Washing The Engine

Get the wrong thing wet and you'll need hundreds of dollars in repairs. Is the risk worth it?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Feb 18 2007, 03:23 PM) [snapback]392471[/snapback]</div>

Do not squirt water in there. I clean engine compartments on cars with sensitive parts by using some rags with hand cleaner for plastics and hoses, and a little WD-40 on a rag for greasy metal parts. I use the air hose to blow bugs out of the radiator and AC coils.

 

The only motor I've "washed" was the 302 V8 in my 1984 Ford F-150 - last summer. A motor in good shape without leaky gaskets and seals will stay very clean.

For example, I noticed slight seepage on the valve cover cork gaskets when my Ford was about a year old. I never hestitated but replaced with new Felpro blue seals. The heads are clean.

I noticed last summer the very slight seepage around the distributor was attracting dirt, so after removing the battery I carefully washed everything. Left it in the sun all afternoon to properly dry. Took off the distributer cap and made sure it was dry, etc.

My Prius engine bay is spotless, so I see no need to fart around with a hose. One may argue that driving in heavy rain is the same, but usually the water hits the front of the motor, and from underneath.

There was a TSB awhile back regarding the cowl seal. Apparently, it allowed water to come down on top of the valve cover, and this motor uses coil-per-cylinder ignition. Water would then enter the tubes under the coils, and cause a misfire.

I suppose you can always do what Frank Hudon does: when he washes his motor, he removes each coil pack and uses shop air to blast out the tubes.

 

How'd you get that mud in there in the first place? My car is two years old and the engine compartment is still very clean. I just wipe it down every now and then with a damp cloth to remove the dust, then mist 303 over plastic and rubber and wipe that down too. Looks like new.

 

Second that question. Are you taking the Prius offroad, or what? After 33 months the engine in mine hardly needs wiping down.

 

Just wipe it down with a damp rag. No need to "hose" down the engine compartment. I, like you must have a clean - clean engine compartment. Even our 1990 Volvo 245 w/ 172,000+ miles on it is clean. It just amazes the masses.

 

Mine has definitely fallen victim to the "northeast ick", and has
a fine layer of sandy crud all over everything. And probably a lot
of embedded salt, too. Every spring I hook up the hose to the *hot*
side of the washer tap and basically empty the hot water heater into
the underside of the car, maybe twice. Including the engine
compartment, but avoiding too much deluge right *on* the engine
especially where connectors are. Remember SSC50P and the dielectric
grease in one resolver connector? Most of the sensor connectors
around the engine and transaxle are pretty water-resistant, with
internal gaskets, but it couldn't hurt to pull the accessible ones
and blow the water out of them, and then at the very least go drive
around for a while immediately after the washdown to get things warm
and dry them out. A good mid to high speed highway run will do
much to remove stray water before it becomes a problem.
.
Pulling and reseating weather-exposed connectors once a year [if
not more] is a good idea anyways; helps prevent them from going
flakey.
.
So wash away, just use caution around the engine/electrics and get
it dried out asap after you're done.
.
_H*

 

whatever you do, don't get water near the spark plugs or coils.

otherwise, have at it. [but don't overdo it.]