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What do you use to clean the engine and can you use a hose to wash it off? I tried searching through the Tech forum and didn't find anything, got a lot of pages but nothing on cleaning. Currently I just wipe it off but want to get all of the dirt/dust off. Thanks for your help. Jim
Last edited by Z06Berlin; Jun 26, 2018 at 01:21 PM.
What do you use to clean the engine and can you use a hose to wash it off?
Originally Posted by Z06Berlin
I tried searching through the Tech forum and didn't find anything, got a lot of pages but nothing on cleaning. Currently I just wipe it off but want to get all of the dirt/dust off. Thanks for your help. Jim
NO, NO, NO, do not use a water hose. The electrical anomalies associated with water in the C5 platform is legionary. Just have to read the stickies. If you want to clean your engine, use a spray bottle with Dawn and a lot rags and elbow work to clean. Takes some time but much safer. But as always, it is your decision.
NO, NO, NO, do not use a water hose. The electrical anomalies associated with water in the C5 platform is legionary. Just have to read the stickies. If you want to clean your engine, use a spray bottle with Dawn and a lot rags and elbow work to clean. Takes some time but much safer. But as always, it is your decision.
Pretty much the same concept. I use Simple Green on a rag if it's very dirty after a long trip; othewise it's Adams All Purpose Cleaner spray on a rag. I like to spray the rag and then wipe in an effort to keep the cleaner from sitting too long on any of the engine parts. I use older microfiber towels that have outlived their usefulness on the exterior, and also have a couple of older horsehair brushes to wipe dust/dirt off the painted surfaces before hitting with the cleaner. Probably overkill, but I'm retired so I force myself to find time for this in my busy schedule.
There was a recent discussion on this forum about cleaning the engine bay with a hose. Some said it was OK some said it wasn't.
I was a wasn't. That don't sound right. I sided with the wasn'ts. That don't sound right either.
Anyway, I ruined some electronics in a car many, many years ago by using a hose to clean an engine and never again will I do it.
Quite a few here said they've done it forever and never had a problem.
So is you a was or is you a wasn't?
Up to you!
Good luck!
A search didn’t find the literally hundreds of threads asking almost in the exact wording the same thing?
I know of hundreds (thousands over the years) that get hit with not just a water hose, but a full blown high pressure steam cleaner. No issues whatsoever in any of them.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I was also told not to use a hose by a local dealer. So it is elbow grease and a lot of work, but I am retired and have time to do it properly. All the best to everyone. Jim
If you go to the home page, you will find sections for each generation Vette. Keep scrolling down and you find a section for car care. There is all sorts of stuff in that section.
As for me, I use a garden sprayer with a solution of Pine-sol to wet my engine bay. After letting soak a bit, I use a pressure washer followed by a blower or compressed air. Finally I let the engine idle to complete the drying cycle.
Once dry, I spray Stoner's Trim Shine on the plastic and rubber. I do this routine a couple times a year.
I do this on a cold engine. I also remove the fuel rail covers before spraying the Pine-sol. I clean those up separately. Spraying some of this solution in the cowl helps freshen the air duct going into the car too.
So, I'll play...I do both. I use the hose on the engine compartment for everything EXCEPT the engine.
I wet the engine compartment, spray on cleaning soap and use a hand mit on everything I can get my hands on. I use a gentle rinse, not a heavy spray, to remove the soap. I use a wet rag/soap to hand wipe the engine area and I cover all the electrical connections with plastic, tape or tin foil.
When finished, I run the engine till hot and let evaporation take over.
I guess I don't get the "don't use a water hose" remarks. Doesn't the engine bay area get wet when the car is driven in the rain? I could see avoiding spraying directly onto electrical components, but short of that, I don't see why using a hose would do any harm.
I use a hose and Gunk cleaner to clean my engine. I always bag off the alternator, CAI, and the battery area.
Ive done the same with every car I’ve ever owned. So long as you take proper precautions I don’t see any reason not to. That’s just me, you should always only do what youre comfortable with.
I guess I don't get the "don't use a water hose" remarks. Doesn't the engine bay area get wet when the car is driven in the rain? I could see avoiding spraying directly onto electrical components, but short of that, I don't see why using a hose would do any harm.
com'n man you know no one drives their Vette in the rain !!!!!!!
I use a hose and simple green all the time. All the stuff under the hood is weather pack. I daily drive mine. I drive it in the rain and take it on dirt roads. It's a Chevy, it's not made of glass.
1. Cover sensitive electronics and paper materials (MAF sensor, Igniters, air filters, obvious fuse blocks and electric panels that are easy to cover)
2. Wash and scrub with whatever you have handy. I use a hose, parts brush, and degreaser "purple power" or "simple green". Just keep it off any polished aluminum you have. In fact if you have any polished Al at all I wouldn't recommend this method.
3. Now thats its been heavily degreased all thats left is detailing. Get in there with paper towels, picks, tooth brushes, and detail every niche until the engine bay is spotless.
I clean random car engines all the time, sometimes I even advertise the service in craigslist when I am bored:
Cleaning engine
