Washing Engine Bay

[Fishintahoe]

I need to wash my engine bay but am scared to death of spraying the engine with a pressure washer. Im sure its a normal thing but im just affraid of getting water where its not supposed to IE roter and cap or worse... the oil. Any suggestions on prepping the motor before i apply degreaser and put the pressure washer to it?

 

[ChrisAU]

Some people do it all the time, but I would never do it. Murphy's Law applies for me here. If it can go wrong, it will. I use degreaser, a spray bottle, and a rag.

 

[xanatost]

Try this link. http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34715

This is how I do mine.

 

[TigerEyz3]

I've done it several times in the past without an issue. I typically run the engine (to warm it up - better evaporation) prior to washing. I've done it with a pressure washer as well as with "normal" pressure (from a tap/hose).

Just don't put the nozzle too close to the components and you'll be fine. The only thing I'd do before moving the vehicle after washing is to let the engine run for a minute in the event that there's any residual water than needs to move. It's also a good idea to recondition any rubber/plastics after using a degreaser.

 

[noJeepshere]

I'll grab a can of engine degreaser, go to town with it, then take a brush with car soap and go over most of what I can see, rinse liberally with tap water, let it dry and forget about it. To me, under the hood is all business, and I don't really care to take the time to make it sparkle, 'cause almost no one see's it but me, and I don't care all that much. It's what's inside that counts

But if you're looking to make your engine bay show worthy, that link is gold, Wills knows what he's talking about.

 

[ezdaar]

If you hose it down with with armor all or your fav chemical, it will help seal up all your electrical conections before the wash..
I just warm up the engine till the head is just almost to hot to touch, then blast it with simple green max. Hose it completly! Everything! if you got the engine temp just right you will get about 2 mins of steam from the simple green. the vapors will be STRONG! so back away..
Let it soak untill you feel no warmth in the heads, then blast it all off with P-washer..

Just dont directly blast your alternator or coil packs and spray lightly over all electrical connections.
But everything else, get down and dirty with it, blast all that crap off.. None of this sissy shiet with some tooth brush.

Repeat this 2 or 3 times untill that engine bay and everything around it is clean.
Then fire up the engine and hope for no missfires! LOL! but if you get one, kill engine and one at a time pop off plug wires, dry them and reinstall.. miss will go away.

Warm up the engine with hood closed for 10 mins then open hood till engine is completly warmed up. close hood and turn off engine. let it sit for 15 mins, then pop hood and repeat the simple green iff needed..
If not hose that baby down with something like CD-2 Engine detail, or armor all.
DONOT WIPE anysurfaces off!!!! you can soak up some of the excess that puddles, but dont wipe it. it will streak and look like shiet..

This is the lazy mans way of doing it as you can do all of the above with a beer in your hand, and blasting your smartass buddies with a P-washer!

 

[Fishintahoe]

This is the lazy mans way of doing it as you can do all of the above with a beer in your hand, and blasting your smartass buddies with a P-washer!

I wasnt looking to do a show worthy detail. just need to clean out some sand, mud, and dust. But after checking out that link, I just might go all out on it and make it Sparkle. That is only of course if i can do it with a beer in my hand like my friend The Brain says.. haha.

Thanks for the tips everyone. and thanks for the link. Im gonna cover the end of the dip stick with some electrical tape. ... just for a little insurance.