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Can I wash Engine bay with car wash mode soap+wax?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by nahaku, May 23, 2020.

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  1. nahaku

    nahaku Junior Member

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    I want to wash my engine bay on prius 2004 2nd gen, there is self wash near my house, I have degreaser for starter, but I wonder if is ok to use the mode of car wash where it sprays the hot foam and wax in to engine area?
    I would firstly cover electric plugs with aluminium foil + the area where is the belt.
    then I would spray it with degreaser, wait couple minutes.
    then the hot soap with wax mode
    Rinse it
    unfortunately there is no air to dry it, so i will just dry it either with cloth or paper towels,
    and then i will drive home, and home i will spray there Trim shine

    Is this ok?, can i use that shampoo with Wax on engine? Thank you.
     
    #1 nahaku, May 23, 2020
  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    @Rebound is an engine bay washer ;).

    He may have some tips (y).
     
    #2 Raytheeagle, May 23, 2020
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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Also ensure that anything that is sprayed is not sprayed with force (like a pressure washer; Ideally no stronger than the equivalent of placing your thumb over the end of a hose.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, May 23, 2020
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  4. nahaku

    nahaku Junior Member

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    so should I rather use normal water hose at home, I saw all using power washers on engine. Do you think the Tesco car powerwash has too much pressure?
     
    #4 nahaku, May 23, 2020
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I wouldn't risk it. There are expensive components that can be bricked by a corroded and/or shorted out connectors.

    In 3rd gen (just for example), the AC compressor has a 12 volt connector atop the unit, that could double as a rain gauge. There's been several reports here of the connector being a corroded mess with rusted out pins. I'd wager there was a cleaning episode involved.

    Refurb of the connector has proven near impossible, and new replacements are over $2K USD, refurbs around $1.5K.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, May 23, 2020
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  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Washing the engine bay on a Prius is loony tunes.
     
    #6 edthefox5, May 23, 2020
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I would. You don’t want to push water into anything electrical or mechanical so if you could use a normal hose at home, that would be best.

    As Mendel pointed out, there are expensive parts in there. I’ve never washed the Gen 3 but I did wash the Gen 2 but it was a long time ago so I don’t remember what I did. For my Gen 3, I just dusted it with a brush then wiped it down with a rag (it was mostly dusty).
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, May 23, 2020
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  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I like the engine compartment to be clean and use a light water spray to get rid of the dust. Drive the car around to dry the engine compartment.
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, May 23, 2020
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Mine looks pristine at the top, just popping the hood. That I manage with very occasional brushing and blowing (either shop vac or leaf blower, haven't taken the air compressor plunge yet).

    If I've got the air intake system off, or maybe even the intake manifold, then things start to look grubbier. But it's not normally visible, it's not detrimental, causing rust or whatever, so I mostly just leave it alone.

    Where I do get excited, is rust-proofing the underbody, in particular bolts, suspension components, cross-beams. I clean everything I can reach, and coat with oil (small bolt threads) and boiled linseed oil (bolt heads, exposed nuts, suspension components). Also, any time the wheels come off, I brush off the hubs, apply a patina of anti-seize with a toothbrush..
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, May 23, 2020
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You’re lucky. I found maggots near the oil filler one time in my Gen 3. There was some other organic matter that they’re obviously feeding on as well but I have no idea what is was. Everything was blackened and the maggots were cooked from the engine heat. Pretty disgusting sight.
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, May 23, 2020
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  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Thanks for sharing:sick:.

    Glad it's not lunchtime or anything :eek:.
     
    #11 Raytheeagle, May 23, 2020
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Arr, there be maggots.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, May 23, 2020
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Probably, a dead rat.
     
    #13 Patrick Wong, May 23, 2020
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <shudder>
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, May 24, 2020
  15. nahaku

    nahaku Junior Member

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    #15 nahaku, May 24, 2020
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  16. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Still a big improvement, from what you can see from the photos.
     
    #16 dolj, May 24, 2020
  17. GabrielD

    GabrielD Member

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    In my case, Prius V - 2014, I just sprayed a detergent from car wash shop, cleaning it with a brush and sprayed with pressure hose. All over the place, electrical and mechanical...
     

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    #17 GabrielD, May 24, 2020
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  18. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Yes a pressure washer used with care around electronics and the air intake system is OK but with regular light cleanings (1/yr should be enough) one shouldn't ever need too.

    IMG_6882.jpeg
     
    #18 fotomoto, May 24, 2020
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  19. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    If dirty, 1 part Mr. Clean to 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Then spray the areas that need it most. Lightly rinse with garden hose.
    Then, for maintenance, once every two months I do the "spot free" spray at the local car wash. Being doing this for decades on all cars I have owned.
     
    #19 Montgomery, May 24, 2020
  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Amazing before and after photo. Good job!
     
    #20 Salamander_King, May 24, 2020
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