Do I need to do anything special when washing my engine? 89 n/a all stock...

 

I just hit mine with a 2000 psi 200 degree industrial pressure washer. (My friend's neighbor across the street has an industrial cleaning business and has one sitting on a trailer, this isn't a Walmart pressure washer, this sucker will cut through oil and grease in nothing flat!) I didn't even cover my air filter and it started right up after I was done. 87 N/A emissions removed

 

I appreciate it... I was just about to go to the car wash and I didnt want to get towed home...

 

LOL, that is badass... i've "hit" mine with the garden hose... and armorall

 

I was skeptical, but we've been working on my friend's 68 Camaro, and since I had my car over there, when I saw how it cleaned off his 52 years of oil and grease I said "Let me see that"

Then I called my wife and had her bring her Mustang over, too. Not a problem on any car, although the high pressure water blew the cover clear off her fuse panel (blew the sticker off of mine!) so we blew it out with air. 10 minutes later when she started it, it was fine, too.

 

DO NOT wash it with a pressure washer. you will rest flooding electronics and shorting somethign out. first cover any electronics (fuse, wires, etc) with tin foil and seal your intake duct or air fitler with a plastic bag (tied witha rubberband) and just slowly and gently rinse a WARM (not hot) with a hose. spray some degreaser or automotive (can be found at any parts store) all purpose cleaner and scrub witha soft brush... after scrubing you rinse it again with a hose. soak up any large amount of water remaining then blow it dry with a blower or let it dry on its own (or let the engine run)... yo ucan dress the plastics (dont dress the belts ofcourse) with cheapo plastic stuff like armorall or tire shine...

 

Technically it's illegal to let all that grime run down your driveway without catching it and properly disposing of it.

How much does a car wash place charge to do it?

 

technically its illegal to run without emissions too... i washed mine down and had to sit for about 30 min to let it dry off before it would stay running. didnt get the air filter wet so i think i drown the spark plugs or something. still no big deal. clean is worth the lunch break

 

Oh, well I run with emissions :P. Just armor all and a garden hose, you say? Is this "Armor All Engine Cleaner" or something? I'd still be curious what a car wash place charges. I can't imagine it being too much, and it's not like I do it every week.

 

^ Armor All is a cheapo brand of "plastic protectant" ... its i call it cheapo because its cheap and doesnt really protect plastic (instead it makes it oily and dries it....) but its a cheap way to make your plastic parts in your engine bay look shiney (like showroom cars). its a plus when people look at your engine bay and see new shiney plastic lol. armor all is NOT a cleaner.. you need to get an all purpose automotive cleaner (or if youre cheap like me... diluted dawn original blue dish wash soap in a spray bottle with water will work) to spray downt he wet engine bay and scrub then rinse with a hose. just do it yourself... its like washing... dishes lol.

 

i've had no problems using a regular gasoline pressure washer on my engine bay. common sense tells you to avoid directly spraying certain areas/components. it helps that my air filter is in the fenderwell too, but i'd just be worried about damaging the cotton element if it weren't.

i also always drive the car after getting it wet in there.

 

Gunk Degreaser anyone?

 

simple green ftw

 

Simple Green, Purple Power, Gunk Degreaser, w/e... it works... but for those strong type of industrial cleaners.. make sure you dilute it a lil more because its really strong.

 

I've always washed my cars with a pressure washer and had no problems. I've had problems when using a regular garden hose. The car would run rough for a few minutes after using the hose.

The pressure washer + degreaser leaves the engine bay nice and clean. Do a search and you'll find more info on washing the engine bay. Its been covered a billion times.

 

if you want to take it to a car wash and get it done, i work at one that is the more expensive ones and we charge about $70 - $80...ive seen what they look like after and it looks brand new

 

70-80 dollars for just an engine bay cleaning? or is that for the entire car??

 

i would be careful i had a friend wash his engine bay and it actually fucked the whole wiring harness up but ive done it quite alot and nothing but i think he just got the bad end of it

 

go to a auto store they make engine degreaser

 

So nobody has a price or location to pay for an engine wash?

 

I go to the DIY carwash in Osseo off of highway 81. It's $2 for a nice long soap cycle on the high pressure sprayer, and $2 for a nice long rinse with the same high pressure. It got it pretty clean but I still have some corrosion on the engine aluminum and some grease in the cracks of the intake boot and on the wires. So I will try it with some simple green next time.

 

Ify oure goingt o have someone do it... pay 120 bucks and have a professional detailer do it. www.autopia.org if you wanna learn (click LEARN) about detialing. they gotta forum there too and i bet you can find someone in your area to detial your car.

 

I don't think I need it that clean or shiny...

How much to pay a guy for a quick rinse, or will machine wash people not touch an engine for fear of ruining something?

 

Just do it yourself... as i said before. its like washing dishes. you dont even need to cover the electronics if youre using a garden hose.... if you havea cone filter just over it with a plastic bag... DO IT YOURSELF..

 

the 70-80 is for the engine only it covers any problems that might arise