Best way to clean engine bay..
12-12-11, 06:33 PM
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i don't do anything too complex, warm the car up, spray it with simple green (although lots of stuff works), and pressure wash it.
if you can hook the pressure washer up to HOT water it works better.
if you can hook the pressure washer up to HOT water it works better.
12-13-11, 12:07 AM
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12-13-11, 10:39 AM
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Do not do it while the engine is hot hot, just warm. People have cracked their blocks, at least on piston engines, buy dumping very cold water on hot engines. I'd also consider wrapping the coils in plastic grocery bags.
Some people use pressure washers, which is fine if you use common sense and avoid the 20 year old crunchy hoses and such. A lot of people just soak with degreaser, then use a garden hose and nylon brush/towel problem areas to further agitate dirt.
Some people use pressure washers, which is fine if you use common sense and avoid the 20 year old crunchy hoses and such. A lot of people just soak with degreaser, then use a garden hose and nylon brush/towel problem areas to further agitate dirt.
12-13-11, 11:01 AM
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Do not do it while the engine is hot hot, just warm. People have cracked their blocks, at least on piston engines, buy dumping very cold water on hot engines. I'd also consider wrapping the coils in plastic grocery bags.
Some people use pressure washers, which is fine if you use common sense and avoid the 20 year old crunchy hoses and such. A lot of people just soak with degreaser, then use a garden hose and nylon brush/towel problem areas to further agitate dirt.
Some people use pressure washers, which is fine if you use common sense and avoid the 20 year old crunchy hoses and such. A lot of people just soak with degreaser, then use a garden hose and nylon brush/towel problem areas to further agitate dirt.
this thread is such a cliche, i've been cleaning my cars this way forever and never had a problem, but someones going to go out an fill the ECU with water and then wonder why the car doesn't run....
12-13-11, 11:29 AM
#12
I have washed literally a thousand engines, and dozens of times RX7s, you dont have to worry about a pressure washer
just dont use a 5000psi
I actually prefer to start with a COLD engine so that nothing cracks suddenly cooling. Spray windshield and fenders with some water.
Spray down with good degreaser, I use engine wash from auto magic, sponge some of the painted areas, let it sit a few minutes, then pressure wash. I blow it with some compressed air to get any large puddling. Then start the car right away and let the heat of the engine dry things until it is completely dry. Spray down with good silicone based dressing or spray.
just dont use a 5000psi
I actually prefer to start with a COLD engine so that nothing cracks suddenly cooling. Spray windshield and fenders with some water.
Spray down with good degreaser, I use engine wash from auto magic, sponge some of the painted areas, let it sit a few minutes, then pressure wash. I blow it with some compressed air to get any large puddling. Then start the car right away and let the heat of the engine dry things until it is completely dry. Spray down with good silicone based dressing or spray.
12-13-11, 08:39 PM
#13
lol a block is going to crack from some surface water getting on it? How insane does that sound.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
12-13-11, 09:40 PM
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lol a block is going to crack from some surface water getting on it? How insane does that sound.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
"designed to handle moisture" some sure, but there are many points on the car that are made to handle splashes and not power washing or hoses. Go on autopia and I am sure you will about 20 professional detailers describing how they ruined a distributers (which also crack when very hot), or power washing the grease out of idler bearings/fans/pumps, and destroying coils/alternators.
In my particular situation, there is a $2000 ecu on the side of the battery tray with a hood that protects from a little water. Am I worried about some water from a hose getting near it? No. Am I going to be a jackass and spray a power washer at the battery box in an attempt to clean it? Nah.
12-14-11, 05:50 AM
#15
lol a block is going to crack from some surface water getting on it? How insane does that sound.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
Imagine the carnage that would happen when it rains. There would be a line of cars with freshly cracked blocks on the side of the road after each big puddle.
...
Everything under the hood is designed to handle moisture. If it gives you problems, that problem was there before, just wasn't noticed until moisture got in there.
I learned the hard way from the old cadillac 4-6-8 motors and Ford 5.0's ( ton of them in town cars, cougars, t-birds etc ) that it was also not so much as something cracking - and by that I didnt mean a engine block, more so plastics. The issue was steam, steam would form on the inside of the distributor and you would have to dry it after running a little bit.
One of the cracked plastic because the engine was hot was with a v-12 Jag, cracked the distributor cap and even back then it was not cheap - but Im showing my age here. A cold engine is more friendly to water, and your engine compartment does not see the amount of direct water it does when it rains versus a pressure washer is being aimed at it
12-14-11, 10:54 AM
#17
Rob...you said..One of the cracked plastic because the engine was hot was with a v-12 Jag, cracked the distributor cap and even back then it was not cheap - but Im showing my age here. A cold engine is more friendly to water, and your engine compartment does not see the amount of direct water it does when it rains versus a pressure washer is being aimed at it[/QUOTE]
After washing it when it is cold I am assuming it is alright to start the engine and let it run so that the water evaporates, right?
After washing it when it is cold I am assuming it is alright to start the engine and let it run so that the water evaporates, right?
12-14-11, 11:47 AM
#18
Rob...you said..One of the cracked plastic because the engine was hot was with a v-12 Jag, cracked the distributor cap and even back then it was not cheap - but Im showing my age here. A cold engine is more friendly to water, and your engine compartment does not see the amount of direct water it does when it rains versus a pressure washer is being aimed at it
After washing it when it is cold I am assuming it is alright to start the engine and let it run so that the water evaporates, right?[/QUOTE]
at that point its the best thing for it, the heat will dry everything
12-16-11, 01:52 AM
#19
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not an fc but just washed my hc luces engine bay(v6) today, now it feels like its running a cylinder down and the catylitic converter light came on. have i got water in the distributer or somehting?
12-16-11, 05:36 AM
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Just scrub things down by hand with some good degreaser/engine bay cleaner, and carefully rinse it with a bit of water. Although it is more time consuming, it would probably be your safest bet.
12-16-11, 05:49 PM
#22
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think id wet my plugs (so it was igniting un-burnt fuel once it got down the exhaust because one plug wasnt firing). its dried out over night and is fine now.
12-16-11, 07:49 PM
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pressure washing piston engines is different. there is ALWAYS a spot for water to collect and get water into the spark plugs.... distributor caps are notorious, if they are really bad, you just need a damp day.
but the FC doesn't HAVE a distributor cap, and it doesn't HAVE spark plug wells...
when they put the ECU in the engine bay, like the MS3 or the Rx8, i'd steer clear of that, or pull it out, not a good idea to get that wet.
as a closer i pressure washed a BMW the other day, and nothing bad happened. except that i missed like half the inner fender, oops
but the FC doesn't HAVE a distributor cap, and it doesn't HAVE spark plug wells...
when they put the ECU in the engine bay, like the MS3 or the Rx8, i'd steer clear of that, or pull it out, not a good idea to get that wet.
as a closer i pressure washed a BMW the other day, and nothing bad happened. except that i missed like half the inner fender, oops
12-26-11, 02:14 AM
#25
list:
walmarts top tech engine degreaser
brake kleen
dish soap
a spray bottle
if you can find it its called wheelie clean ( good stuff)
tools
tooth brush
soft bristle brush small med and large
warm up car a lil not hot, spray the degreaser on block cover your alt, maf , cas top
and dont go ***** to the wall scrub off and gentle rinse its time consuming but it turns out well. with out hurting anything.
walmarts top tech engine degreaser
brake kleen
dish soap
a spray bottle
if you can find it its called wheelie clean ( good stuff)
tools
tooth brush
soft bristle brush small med and large
warm up car a lil not hot, spray the degreaser on block cover your alt, maf , cas top
and dont go ***** to the wall scrub off and gentle rinse its time consuming but it turns out well. with out hurting anything.