engine washing?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
engine washing?
I was thinking of taking my Vette to the car wash and spraying the engine to clean it for an up coming car show and was told that wouldn't be a good idea.
How do you clean your engines?
How do you clean your engines?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 4
From: WA
don't use high pressure spray. your best bet (and safest) is to spray everything with degreaser and then rinse with a garden hose.
I use a leaf blower afterwards to dry it out, and then run the car for about 20 minutes.
a gentleman here posted an excellent idea a while back about covering the alternator with something when doing this. I would cover the battery as well.
I use a leaf blower afterwards to dry it out, and then run the car for about 20 minutes.
a gentleman here posted an excellent idea a while back about covering the alternator with something when doing this. I would cover the battery as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
Engine cleaning process
Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,411
Likes: 3
From: slidell louisiana
Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
this works well
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Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
That's exactly the way I would do it if the engine was fairly dirty. Otherwise, Simple Green on an old rag works well too if it has just a little grime on the engine.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
I can't imagine your battery bay would need to be sprayed out. Perhaps a damp cleaning rag for that area.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
I have been washing my engines for 40+ years.......never had an issue even using a pressure washer on very dirty engines. I have never covered the alternator........cars all started the first time.
I use low pressure and SG on the C5 unless it is really dirty.
I use low pressure and SG on the C5 unless it is really dirty.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
One thing I might add. After everything is clean and dry, I spray the entire engine bay with STONER TRIM SHINE, available at O'Reilly Auto Parts... $4.50 per can.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
4th Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
The ECM (Electonic control module) computer is below the battery and if it gets wet, the car may not start until it all drys out. So be careful...this happened to me and I had no idea what was going on...Car was DEAD for several hours.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: Arden NC
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Do not use the standard simple green full strength ! It can have corrosive effects on the aluminum parts in the engine bay if left on too long. A 25 - 30% dilute mixture works great at grime removal and should not be left on more than 10-15 minutes. If that does not remove the really heavy deposits, do it again and scrub specific areas with brush. ALWAYS clean engine cold and use low pressure water for rinse.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,828
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Step 1--wet engine with low pressure hose
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!
Step 2-- spray Simple Green over entire engine ( best if not in the Sun). Let it sit on engine for about 10 minutes.
Step 3-- rinse engine off with low pressure hose.
Step 4--blow excess water off with compressor or leaf blower
Step 5-- start engine and let it run, engine heat will dry off remaining water.
Been cleaning my fuel injected engine this way for years with no problems with electronics!