Pressure Washing Engine Bay Question
 

I want to pressure wash my engine bay with a pressure washer or regular water hose.

Have any of you guys had any problems when doing this or should i just forget about it and leave it as is?

Thanks for the input!

I pressure washed it several times without any problems. Make sure your engine bay its not hot, and that you cover the intakes if you have aftermaket ones.

I just use a garden hose, some Castrol Super Clean, and a nylon scrub brush. That will bigtime clean up most any engine bay.

You have to be careful with pressure washers - you can break stuff, peel paint off, etc. I don't think they make life any easier than a good ol' garden hose and Super Clean.

Dale

I saw my buddy pressure wash is 300zx's engine bay and stripped almost all the paint off, then it got all rusty... just be careful

Scott

coolio! thanks peeps

altenator? arent you not supposed to get thouse wet?

I've never covered my alternator when I wash my engine bay and I have never had any problems.

ah, whats to hurt if you cover the alt, batt and intakes? it takes like what? 20 seconds..

better to be safe than sorry..

your alternator can get rusty inside if you dont cover it why not just put a small towel over it

also make sure you dont get any of the fan relays wet like I did they are 28 dollars each ouch!

As long as you don't point a pressure washer right at it, it should be fine. But it won't hurt to cover it. :)

Yeah I would cover it, i killed the one on my FC like that.
It only got the smallest bit of water on it to!

ummm... the stock engine is washable without covering anything.

oh okay thanks for helping everyone out
I must have been missing the alternator cover on mine from stock

If you decide to pressure wash, just make sure NOT to knock off (unplug) one of the vacuum hoses.

After washing - use a leaf blower to chase the water out of nooks, crannies & connectors.

For a little bling: spray with a light mist of silicone protectant, then blast it with the leaf blower to displace any remaining water & shine up the plastic & rubber.

haha... leaf blower!!!

your neighbor will look at you like you are a freak... but that will work

:)

U'll get the best result by pressure washing with hot water without detergent.

The detergents will take the oil off that is a protective layer. It also looks ugly when some detergents dry up the rubber/plastics and corrodes the alluminum surface.

Do it when the engine is cold and immediately drive the car to evaporate the water so that it minimizes corrosion.

I don't cover anything.

One thing the RX7 seems to like is water in the engine bay from my experience.

I'm w/BATMAN, just use hot water on a cold engine and run the car afterward until it's dried thoroughly. Also a good time to wash out the oil coolers and radiator/AC condensor.
I do use small plastic grocery bags to cover the fuse boxes and diagnositic port if I'm using a high-pressure washer.
I've also used a little silicone spray too, that tire foam stuff also works on the rubber/plastic. Just stay away from the belts.
No issues so far.

1. Spray down with degreaser.
2. Lightly pressure wash, don't get to close.
3. Spray everything down with armor-all (sp?).
4. Rub everything down with an old towel.


Thats what we do at Corvette Country, works well.
We use silicone spray though, but armorall works fine too.

Believe it or not this bay looked disgusting prior to washing.
http://www.autorevolution.com/pics/48063pic4.jpg

I have always pressure washed my 88C engine. I get degreaser, spray it down, then while the engine is running and hot wash it down.

I spray EVERYWHERE... Except directly into the engine air intake. Car has never balked, or had trouble. Alternator is the original and is still powering the car. Engine bay looks like new.