Is it safe to wash the engine with a hose?

There are many generic instructions out there on how to clean the engine and everything else that's under the hood. Most of them involve flushing with a hose. I was wondering if that's always safe in the case of Tacoma or if there are parts that should not get wet.

 

IMHO
When truck is off and cold than hose. Simply that kind of volume of water will cool anything very quickly. If Engine is cold than no possibility of things cracking.

When its running power wash but with some distance and low PSI to not damage seals.

 

I have this mist setting on my hose nozzle that I usually use. It's probably a little overcautious, but it works pretty well., Like BlueT said, I'll do it when the engine is cold. I will normally just wet down the engine, and related components, and will soap underside of the hood. My engine bay has never had a chance to build up anything worse than heavy dust, and salt on the underside of the hood, so that's usually enough to keep it looking good. After that I will take the leaf blower to it, to dry it off.

 

I once power washed under my hood at a local car wash...low pressure and didn't stay in one spot very long. Maybe I got lucky and didn't **** anything up, just my experience though

 

I was my engine bay all the time. Make sure the truck is cold. A few sprays of simple green. Let is sit 5 minutes. Then hit it with the hose on a light shower type function.

 

Squirt Simple Green all over everything, then hose off. Avoid battery, fuse box, electrical components. Cold engine. No problemo.

 

Just put a plastic bag over the fuse panel and you should be fine. But like everyone says, avoid using a lot of force in the same area for a long period of time.

 

if you use simple green it doesnt take any force to clean anything

 

Simple green is magic.

 

A lot of car washes have a low pressure setting for washing and rinsing engines. That's what I use.

 

I use it for everything. I even keep a bottle of it in my bathroom by the garage so I can use it to wash my hands after working on my truck, cars, or the yard.

 

Never tried simple green before. I also have avoided washing my Taco's engine. The only engine I ever wash is the one in my 98 Maxima and that I use the tire cleaner (green stuff) that they had at the car wash, then rinse it down (with the engine cold). It works okay on the metal but cleans the plastic till it looks brand new. Maybe I'll try some Simple Green on the Taco soon.

 

Everything is marine grade under there anyway. If it wasn't, think of the electrical failures from people driving in heavy rain. You couldn't drive a Tacoma in in the Pacific Northwest or Florida.

 

I've found the clear degreaser they make is great for really dirty engines. Spray that on there, do a little scrubbing where necessary, rinse, then use the regular simple green.

I like to follow up with a little Aerospace 303 on the plastics and rubber.

 

Why does the engine have to be cold? It can be a thermal shock issue as the trucks drive all the time in the cold weather and get splashed with water that is a lot colder than what is coming out of the garden hose without problem. If there is something else I don't know what it could be

 

Spray em with simple green. Relax with a cold beer then pressure wash it. Never have any problem.

Scrub them if its still dirty. Old toothbrush really helps on hard to reach part. Dont get to close with a pressure washer.

Ill do it when its engine is cold.

@vtdog... A few splash is different from a gallon or so of water coming out of the garden hose.

 

You are correct, it doesn't HAVE to be cold, when I did mine at the car wash it was kinda warm, but why not do it cold? Why risk the slight possibility of causing issue when you can just wait a little for it to be cold and clean worry free? You know what I mean?

 

It would seem like a good idea to bag the alternator also, especially when using chemicals.

Have not needed to wash mine yet but seems like I remember seeing some corrosion on the alternator of a previous truck after using Bleche Wite and water to clean engine.

 

I have washed mine semi-regularly since new, hot or cold, high or low pressure, Simple Green or just water. Never had a problem after a wash.

 

I used to use Simple Green, but I was never impressed with it.

I've used Dawn Power Dissolver.... and that shit worked awesome!! (cold engine, regular hose, no other prep, running or not). But like most things that I like, I can't find it anymore anywhere!!!