I have one friend that says to degrease the engine and then hose it down. I got another one that says never get water on the engine, just whipe it down. What should i do?

 

I have degreased and then pressure washed my engine three different times and not one problem...

 

If you're thinking purely mechanical/electrical, don't degrease and hose it down. There are alot of sensors that could be affected by corrosion.

Aesthetically speaking, degrease everything you can, that isn't sensitive, unlike MAF, coil packs, and TPS. Look at your engine bay as a money pit, and avoid throwing water at something that is expensive. Avoid the intake, don't want water fouling ur engine.

Mechanically, it's nice to see if you got oil leaks somewhere on-top of the engine, but wash with care. I've never had problems, but don't feel like spending money on corroded components (the ones that can be affected).

 

Use somthin like Simple Green and low-pressure water. I wont say that using high-pressure is bad, but taking into account the things in the engine that shouldn't have water in them, FORCING water doesn't seem ideal. Use a strong cleaner and low-pressure and I think you should be pretty safe.

 

im thinking the same thing.. what should i at least cover up if i do hose down my engine?

 

I used to work for a nissan dealership and we washed hundreds of cars with a mild degreaser and pressure washer, without a single problem, just avoid spraying directly at alternator maybe. Older cars with distributer caps/rotors you should cover up those or avoid spraying them, otherwise go clean crazy!

 

hehe...used to work....unable to track long periouds of cause/effect relationships. A $400 MAF is something to avoid...doncha think? Especially since it never gets greasy in the 1st place?

With my car being 10 years old....I'm positive corrosion on internal electrical contacts over periods of time is factor. I'm sure corrosion isn't a factor over shorter periods of time when you can bill for it. :P

 

errr...already said...

intake, TPS, MAF, anything along the intake run....that looks electrical. Ideally everything is sealed, but if you got 1/4 million miles on yer engine, you might think more clearly.

 

my friend an di cleaned my engine bay once.. yes once.. its dirty.. gotta clean before sunday meet.. but all he did was.. cover up alot of the electricals... with foil paper.. i mean everything.. including ballast headlights.. battery.. fuses.. and other elec... then sprayed a bit of water.. like little spread out spray like almost like mist.. then WD-40... then wipe down.. real well... and bada boom done... it was nice and shiney....

 

my dad and i always use a pressure washer to clean the engine bay. just cover electrical stuff w/ a towel and be mindful of where you are spraying.

 

i ahve pressure washed motors with a 2500 psi pressure washer.....only the chevys have had trouble...but if u have an open elemet filter cover it up

 

If it means anything, most (dare I say all) used car dealers pressure hose the sucker to the spic and span shine that you see when you pop open that hood...

 

i wash my engine all the time and i dont cover anything but the filter. if you have problems then its not really the waters fault, its most likely some part of the electrical system that is already skrewed up.

 

I did this to both my cars no problems..

 

Everything in the engine is designed to be able to get wet. Just dont shoot high pressure hoses directly at electrical stuff and you will be fine

 

I poersonally use sparay bottles, along with brushes and rags. One bottle filled with water and the other with a water/cleaner mixture. That way you can control what you spray which ultimately saves u time and trouble.

 

i just use a spray bottle and rag after spraying everything down with 2&1 black magic engine cleaner. for the hard dirty areas that are hard to reach, i just use TB cleaner...

Takes about 10-15 minutes....

 

I had an uncle who hosed his down and the heads cracked (was a crappy grand am tho)

 

Your heads will warp if you spray cold water on a warm or overheated engine

It happens on maximas, it happens on pontiacs, and lexuses, and cars made of metal

There's nothing really wrong with spraying your engine while its cool to hose off soap. You dont want to spray anywhere that water can go into the motor. but that's friggin obvious

 

I have washed mine with pressure at the car wash a couple of times and I also have used a sprayer on my garden hose and degreaser. It didn't hurt anything. Like others have already said if you have a cone air filter you need to cover it. Otherwise just spray away.

 

But for the degreaser to work, dont you have to warm up the engine? (according to engine brights directions)

 

Your shampoo bottle says: Wet hair, apply, lather, rinse, repeat.

What's your point?

Think about 3rd grade science. What happens when you put something cold on hot metal?

 

If everything in the engine was designed to get wet, they wouldn't put a hood on it!!

Dont hose down your engine bay, pay 20 dollars to have it steam cleaned. It's much safer and more effetive.

 

You are supposed to spray the degreaser on a WARM engine. The degreaser isnt cold, its room temperature. That isnt gonna do anything. Then you wait for the engine to cool down and rinse off.

So you are telling me that your engine is a complete watertight compartment where water is the worst thing to happen? Everything in the engine is designed to get wet. How do you think engines get dirty in the first place?
And steam cleaning far LESS safe. Its the same thing a pressure washer, its too easy to get water where you dont want it.

 

Quit the job years ago, washing and detailing cars kinda sucks, either way this is how detailing shops and dealerships do it, like it or not! As for the MAF, you would have to be a retard to remove your air box, then proceed to stick your hose inside the snorkel to even make any internal contact with the actual MAF itself.Corrosion of internals is caused mostly by exposure to OXYGEN anyway, hence the advantage of gold plated contacts. I say again, HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES DONE THIS WAY,NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM. Then again maybe our cars were designed to drive indoors or in deserts, god forbid there be any puddles out there.

 

Given that in a heavy rain the water will get in through the grill and get some of the engine wet, it doesn't really affect the engine with a mild degreaser and a light spray - I use a local pay wash place to clean my engine.

 

What about plastic cars?.......like saturns

 

3 words: Foamy Engine Brite. works wonders. spray about a half can on and go to town with a pressure washer. won't hurt ****.

 

i think the best time would be when you are rebulding or doing something while the engine is out