engine bay wash
02-22-2006, 08:42 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 368
engine bay wash
Has anyone ever seen or used the "engine grime cleaner" option at those do-it-yourself washes? Mine could definately use a wash and I've always been hesitant b/c I don't want to fry any electronics.
02-22-2006, 08:58 AM
#2
Originally Posted by JaKillz2
Has anyone ever seen or used the "engine grime cleaner" option at those do-it-yourself washes? Mine could definately use a wash and I've always been hesitant b/c I don't want to fry any electronics.
02-22-2006, 08:58 AM
#3
I've used a degreaser on my engine, and this is probably the same thing. Take plastic grocery bags and cover up your intake if you have one, and harnesses up front. just wrap and tie the handles. O and for anyone else that has DDEs, cover up that ignitor. Mine blew out cause water got in it.
02-22-2006, 08:59 AM
#4
Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
02-22-2006, 09:09 AM
#5
I wouldn't do it at the car wash for several reasons.
1st - Your engine will be hot and spraying it with cold water is not a good thing. You will leave hard water drops all over the place that as hard as hell to get off.
2nd - The spray to rinse it is sort of high pressure and can get into places where it is not wanted.
That being said, get your self some simple green and do it at the house when your engine is totally cold. Spray it on, use a toothbrush to get anything that looks thick and wash it off with your garden hose. I wouldn't worry about the electrical wires as they are pretty well protected. Cover the intake if you have one. Then be ready with some towels to dry the enging. Don't start or drive the engine with the water on it. You will get calcium/hard water deposits all over the engine and the plastic. It can be ugly.
GOOD LUCK.
1st - Your engine will be hot and spraying it with cold water is not a good thing. You will leave hard water drops all over the place that as hard as hell to get off.
2nd - The spray to rinse it is sort of high pressure and can get into places where it is not wanted.
That being said, get your self some simple green and do it at the house when your engine is totally cold. Spray it on, use a toothbrush to get anything that looks thick and wash it off with your garden hose. I wouldn't worry about the electrical wires as they are pretty well protected. Cover the intake if you have one. Then be ready with some towels to dry the enging. Don't start or drive the engine with the water on it. You will get calcium/hard water deposits all over the engine and the plastic. It can be ugly.
GOOD LUCK.
02-22-2006, 09:25 AM
#7
Oh come on people. I worked at a dealership and we would spray the hell out of running engines with a power degreaser, then hit it with the high pressure rinse. For follow up, you can spray a little armorall under the hood. Makes everything SHINY!
Just rev the engine once you are done rinsing. As always, be careful not to get degreaser on your paint or else.
Just rev the engine once you are done rinsing. As always, be careful not to get degreaser on your paint or else.
02-22-2006, 01:02 PM
#10
Originally Posted by RR5
Oh come on people. I worked at a dealership and we would spray the hell out of running engines with a power degreaser, then hit it with the high pressure rinse. For follow up, you can spray a little armorall under the hood. Makes everything SHINY!
Just rev the engine once you are done rinsing. As always, be careful not to get degreaser on your paint or else.
Just rev the engine once you are done rinsing. As always, be careful not to get degreaser on your paint or else.
02-22-2006, 01:25 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,860
He means if you have an AM WAI or pop charger where the filter is exposed and therefore would get wet.
And
on just sprayin down the engine. I've done in on many cars without a problem... Except one with a distributer. If you ge those wet, your car will run a bit lumpy for a while
And
on just sprayin down the engine. I've done in on many cars without a problem... Except one with a distributer. If you ge those wet, your car will run a bit lumpy for a while
02-22-2006, 06:22 PM
#15
for precaution, i always use plastic bags over the alternator, battery and cone filter. i use it on a warm engine and cover the paint in surrounding areas with old towels. i just use engine brite degreaser and it seems to do the trick.
02-22-2006, 06:26 PM
#16
Originally Posted by sloppymax
for precaution, i always use plastic bags over the alternator, battery and cone filter. i use it on a warm engine and cover the paint in surrounding areas with old towels. i just use engine brite degreaser and it seems to do the trick.
02-22-2006, 06:37 PM
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by Edward Lee
TOXIC and bad for the environment. Just use simple green.
02-22-2006, 07:10 PM
#20
Originally Posted by Edward Lee
In the meantime, breath in deeply when you spray that stuff.
02-22-2006, 08:03 PM
#22
I never had any problems. I spray engine degreaser all over my engine compartment and use high pressure rinse at a car wash. I do it once a year and my engine compartment looks new. I just start the car and let the engine heat burn off excess water in the compartment. I dont cover anything either.
02-22-2006, 08:44 PM
#23
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 787
I always use the high pressure wand at the car wash and in 20 years have never had a problem. I have never had to use de-greaser, just the normal "soap" setting on the machine. I keep the tip of the wand fairly far from anything that would be more sensitive to higher pressre. Look at it this way, in a heavy rain storm on when driving on the highway, the engine compartment is taking in a lot of water anyway.
02-23-2006, 05:26 AM
#26
Originally Posted by sloppymax
you would not want me to die. then you would have nothing to complain about. i simply prefer to spray all the small children and domestic animals running about the neighborhood.
02-23-2006, 05:42 AM
#27
Originally Posted by Deckdout2
don't lie, you know senior citizens fall victim to your use of teh engine cleaner also.
02-23-2006, 10:03 AM
#29
Originally Posted by Larrio
i'm more worried about water collecting in the "V" portion of the block where the knock sensor sits
02-23-2006, 12:13 PM
#32
Originally Posted by steven88
2k2 owners - do you wash it with the engine cover on or off? if off, do you get water onto the coilpacks injector harness? do these have to be covered up as well?
i actually do not use parking cones but mutated midget children. they have no legs so they tend to stay put.
02-23-2006, 12:15 PM
#33
Originally Posted by sloppymax
i know you asked the 3.5 guys but i removed my ae cover and my are completely open to the elements. i try not to focus the spray of the cleaner or the water but i do go over the coils with no issues. of course, i have only needed to clean mine about 3 times in 4 years.
i actually do not use parking cones but mutated midget children. they have no legs so they tend to stay put.
i actually do not use parking cones but mutated midget children. they have no legs so they tend to stay put.
02-23-2006, 01:56 PM
#36
I'll settle it all: I have a 5.5 gen (ballests) with an InJen CAI (or whatever Irish wants to call it....) that I've modified to make into a pop charger configuration and I wash my bay weekly with no problems. Yes, I actually wax my engine cover (painted) and armor-all my hoses and anything else plastic to make it shine. I'm **** like that.
02-23-2006, 02:31 PM
#37
Originally Posted by GBAUER
I'll settle it all: I have a 5.5 gen (ballests) with an InJen CAI (or whatever Irish wants to call it....) that I've modified to make into a pop charger configuration and I wash my bay weekly with no problems. Yes, I actually wax my engine cover (painted) and armor-all my hoses and anything else plastic to make it shine. I'm **** like that.
Your engine bay looks atrocious. How can you live w/yourself.
02-23-2006, 02:40 PM
#38
I've washed my engine numerous times in the carwash bay. When I select the engine wash feature, I don't use the high pressure. It comes out anyway. And I try to work from the outsides in. And don't use heavy spray on the block/exhaust manifolds. You should gently work you way around them. Then let it sit for a few min. Then use the rinse. You can use the high pressure in CERTAIN areas but try not to direct it any connectors/intake etc....Comes out great. Yes you do get some water in the block valley but it evaporates when you drive around. I don't like using all the degreaser in my driveway so I use the carwash
02-23-2006, 03:41 PM
#40
Originally Posted by Jeff92se
I've washed my engine numerous times in the carwash bay. When I select the engine wash feature, I don't use the high pressure. It comes out anyway. And I try to work from the outsides in. And don't use heavy spray on the block/exhaust manifolds. You should gently work you way around them. Then let it sit for a few min. Then use the rinse. You can use the high pressure in CERTAIN areas but try not to direct it any connectors/intake etc....Comes out great. Yes you do get some water in the block valley but it evaporates when you drive around. I don't like using all the degreaser in my driveway so I use the carwash