Washing engines

[HammerDown]

A lot of things in an engine bay are not meant to be blasted with a high pressure jet of water.
There doesn't have to be anything wrong with the seals.
The worst an engine bay is going to be subject to while driving is some splash from the wheels, some rain through the front grill and maybe being submerged if you've been driving near Benoni recently.
None of these try to force water at 100+ PSI pressures past seals, rubber dust covers, etc.

Your analogy about bathing is not a good one.
Take a high pressure spray, stick it in your mouth or ears and pull the trigger and see what happens. Like an engine bay your body won't come to much harm if you sprinkle it with water but we're talking high pressure here.

Ughh....if you are thick enough to take an industrial pressure cleaner at full pressure to your engine then you are the moron who deserves to blow all the covers and wires and whatever right off your engine....take video though, you would be imortalised. Normal people with more than 1 brain cell though wouldn't do that, and would go to the carwash, where the pressure is low and nothing will happen but a nice clean engine.

Engine cleaner and the hosepipe back home work pretty good too.

But wash it, don't wash it, honestly I don't give a crap.

 

[mic_y]

also disagree on the whole washing the engine part... I have had countless times when water has managed to get into the spark plugs (ar at least one of them), and then I was forced to blow the plugs out with compressed air. More pain than gain if you ask me...

 

[Fazda]

Fine, no sweat.

I will carry on cleaning my engine as I have done so for the past 30 years. You wanting to drive around with a stinking mess under your bonnet doesn't bother me at all. You obviously can afford to have some lackey work on it for you.

As for sticking a 100 psi pressure washer in my mouth...that would be like taking off the oil cap and blasting water into your engine...that is not what I advocated.

 

[Polish]

But wash it, don't wash it, honestly I don't give a crap.

Word..........in true forum style

I don't really worry how it looks, the bonnet covers it.

I just don't want to damage any parts by not doing it, thats my concern.

 

[HammerDown]

Word..........in true forum style

I don't really worry how it looks, the bonnet covers it.

I just don't want to damage any parts by not doing it, thats my concern.

Nah, not meant at you or your fred.
To be honest, if your plug leads are in good order & seals at both the plug and the distributor & you don't get water inside to run a short from the plug to the engine you will be good. If it is older (like my Landy) the moisture gets inside the distributor cap and it won't start then either, so you unclip the cap and spray with q20 or similar water repelling stuff, wipe it out and you will be good to go. I have washed engines on all my cars for 25 years 'cause I am anal.
Done that on old twincam Alfas, BM's now my Merc & never had a problem, BUT that said, I won't let the car wash guys clean my engine....just because I'm anal.
Engine cleaner from Midas and my hosepipe FTW - also only when it gets muddy or (in the case of that stinkin Landy) oily.

 

[Fazda]

Glad you mentioned the Alfas!

I recall lying over the mudguard with a drinking straw, sucking the water away from around the plugs on the Alfa Twin cam engine, that had plugs running down the middle of the head...still haven't managed to murder an engine by washing it, however...

 

[HammerDown]

Glad you mentioned the Alfas!

I recall lying over the mudguard with a drinking straw, sucking the water away from around the plugs on the Alfa Twin cam engine, that had plugs running down the middle of the head...still haven't managed to murder an engine by washing it, however...

Had way too many Alfas in my life...so I'm anal and a masochist ....
I had a stick and a towel in my cleaning kit for just these times.

Dang I need a twincam in my life again..

 

[Fazda]

Had way too many Alfas in my life...so I'm anal and a masochist ....
I had a stick and a towel in my cleaning kit for just these times.

Dang I need a twincam in my life again..

ME...MORIES......ALL ALONE IN THE MOONLIGHT.....and my Alfa with me....la, la la la....lalalalalalalala...ahh the Me...mories...can begin...

 

[Stokstert]

That is incredibly bad Stokkies.

If you are nervous about wet electrics, get a plastic bag and cover the distributor and coil. I have been washing engines since I was a kid, and using high pressure washers since the 80's, when I had to in my rally cars. As I said earlier, the ONLY car to ever mess me around was our Rally Opel Boss...

There is NO excuse for a dealer to avoid steam cleaning. At Lindsay Saker, that was the first thing we did before a service, with a final touch up at the end.

I am not worried about high pressure washing of engines at all, doing it all the time. With a compressor at hand it's no problem blowing the stuff dry afterwards. I just wanted to highlight the shameful incompetence of the dealerships.

 

[Fazda]

I am not worried about high pressure washing of engines at all, doing it all the time. With a compressor at hand it's no problem blowing the stuff dry afterwards. I just wanted to highlight the shameful incompetence of the dealerships.

No, I realized that you still washed yours, just couldn't get over the attitude of the dealer.

 

[rome_rod]

Word..........in true forum style

I don't really worry how it looks, the bonnet covers it.

I just don't want to damage any parts by not doing it, thats my concern.

Nah, not meant at you or your fred.
To be honest, if your plug leads are in good order & seals at both the plug and the distributor & you don't get water inside to run a short from the plug to the engine you will be good. If it is older (like my Landy) the moisture gets inside the distributor cap and it won't start then either, so you unclip the cap and spray with q20 or similar water repelling stuff, wipe it out and you will be good to go. I have washed engines on all my cars for 25 years 'cause I am anal.
Done that on old twincam Alfas, BM's now my Merc & never had a problem, BUT that said, I won't let the car wash guys clean my engine....just because I'm anal.
Engine cleaner from Midas and my hosepipe FTW - also only when it gets muddy or (in the case of that stinkin Landy) oily.

Thanks for sharing the info. I, too, can be a bit anal but too lazy to get hands dirty. I have others do it but stay close by and breath down necks to make sure the work is what I want. :twisted: I know I'm a jerk. The blokes at the wash would be very pleased if I do it meself.

 

[ponder]

Washing an engine is bad in a lot of cases, especially if it's done with a high pressure cleaner.
Water is often forced past seals and into places it shouldn't go causing corrosion problems.

An unwashed engine is just as healthy as a washed one unless you're talking about a serious layer of dirt that is blocking the radiator, air intake, shorting wires, etc.

If an engine is allowing water IN via seals, then you have a major problem!! BEST to wash it and see why it's leaking!!

Come on there is NO excuse for a filthy engine! This is like saying that bathing is bad for you because your skin is porous!

I have read many times that using a high pressure cleaner can be bad if directed directly/closely at seals etc but no one ever said not to use it. Just apply some common sense when using one. I have not had a single issue with using a pressure cleaner although I have noticed some brands of cars seem allergic to pressure cleaners.

I actually reckon steam cleaning works better/faster and there is less moisture.

If you have tough grime on the engine you can use a solution called Prepsol or mix up some dish washing liquid & washing powder and spray only engine with one of those trigger bottle thingies. Let soak for 10-15 min and rinse off with hose pipe before apply pressure cleaner/steam. Do NOT get the solution on the cars paint as it will damage it.

 

[rodga]

spray prepsol
let it soak for a few minutes
agitate heavily soiled areas with a brush
rinse with running water
repeat if neccesary

 

[Pitbull]

Howsit,

I was just wondering how important is it to wash you car's engine. I never wash mine, the car stays clean but the only time the engine is washed is during a service which is like once a year.

Is it a must to wash the engine, if i don't am i doing any parts real harm ? If yes whats the best home method and how often ?

My dad always said that he never wears underwear that is old or full of holes when he takes the road. What is he is in an accident? What will the people think?

Same with my car insdie/outside/engine. It's always very very clean, just incase I have a breakdown/need to give someone a lift or what ever
Doubt you "need to clean your engine but it does look nice and when someone works on your car they know you look after it and treat it with utmost care

 

[Pitbull]

O and why do you guys use high pressure cleaners on your engines?

I buy Engine cleaner from the part dealer. Put it in one of those spray can thingies. Spray the engine with the undiluted engine cleaner, leave it to stand for an hour or so then just rinse it down with a normal house. Perfectly clean and no water being forced into unknown places

 

[SilverNodashi]

unless the engine leaks (water / oil / grease), or you drive through a lot of mud and stuff that sticks you don't need to wash it other then when it get's serviced. BUT, if you want to, get a bottle of engine cleaner at Midas / Game / Makro / etc (about R30) and squirt it all over the engine when it's hot (i.e. as soon as you get home after you got the stuff) and let it soak a bit (10 mins or so). It will steam a bit, don't worry this is normal. Make sure you get it in all over the place. Now hose it off and let the engine dry off. If the car is petrol-driven, and a bit older then you may need to clean out the water from the distributor cap, if you don't want to let it dry over-night. Take off the cap (use a flat screw driver to twist off the clips and then use some Q20, or a compressor to remove the water. Otherwise use some deodorant to remove the water. The alcohol in deodorant will repel the water.

 

[koeks]

use a black bottle with yellow lettering, the stuff is cheap and effective. the red coloured engine clear is expensive and does not do a proper job... the black bottle with yellow lettering is about R11

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I used to clean my engines. Now I let them get dirty. The last two times I cleaned engines with an engine cleaner or sorts it ended up costing me a stack of money when the cleaner ate all of the lubrication out of some or other bearings and broke something.
Its only me that sees the engine anyway and I prefer not having to cost myself money.

 

[the graduate]

My dad always said that he never wears underwear that is old or full of holes when he takes the road. What is he is in an accident? What will the people think?

Same with my car insdie/outside/engine. It's always very very clean, just incase I have a breakdown/need to give someone a lift or what ever
Doubt you "need to clean your engine but it does look nice and when someone works on your car they know you look after it and treat it with utmost care

This is also why I wash the cars' engines.

I also wash the engine once a month and hose it down with alternate washes. Engine looks sparkling clean in both the VW Polo and my 17-year old Merc. Both cars fire up immediately after the wash....