how to wash down the engine???
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
I would plastic wrap that the wife keeps in the cabinet to wrap food dishes. Easy to work with. I've even used that new stuff called press and seal and it works even better. I used it to spot paint areas in the engine bay to protect the parts from over spray. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,763
Likes: 1,676
From: Summerville SC
WD 40 works great if your wires or dizzy get wet Also. engines usually start right up after you wash them but the mistake is turning it right off Let it run for about 10 min and you'll be fine
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 99
Likes: 2
I was told and always wash the engine while it is running. This way, if you wet something that should not be wet, you know it right away. It may just start to run a little rough, so you can stop what you are wetting.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 1,568
From: los altos hills california
I always went to one of those high-pressure, do-it-yourself car washes and soaped down and then rinsed and quickly restarted my motor. If your distributor is out in the open you might want to bag it. Never had a problem. On a hot engine the water steamed off real quick.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,027
That "might" crack an exhaust manifold. "Just sayin...."
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I usually use a can of degreaser from Wally World at the car wash. Works great.
JIM
JIM
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
Pretty much like that...yeah.
To start, I would take the car to a quarter car wash that has the low pressure green tire/wheel degreaser setting. Bag the dizzy and carb (alt, too, if you want), and use that degreaser setting to cover the engine and compartment with that stuff. Let it set for about 5-10 minutes, then hose it off with Low Pressure Rinse. If that did pretty well but didn't get it all, do it again. If it didn't make a dent in the gunk on your engine, go buy some cans of GUNK. Then repeat the same process using the GUNK spray stuff.
This will get most of the grime off the engine and compartment walls. For the undercarriage, you will need to use the High Pressure spray to knock off the hard grease/grime/rocks/whatever. If really bad and you want to do a really nice redo of the undercarriage, you probably need to go to someone who can steam clean the underside first.
To start, I would take the car to a quarter car wash that has the low pressure green tire/wheel degreaser setting. Bag the dizzy and carb (alt, too, if you want), and use that degreaser setting to cover the engine and compartment with that stuff. Let it set for about 5-10 minutes, then hose it off with Low Pressure Rinse. If that did pretty well but didn't get it all, do it again. If it didn't make a dent in the gunk on your engine, go buy some cans of GUNK. Then repeat the same process using the GUNK spray stuff.
This will get most of the grime off the engine and compartment walls. For the undercarriage, you will need to use the High Pressure spray to knock off the hard grease/grime/rocks/whatever. If really bad and you want to do a really nice redo of the undercarriage, you probably need to go to someone who can steam clean the underside first.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,631
From: Draper Utah
l'm thinking this is pretty much an old wives tale as I've washed literally hundreds of hot engines with never an issue. Also as an old off road racer I've drenched hundreds of hot engines while racing and never had an issue. This doesn't even begin to count the number of hot engines I've witnessed soaked by every method imaginable with no issues other than engine dying from soaked electronics with the problem solved after the electronics dryer out.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
Last edited by Iceaxe; Mar 30, 2017 at 01:27 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
l'm thinking this is pretty much an old wives tale as I've washed literally hundreds of hot engines with never an issue. Also as an old off road racer I've drenched hundreds of hot engines while racing and never had an issue. This doesn't even begin to count the number of hot engines I've witnessed soaked by every method imaginable with no issues other than engine dying from soaked electronics with the problem solved after the electronics dryer out.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,134
Likes: 4,206
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi gto,
The oil/dirt on the engine and in the compartment has been protecting some of the parts from rust.
After cleaning the engine/compartment, the next day you may see that some rust has appeared that you didn't expect.
Regards,
Alan
The oil/dirt on the engine and in the compartment has been protecting some of the parts from rust.
After cleaning the engine/compartment, the next day you may see that some rust has appeared that you didn't expect.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Personally, I wouldn't even think of using a pressure washer (my own or at any form of car wash) anywhere on my 'Vette! Not only were leaks into the cabin and/or birdcage and/or body mount locations nearly standard equipment but unlike newer cars extremely few of the electrical connectors outside the cabin are weatherproof.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
I think that it is relatively important to know WHERE to aim the pressure washer. If you don't know where to aim it, you shouldn't do it. 
If you want to clean it...and it's grimy and greasy...you will need a pressure washer--or you will need a few weeks of 'elbow grease'.
If you want to clean it...and it's grimy and greasy...you will need a pressure washer--or you will need a few weeks of 'elbow grease'.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 151
Likes: 12
From: Burleson Texas
I think that it is relatively important to know WHERE to aim the pressure washer. If you don't know where to aim it, you shouldn't do it.
If you want to clean it...and it's grimy and greasy...you will need a pressure washer--or you will need a few weeks of 'elbow grease'.
If you want to clean it...and it's grimy and greasy...you will need a pressure washer--or you will need a few weeks of 'elbow grease'.
l'm thinking this is pretty much an old wives tale as I've washed literally hundreds of hot engines with never an issue. Also as an old off road racer I've drenched hundreds of hot engines while racing and never had an issue. This doesn't even begin to count the number of hot engines I've witnessed soaked by every method imaginable with no issues other than engine dying from soaked electronics with the problem solved after the electronics dryer out.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
So my question has anyone ever personally experienced a cracked block, manifold, etc from washing a hot engine?
As an engineer I just don't think a properly running engine gets hot enough (250 degrees?) To cause issues with a steel part cracking.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,095
Likes: 1,650
From: Long Island
I use DAWN dishwashing detergent + you can pick the smell...
It will remove all the grease - so as was mentioned look out for rust...
Also any drips on the driveway - just go out when it rains and put a few drops on - rakes 2 - 3 rains and the spot is gone.. almost..
Last edited by BLUE1972; Mar 30, 2017 at 07:00 PM.