Can you just lift your hood, spray on some degreaser, and hose down your engine? Assuming that is that you don't have a Cone Intake

 

Yes, you can. Turn off the car before you do it, get a hose and spray away. Avoid the battery and make sure the relay cover and fuse boxes are closed. Many people have done this no problem. If you don't feel comfortable doing it this way, use some detergent and a cloth.

 

yeah, especially if u have a system hooked up

 

all the time just don't spray water directly on the cone and any other electrical components

 

I wash my engine periodically also, but I cover the intake cone and my battery with plastic grocery bags just to make sure no moisture gets on them.

 

Does the engine have to be hot or cold to do this?

 

I am assuming that an engine that has not been on is better for washing. If you spray cold water on a hot engine, the reaction will make some parts change in physical shape. This change unnoticeable to the human eye, but I think this is what would happen.

 

I am assuming. When you were a kid, did you ever drop cold marbles into boiling water to get that cool 'shattered' effect? I did, and I would assume that it would do something similar, if not as drastic.

 

But I was told on old cars, that cooling down a warm or hot engine rapidly will cause you to "crack the block"

I actually don't see why that wouldnt happen on a Max's engine either

You dont ever want to rapidly change the temperature of anything that has a expansion contant like aluminum.

Anyone remember physics?

change in length = Original length * expansion constant * change in temperature

 

I have been dying to give my engine a wash since it has been 2 years since I bought my car, but I have always been hesitant to do it. I am always worried about frying something or having water get in where it doesn't belong. I was just wondering, since my car is stock, I can just cover up the batter, the air intake, and alternator (do I need to worry about the alternator??) and spray degreaser on the egine and all over and give it a wash?
I am assuming that you guys use a garden hose with not too much pressure for this, correct?

 

No need to worry about covering the battery, its sealed guys.. lol... I spray it all the time and the only part to cover is your intake, and cover up your alternator.

 

okay, pardon my naiivete here, but the alternator is that piece that is in the front (direction) by the radiator and is by where the engine oil dipsticks is. Okay...question, how do you cover that up? get a plastic shopping bag and wrap it around/tie it a couple of times? I am assuming that one should wrap it around a few times --just to prevent the water from getting in. The intake you mentioned is the stock intake, correct? wrap that up in plastic as well? The battery is sealed--that is correct...but what about the two poles (+/- poles attached to the power cables?)
I assume everything else is packed in such a way in there that it is waterproof --such as the electrical connectors and all that?

yeah yeah, I know, I am worried about washing the engine and to only see it won't start--that'd be a killer!!
*just worrying*

thanks

 

I second you. I spray mine all the time. It says to only warm up the engine to help the cleaners do their work. If hot I will let it cool. I have used the Gunk engine degreaser. Works well, but gives off strong smell till all is dry. Looks new all the time.

 

You can cover the alternator, but if you look at it closely, it has that green plastic/rubber covering the spaces where the coils are. I just tend to spray away with the hose, but don't aim it at the alternator. If some water drips down there, oh well.

 

About covering your intake, what if you have a CAI? The intake sits near the bottom, so do I have to worry about that? Wouldn't water splash down there too? And what do you use to clean the engine? I tried using Simple Green once and it didn't seem to help. I even tried using a wire brush, but that didn't seem to do much. It did clean off a little, but not a great help. So, spraying onto the battery is no problem? I do not need to worry about the terminal posts? I'm afraid that it if those get wet, my car won't be able to start. Last time I cleaned my engine, I covered up the battery and alternator. I guess I do not need to do either? It would make cleaning the engine a whole lot easier if I don't have to cover up those stuff.

 

going back on the search function I have read a few posts where the alternator crapped out not too long after the washings, or related failure. There is this one where this guy washed his 3rd generation reguarlly and when the car acted up, the dealer found a lot of water corroision in the wiring--I gotta find that posts...and it was due to water seeping in to the electrical components from the washing. I am not saying this is going to happen 10/10 but it'd be better to be more cautious and see what everyone's methods are and to make the most of it.
From a personal standpoint, I am just broke now and can't afford to spend any extra money on the car. So I actually would live with the dirt than having to pay for some dealer hrs. searching for why this or that might not be working.

just my two cents. But otherwise, use water, some degreaser, cover things up...so any more advice on the battery terminals as Cumalot has inquired?
I just want to get the road salt stains and stuff like that out...
and of course clean is good.

 

Well, I was going to clean my engine tonight, but I think that I will wait until I see a few more substantial posts/experiences. Thanks, for the insight so far.