MOTOR CLEANING (outside)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: delancey new york
MOTOR CLEANING (outside)
What is the best way to clean the motor without hurting any of the electrical system ??? This is my fisrt vette 87-C4. I've had H-D's for the last 45yrs.. Last time i worked on a car it had points & condenser. I'VE GOT ALOT TO LEARN !
Banned Loser
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Some fine steel wool and simple green will help a lot also.
Team Owner
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Melting Slicks
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From: Los Altos CA
Presumably one would do this at a mini-wash where the Gunk isn't going to flow into the flower bed or storm drain?
Safety Car
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From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Famous song (Helter Skelter), Mr. Starr yells that. It's actually very cool.
And I just knew somebody would chime in with the Opti and using a hose thing.
It's your car, do as you like, but with the amount of sensors, plug ends that are not water tight etc. I wouldn't run a hose over any engine with EFI. Alternators with intergral VR's, Distributors and your headlight motors don't like water either. Niether does the battery tray.
Don't Vettes have enough grounding issues?
Neil Young said it best.
Rust Never Sleeps
And I just knew somebody would chime in with the Opti and using a hose thing.
It's your car, do as you like, but with the amount of sensors, plug ends that are not water tight etc. I wouldn't run a hose over any engine with EFI. Alternators with intergral VR's, Distributors and your headlight motors don't like water either. Niether does the battery tray.
Don't Vettes have enough grounding issues?
Neil Young said it best.
Rust Never Sleeps
Last edited by socalman; Mar 21, 2011 at 05:12 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
It all gets wet in the rain anyway with water coming
through the radiator and getting splashed.
The GM connectors are pretty well sealed. Fresh water
is a lousy contducton.
Use whatever source of fresh you like.
through the radiator and getting splashed.
The GM connectors are pretty well sealed. Fresh water
is a lousy contducton.
Use whatever source of fresh you like.
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This is how I do it since 1997. Only one time I had an issue with my 95, it would not shift to second. few days later it was back to normal.
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '10
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HHhhhmmmm Is that legal? I had a wash house manager chase me off for contaminating the water. I do that in my yard though with my 90 and 91. Just don't do it too often. Don't want to awaken the gremlins.
Melting Slicks
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From: Los Altos CA
I used to have a bug that wouldn't run for 3 days after a rain unless I covered everything from the door back with a tarp, so I'm a bit nervous about water on the engine. Fortunately, my engine compartment is more dusty than oily so the rags and elbows technique may work for me.
Team Owner
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Melting Slicks
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From: folsom california
back in the day, I'd pressure wash EVERYTHING..and shorts be damned....now I'm more conservative. When cleaning the engine, I soak everything in liquid wrench or pb blast, let set until it has a chance to soften the caked on, baked on grime, then I use brake cleaner and a ton of paper towerls to remove the mess. A little compressed air can be a big help too.
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '10
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I wouldn't use a high pressure car wash hose though.
I use a garden hose at home on my LT4. It gets washed 2 or 3 times a year at least.
Over 107K miles, and it looks like new.
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My choice is "Awesome" from the Dollar Store. Spray it on dry. Use lots, but don't let it get on the cars paint. Then hit it with a power sprayer. The dirt and grease will melt off.
