Washing/De mudding the engine?

This is a new guy question, I'm a motorcycle dude so trucks are more alien to me.

So apparently I've got a little mud built up under my hood from the last couple trips

So should I just power wash it or?

Any tips or tricks and is there anything to watchout for and be aware of?

Thanks

(also cause i'm in a wheelchair I can't even see the hood so I get my friends to check levels/ help me wash my truck)

 

I have used a pressure washer but use the weakest nozzle. Do not aim at any electronics or sensors.

 

Cover the alternator at a minimum with a couple of plastic bags. Better to use lower pressure like a regular garden hose and keep it to a minimum. At keep the engine off while you are doing it. I mention that because I know of people who washed their truck with the engine on!

 

Just don't spray the Alternator, Fusebox, and if your being extra careful Wire connectors with high pressure. Hosing off with a garden hose with your thumb over the end isn't going to hurt anything.

https://youtu.be/hwrrHkBsz1U

 

Georgia mud is really bad... the way my son and I would clean the Bronco after a day of mudding would be to pull it into the back yard on the grass or pine straw, and put a nice soft circular lawn sprinkler under it and run it for 30-45 minutes. The mud just falls off and you don't risk much from high pressure spraying. Of course, the '76 Bronco doesn't have much in the way of electronics either, pretty simple. This was a pretty painless way to de-mud!

 

stay away from the fuse box and modules. don't worry about the alternator, if water hurt it then every vehicle that drove in the rain would have a bad alternator

 

Cool cool, thanks for the help

 

I washed my last car without covering the alternate and it killed it. Maybe it is not an issue if you let it dry out overnight. I drove the car about 2 hours after washing it. I would recommend covering it.