Any precautions when pressure washing our motors?

 

I wouldn't pressure wash it per se. But I don't think you should shy away from washing it. Try to keep water from getting underneath the intake. I wouldn't spray water directly into the alternator. I use cleaner, gently rinse. vacuum away the excess from the nooks and crannys, start it up and let it dry off.

I am sure there are some Q-tip weilders who will disagree.


Here is a thread I started some time ago with pics. Click Here

 

DON'T DO IT! Do a search, lot's of HORROR stories.

 

Yeah, those knock sensors under the intake manifold sure don't like getting wet. It is a better bet to blow it off with compressed air and then wipe it down...

 

Wouldn't do it on my corvette, but if you are going to, check out one of the coin fed do it yourself car washes. They have a low presssure setting especially for cleaning motors. Tried it on my d/d and it did a very nice job.

 

i washed mine..but the car was pulled out of the garage..from sitting all week..so engine was cold...i coved my intake, alt, and anything else i did not want getting wet..i then soaked the rest of the engine bay in spimple green...let it soak for a few mins..then just lightly rinised the bay down with the garden hose..on light pressrure...then i took a towel and dried the whole area

 

Lot of contention on this, my take:

Yup, you can pressure wash it.

Yup there are some precautions you should probably take (I wouldnt blast straight into the alternator, or directly on top of the engine).

But, its rarely necessary. What works for me:

Spray everything down with a gentle cleaner/degreaser (fantastic, 409, whatever, just not something thats going to dull up all the plastic/rubber under there, even windex is fine).

Get one of those dish mops on a stick that you use to was the dishes, slosh around a bit on where you see accumulations just to loosen them up.

Take a regular garden hose with a gentle spray nozzle and rinse it off, lightly on top, farther down you really cant hurt anything.

Start it up, blow it off with the leafe blower while its drying.

Shut it down and spray it down again with a protectorant. I like Aerospace 303 (not a big fan of Armor All, and I would avoid that). You dont even have to wipe it off after spraying the protyectorant. Ya I know, sounds crazy right But a friend mentioned it one time and I gave it a try, yup Wipe/NoWipe...looks the same.

Come back and look 30 min after you spray it down with the Aerospace and it'll look shiney and squeeky clean

 

Just a point of info for those who may not be aware. Simple Green comes in two strengths, the full strength one will pit and dull aluminum. If you are going to spray it around a large area you probably want tio make sure you have the general light cleaning strength.

 

I crawl under the hood with cleaning cloths and cleaner and wipe it clean. No hose high or low pressure here.

 

Been washing engines for over 25 yrs this way, never "fried" and engine.
Depending on time, I dont even blow dry just drive the car, water evaporates off pretty quick.
Agree 303 is an awesome product after the engine and engine bay is dry.

 

Here is a great write up from the North Country.

http://www.adirondackcorvettes.com/

I do this at least once a year and have never had a problem. Like others have said avoid spraying sensitive electronics directly and you should not have a problem.

 

C5's like to play strange electrical tricks on ya, so I'm not going to tempt fate. My engine isn't super clean but it doesn't look crudy either. I blow the dust off with compressed air and wipe down the most noticeable surfaces with a mild cleaner.

 

DITTO...about every 1kmi or so and it stays nice and factory clean.

 

I wash the engine compartment in my Z at the self service car wash. I cover the altenator with a plastic bag and also the battery compartment. I wash down with the soap cycle and rinse with the clear coat cycle. Never have had a problem. My engine compartment looks very clean. I do not like to use armor-all or other products as they tend to attract dust.

 

I just washed mine, last time I washed under the hood was 2003, it was really dusty!

Just used the garden hose with a sprayer on gentle shower, sprayed the black mat under the hood, and scrubbed all the areas I could reach.

I did it at home in the driveway in case it gives any trouble, it can just dry.

 

never had any issues, do cover up the alt and intake, 6 years on the gto, and 7 on the z, light pressure and simple green