cleaning the LT1
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
cleaning the LT1
I got it. Power wash at your own risk. But, how do you all clean your engines and engine compartments? Do you use solvents or gunk off? Don't you hose off the junk? I just bought my first vette and I don't want to screw the pooch. Advice?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
A water hose and LT1 is hari-kari for the Optispark as you know. Many use Simple Green and metal polish, a rag and cold beer. Solvents are not good for the fiberglass leaf spring, and need to be washed off. Some wrap the Opti in plastic and go to town with the pressure washer.
After the first multi hour/brewski session with a rag it's easy to keep it touched up. You have to live with some areas that you just can't clean by hand. It's great therapy in a busy world.
After the first multi hour/brewski session with a rag it's easy to keep it touched up. You have to live with some areas that you just can't clean by hand. It's great therapy in a busy world.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Port Angeles WA
I would stay away from the opti-spark with any hi-pressure anything. The older/more miles your Vette has the greater the risk of getting water, grit, grime, oil forced into the opti-spark. It's the best way to kill your engine- Don't ask how I Know. I haven't found a way to cover the opti-spark so that I could protect it while pressure washing the rest of the engine compartment. Of course if you kill the opti-spark you may as well go ahead and clean the engine while you have it apart.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Wash by hand. Most of what you are cleaning off is oil anyway and the dirt stuck to it.
I don't bother since it will only get dirty again.
I don't bother since it will only get dirty again.
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Yeah, that's how I feel about the house. 
I've also hear here of folks being careful washing with water around the Opti only to get the coil and its wiring wet and scaring themselves silly when the car wouldn't start because of that...
I've also hear here of folks being careful washing with water around the Opti only to get the coil and its wiring wet and scaring themselves silly when the car wouldn't start because of that...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Green Cove Springs Florida
I used to use gunk and the water hose on my 89 vette with no problems however since I got my 95 vette, I am a little uneasy using water even though the Opti-Spark supposedly has a drain and vacuum lines on it. I now use a brush and air hose instead.
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