engine cleaning
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 495
From: Southern California
NO! No pressure washer! You will force water into all the wrong places!
How dirty is it? If it is mostly light dirt and dust I usually use the remaining (clean) suds in the car wash bucket followed by a low pressure spray rinse and compressed air pre-dry and then a towel dry. Always looks sharp. I never use Armor All or similar products unless I'm desperate. I use orange oil cleaner if something is really dirty but keep it or any strong cleaner away from the exterior paint! The manual advises that strong cleaners can damage the composite leaf springs and that such damage is not covered by the warranty. Also avoid wetting the alternator, the ignition coils and the brake and clutch master cylinders, these don't tolerate water well, they are clean by hand only!
How dirty is it? If it is mostly light dirt and dust I usually use the remaining (clean) suds in the car wash bucket followed by a low pressure spray rinse and compressed air pre-dry and then a towel dry. Always looks sharp. I never use Armor All or similar products unless I'm desperate. I use orange oil cleaner if something is really dirty but keep it or any strong cleaner away from the exterior paint! The manual advises that strong cleaners can damage the composite leaf springs and that such damage is not covered by the warranty. Also avoid wetting the alternator, the ignition coils and the brake and clutch master cylinders, these don't tolerate water well, they are clean by hand only!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 760
Likes: 6
From: Georgetown Texas
NO! No pressure washer! You will force water into all the wrong places!
How dirty is it? If it is mostly light dirt and dust I usually use the remaining (clean) suds in the car wash bucket followed by a low pressure spray rinse and compressed air pre-dry and then a towel dry. Always looks sharp. I never use Armor All or similar products unless I'm desperate. I use orange oil cleaner if something is really dirty but keep it or any strong cleaner away from the exterior paint! The manual advises that strong cleaners can damage the composite leaf springs and that such damage is not covered by the warranty. Also avoid wetting the alternator, the ignition coils and the brake and clutch master cylinders, these don't tolerate water well, they are clean by hand only!
How dirty is it? If it is mostly light dirt and dust I usually use the remaining (clean) suds in the car wash bucket followed by a low pressure spray rinse and compressed air pre-dry and then a towel dry. Always looks sharp. I never use Armor All or similar products unless I'm desperate. I use orange oil cleaner if something is really dirty but keep it or any strong cleaner away from the exterior paint! The manual advises that strong cleaners can damage the composite leaf springs and that such damage is not covered by the warranty. Also avoid wetting the alternator, the ignition coils and the brake and clutch master cylinders, these don't tolerate water well, they are clean by hand only!
Some good tips here ...
http://www.autogeek.net/
http://www.autogeek.net/engine-guide.html
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 463
From: Tonawanda New York
Too many electronics these days, clean by hand with rags,and some Simple Green if needed. I keep the engine bay clean all the time so I don't need to worry about built up gunk. But if you do then you will need Gunk....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,416
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
Be very careful with degreasers. They can etch plastics.
I just rinse everything off with the hose. A lot of engines are pressure washed before a car is sold but that can sometimes cause problems.
I just rinse everything off with the hose. A lot of engines are pressure washed before a car is sold but that can sometimes cause problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Washed my eng bay once at the car wash. A few days later my car started acting up. car would act like transmission was slipping...eng free reving. Turned out I had water in the MAF connector.
Now I use detail spray, micro fiber towels and a soft bristle brush.
Now I use detail spray, micro fiber towels and a soft bristle brush.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Here is a thread I started some time ago when I owned a C5.
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Here is a thread I started some time ago when I owned a C5.
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Here is a thread I started some time ago when I owned a C5.
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 92
From: Suppliers of dirty oil for 50 years Oilberta/ In Mex enjoying the winter.
St. Jude Donor '11
I wash all my car engines at the carwash & have not had a problem in 20 yrs. The odd time one of my old points cars will sputter a few times but cleans it's self up & way I go. Some people just worry too much about nothing. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 16
From: Yorktown Heights NY
Here is a thread I started some time ago when I owned a C5.
Washed my engine today with a water hose
Washed my engine today with a water hose