How to wash engine compartment?

I wouldn't do it. It is unnecessary and likely to cause trouble.

Tom

 

+1

If it's really getting grungy, I'll clean the engine compartment with my shop vac set to blow, together with a brush or two to loosen dust. Just once in a long while.

 

PLEASE, Don't do it. High voltage components + water = very bad.

 

Clean mine all the time. This is my second Prius; never had any problem. I've seen more water spray under the hood after driving in the rain.

1. Lightly spray with Simple Green.
2. Brush over surfaces and bottom of hood.
3. Light spray with hose to rinse.
4. Don't forget wheel wells and under body ocassionally.

 

I've always been told not to hose the engine compartment. It should be steam cleaned. NEVER did find a place a steam clean it. Any one know of a home steam cleaner ?
Joe

 

The orange high voltage wires are water proof and the connections are water tight. So washing with garden hose water will cause no problem but never with high pressure water hose.

 

Does anyone actually have a dirty engine compartment in a Prius? At 24,000 miles, mine looks like I just drove it off the lot.

It is partly the bottom shield that keeps it clean, and in my case, I blocked the grill all winter---yet another advantage to grill blocking (keeps the salt and grit out of the engine compartment.

 

Oh Yeah! Mine is completely filthy. Check the pictures in the DRL link in my sig.

I have asked about this subject a few times. I have been meaning to call the dealer to see what they suggest...

[edit] Just called my service dept and they said they use Engine Bright and a hose (not high pressure). For what it is worth, there you go.

 

Lessee, Engine Brite ingredients:

refined soybean oil
natural methyl esters
hydrocarbon fluids
orange oil
glycol ether

Do you really want to be adding this stuff to your local streams?

 

Not me.

I thought I posted this but I can't find it.

I prefer Simple Green diluted about 1:1 with water if the engine isn't too greasy, otherwise not diluted. I start with a warm but not hot engine.

Once it;'s clean, spray it with Pledge Furniture polish and wipe clean. The Pledge finishes the cleaning job and leaves a protective layer of silicone. It make the engine look better than new,

 

Yeah, but most of us don't have to worry about removing moose and elk guts from our grill and engine compartments. (kidding)

Thanks!

I tend to get mostly dust accumulation so I regularly use my air compressor to blast the loose dust off before it has a chance to get gunked on. So far I don't have any fluid leaks or seepage for it to stick to and it comes off nicely.

 

In addition to the ingredients of any liquid cleaner, if it's capable of emulsifying grease/oil (and I think this is the prime object of the excercise), anything leaking past gaskets on the engine that is washed off is now in suspension in the rinse water, running down the street to the nearest storm drain.

 

I use a engine cleaner called Purple Power. it works great, and is biodegradable. It does not smell up the garage like Gunk or Engine Brite, either.

I have not yet cleaned the Prius' engine compartment, but I used the stuff on my HCHII and my wife's HIHY with no issues.

 

I use the car wash sprayer once or twice a year and avoid directly spraying electrics. Here's what my old Rav4 bay looked like at 13 years old.

 

Thanks for the alternative. I will have to get clearance from Mendel Leisk first though.

 

Is the water-in-the-spark-plug-wells problem solved in Gen III?

 

I really hope that your "purple power" is different then the cleaner sold around here by that name. Purple Power here is extremely corrosive and used to degrease tables in fast food restaurants. Wood + epoxy tables yellow, and vinyl countertops peel and discolour. It does wonders at getting sharpie marker off things too...

 

+1,

There is a Purple Power that contains sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium meta-silicate and other nasty things. It has been know to remove paint and requires the use of rubber gloves and eye protection. Don't get industrial Purple Power by mistake.

Simple Green diluted 1:1 is strong enough for a Prius engine unless you have baked on grease.