washing engine bay ????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 979
Likes: 0
From: lafayette area Louisiana
washing engine bay ????
do you guys just use a a spray and wipe?blast with a pressure washer?
and if a pressure washer....do you cover any parts????
or any other methods??
and if a pressure washer....do you cover any parts????
or any other methods??
Last edited by luckyirishguy; Nov 21, 2008 at 05:22 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor Florida
My engine bay has always been pretty clean since I got it. But I'll use an old paint brush to loosen the sand and dust..then blow it out with compressed air. For deep down inside near the frame I'll just spray some degreaser in there and reach to wipe it with a cloth. Then use a spray bottle to dilute the residual degreaser so theres no streaks and wipe dry again..I'm a bit weary about using my pressure washer in there..but to each his own I guess.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,772
Likes: 343
From: SIOUX FALLS SD
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Never use a pressure washer on newer vehicles. There are too many wire connectors and parts that should not be exposed to lots of water. Use the wipe and dry methods even if it takes three times as long. Otherwise you could end up with problems.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,107
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
I have sprayed my engine with simple green and pressure washed it with no problems,if you have an open element air filter ,cover if ,that's all.These engines are not sponges,don't worry about water.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Akron Ohio
i pressure wash mine, when i got the car it was nasty under there, i used gunk 
it made all of the exposed metal look like crap so dont do that. as for the pressure i have only had 2 issues and neither on my c5, first was on a camaro with a cracked coil that shorted out when it got wet and the second was my 89 c4 i got some water into the maf, had to spray it with carb cleaner to dry it out and it was fine.
it made all of the exposed metal look like crap so dont do that. as for the pressure i have only had 2 issues and neither on my c5, first was on a camaro with a cracked coil that shorted out when it got wet and the second was my 89 c4 i got some water into the maf, had to spray it with carb cleaner to dry it out and it was fine.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Ridgeland MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I used Purple Power, bought at wal-mart. I mixed it with water 50/50, covered my alternator and battery/fuse box compartment, and sprayed down the engine compartment. I waited a few minutes and then sprayed it off. I have one of those fire hose type nozzles and you can just crack it open to get a very small but high pressure stream. This is so you don't blow degreaser all over everything. Works like a champ.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
I wash mine all the time. I only use the LOW pressure at the $.25 car wash. I used to use the high pressure on my Camaro, but I got water inside the connector on the throttle body and it corroded. The seals on the electrical connectors cannot take the high pressure. They will leak and corrode and 1 year from now you will see intermittant problems. BTDT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,598
Likes: 960
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Use a good all purposes cleaner and a standard hose with a spray nozzle. Have the engining running while you spray the hose, and move the water away from the area you aredoing if the engine stumbles.
You should not have any problem.
You should not have any problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 6
From: Granite Falls WA
open hood.
spray simple green at full strength liberally all over engine compartment.
wait 15 minutes. use this time to gather all items necessary to clean the rest of the vette.
use hose with no sprayer attachment and rinse engine compartment completely. this method uses volume of water, not pressure to remove dirt, grease, and grime.
close hood.
wash and dry the rest of the vette. this usually takes me about 40 minutes.
open hood.
dry any areas in engine compartment that are still wet.
works for me!
take it easy,
jeff
spray simple green at full strength liberally all over engine compartment.
wait 15 minutes. use this time to gather all items necessary to clean the rest of the vette.
use hose with no sprayer attachment and rinse engine compartment completely. this method uses volume of water, not pressure to remove dirt, grease, and grime.
close hood.
wash and dry the rest of the vette. this usually takes me about 40 minutes.
open hood.
dry any areas in engine compartment that are still wet.
works for me!
take it easy,
jeff