Engine Cleaning

Everyone (?) likes to keep the outside of their vehicles clean and shiny, but what about your engine. Usually, I will power wash mine at a self-serve car wash, followed by spraying the engine with wax (followed, of course, with a rinse). Now, with my new 2017 Tacoma 2.7L, I have yet to do it, concerned with all the electrical connections. I hope they are properly sealed, but..... What do you think?

 

I wash my engine compartment every three washes or so. I do it at the car wash and since it always kept clean i dont have to use any degreasers or anything. Just spray on the soap and rinse it off. I dont blast it hard on any of the electrical parts but they do get wet and Ive had no issues. It has 40k miles and still looks new and i dont use any shine products...cause obviously i dont need to!

 

Nice

 

I noticed the other day that the air box is bigger than the damn engine!

 

I haven’t done it in awhile but when I have I would start with a foaming degreasing agent, I hit it with a light spray from a garden hose and then detail with some type of cleaning spray

 

Here is my 2006. Like to look clean inside and out

 

Great looks guys! But let me play devil's advocate. Have you or have you heard of anyone who had electrical problems after cleaning their engines?

 

I’m curious to know if anyone has ever had electrical issues after? You always hear people talk of this risk but I’ve never actually seen anyone have issues myself.

 

I havn't had any issues on the 4.0 in my 2014, but I've had them on other, older vehicals.

I also spray mine out sometimes at the car wash. I use the regular high pressure rinse, no soap, and I don't get the want too close to anything in the engine. It doesn't take much to get it nice and clean.

Edit: Also, try to do it when the engine is somewhat cool. If there's a car wash within 5 minutes that's ideal.

 

These connectors underhood have rubber gaskets. Just don't concentrate on one spot is fine. if going after a gunky spot from a leak, watch for the surrounding area that it's not something that shouldn't be full of water, such as the alternator.
A litlte doesn't hurt them either, they get wet driving.

 

I wash my engine about once per year... guess I'm just not very concerned about the cosmetic appearance in an area that practically nobody else ever sees. I let it cool down about 30 minutes, wrap the alternator with a couple plastic bags and spray everything with a garden hose (more of a mist really). Watch out for electrical items such as fusebox, air pump, spark plugs, etc. (Just don't blast water into these areas and it will be OK.) Mostly it's just a fine layer of dust that is coming off, but if there are any really dirty areas, I'll use simple green (or similar) and let it soak a good 10 minutes. Then give it a good rinse, remove the plastic bags, and run it for a few minutes. Done.

 

I wash mine off at home with a hot/ cold hose bib I have in the garage. A mechanic friend of mine told me to do it with the engine warmed up and running to avoid electrical problems. So, that's the way I've been rolling with it for over a decade. I blast it off with warm water while its idling, and so far have had no electrical issues.

 

How I've done it for 4 decades. Got in the habit from mini-bikeswhen the shop told me not to ever wash them after coming home and it's hot, that it would be better to leave it running. Sounded crazy then, not now.

 

I'll second the advice to wrap the alternator with a plastic bag. And you really shouldn't use a high pressure wash or rinse. A garden hose should be the max pressure. You could force water into a connector or even loosen a connector with high enough pressure and then you'll have an issue you'll chase and can't figure out.

I spray with a degreaser cleaner and wipe what I can reach with an old towel then just use a garden hose for the rinse.

 

i used to work at a harley dealership. i've seen many bikes come in with neck bearings seized up, and electrical problems from pressure washing.

 

@ChadsPride tell us your secret

 

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Yea, common sense is required. Don't get in there really tight with a power washer. I always stood back quite a ways when I washed my bike at the power wash. Definatly don't want to get close with that wand to any parts under an engine bay either....

 

Yes, even with a cheap pressure washer, you can do some damage. When I got my first pressure washer, which was a low force consumer model, while washing my new Dodge truck, I inadvertently removed the large factory decal from the passenger door.

 

That wasn't glued on then or added at dealer after polish was applied.