Power Wash Engine
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
i take my 1 gallon weed sprayer, and mix in some dilouted simple green. i pump it up, and spray it all down. turn hose on very little, so water is just barely coming out. rise off the simple green. then i get out my electric leaf blower and blow most of it off. then a can of tire foam over everything. nice clean and shiny! i do it about once a year.
-carl
-carl
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
But when you drive it in the rain the water is splashing on the underside of the engine, and if you pop the hood you'll find that the upper section (where most of the electrical connections are) is still bone dry.
Spraying water directly onto those connections from above introduces a ton of water onto them, but driving in the rain does not.
Spraying water directly onto those connections from above introduces a ton of water onto them, but driving in the rain does not.
Top of engine is dry cause I've looked at when checking the oil after driving in heavy rain. Also rain water is not usually loaded with minerals (ie lime) etc. Look how water spots can etch your paint! Think what that kind of hard water can do if it's introduced between very sensitive electrical computer connections? It might be ok for awhile but with today's very sensitive electrical connections just a small amount of corrosion can really raise hell with the cars computer systems... If it works for people washing the engine then by all means but it simply doesn't make sense when you can wipe things down with a little extra effort... 
2005 Beast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 8
From: Tarpon Springs FL
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 148
From: 1000 Islands Ontario
After every run I use dry compressed air to blow out the engine bay (and rotors).
I then hand wipe the exposed engine components using a heavy white sock in each hand. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes.
4,500 miles and one year later - the engine bay looks like it just came off the BG assembly line.
M......
I then hand wipe the exposed engine components using a heavy white sock in each hand. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes.
4,500 miles and one year later - the engine bay looks like it just came off the BG assembly line.
M......
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 28
From: Ottawa, Ontario
We have used a pressure washer on our cars (C4, LS1 Trans Am and C6) many times. The only car we have ever had a problem with is the C4 when we "accidently" got the opti-spark wet. That is a huge and expensive no-no.
The LS1 in the Firebird was pressured washed once or twice a year for 11 years and over 200,000 miles with NO issues.
On the C6, I have removed the FRC's and pressure washed (with Simple Green) with no issues to date.
I am careful around the alternator though to ensure that I do not spray into the back of the alternator, but other than that nothing else special.
The LS1 in the Firebird was pressured washed once or twice a year for 11 years and over 200,000 miles with NO issues.
On the C6, I have removed the FRC's and pressure washed (with Simple Green) with no issues to date.
I am careful around the alternator though to ensure that I do not spray into the back of the alternator, but other than that nothing else special.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
I wouldn't use a pressure washer as the very high pressure can force water into places that it shouldn't be. I use a hose with low pressure. I let the engine cool for a few hours, then hose it down gently. I put a rag over the alternator and air filters to keep excess out of there. Then I spray the whole thing down with Formula 409. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then hose it all off. Then use compressor air to dry and go over with a rag. Its 15 minutes at most. The warm engine helps it to dry faster also. I leave the hood open overnight or until the next drive. A pressure washer can force water past bearing seals also, which is a bad thing, so electrics are not the only reason to avoid it.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: ft. collins co.
I power wash my Z my avalanche and 300 then follow with armor all to protect insulation and have NEVER had a problem. I live in a low humidity environ however when in Mi. for 26 years (high) never had a problem at least once every two months. My truck has 112000 miles and today the compartment looks new. Starts always. 300 looks new and the 09 z06 gets the same treatment. Never bracket problems or electrical issues. Nothing will change my mind.
