto hot headers screams cracked headers. Do it with the motor off and the engine cool.

 

I do it with a cold engine. I spray simplegreen or Mr. clean and go to a coin carwash and spray it quick. Since I don't let it get dirty I never spray it for more than 15 seconDS the entire engine bay.

Do it with a cold engine for the above stated reasons.

 

Here is mine as I clean it once a month....

 

You guys need to take those pretty engines off-road.

 

Lol.... The only OR I do is getting out of my neighborhood when the traffic is backed up I drive over the side walk down the ditch....

It seems when I leave to go to work in the mornings I am the only one turning right. So I have to take matters into my own hands.

 

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Had mine powerwashed at the detailer before dipping. engine was off (they're indoors) and kept the wand moving.
Next spring i'll use my powerwasher and do the same.

 

yeah, we don't drive them right before we clean them. When they clean the engine its usually the first thing they do. An idling engine doesn't reach normal operating temp within 5 min, the rest of the time its just drying off.
Its about as common as cracking an exhaust manifold while driving in the rain. I've never had to replace an exhaust manifold as a result of our detailer.

 

I am a proponent of a clean engine. It is a fact that clean engines run cooler and you pretty much eliminate "unwanted grounding/flash over" from cracked wire insulation.

If your engine is truly dirty, try "Gunk Engine Degreaser" and a garden hose. Follow the directions on the container.

If you have mud and muck than the pressure washer at the car wash is the way to go. Spray only as close as necessary, start far and move closer, when the grime stars falling off you are close enough.

Don't forget the radiator too...