Question on how to Clean an engine
- Thread starter Frankie02
- Start date
- Status
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I hose mine down when I wash my vehicles. I've never had a problem. On a really greasy, grimy engine, I wet it, spray it down with Simple Green or the likes, scrub parts I can reach with a rag, then hose it all down. Again, never had a problem with electronics.
Joel
Joel
The key is to hose it down, not pressure wash.
I'd wrap plastic around anything electronic just to be safe if it were me.
John
John
I pressure wash my car all the time and don't have any issues. I do keep my car running while I'm doing it though. I done that once with my car off and...I couldn't even get the car to start back up for awhile.
Originally Posted By: Frankie02
On my old trucks when I was younger I would just spray everything under the hood down with a can of gunk and just spray it off. Is that gonna hurt a newer car with all of the electronic stuff under the hood?
Yup. I use simple green and a few brushes. Just avoid the alternator and you should be fine.
On my old trucks when I was younger I would just spray everything under the hood down with a can of gunk and just spray it off. Is that gonna hurt a newer car with all of the electronic stuff under the hood?
Yup. I use simple green and a few brushes. Just avoid the alternator and you should be fine.
A hot cast iron exhaust manifold and water are enemies, with BIG problems possible.
Electrical connections and terminal ends don't like water.
I'd pay careful attention to any electrical components, and only clean a cool engine.
Electrical connections and terminal ends don't like water.
I'd pay careful attention to any electrical components, and only clean a cool engine.
after having "issues" arise after washing the motor and parts around it down (yes i covered most electrical parts with plastic) for some reason a stupid electricl issue will arise.. now i cant prove thats where it came from but i have my suspisions.. so personally i dont clean off my motors anymore. if i see a leak ill scrub that section in order to see if it leaks more but thats it.. now if i were to sell it i may clean it but thats it
I'll pre-rinse a cold engine with water. Spray with Simple Green, wait a minute, and rinse. I cover my air filter with a plastic bag. I don't "spray" anything though. Just rinse. I'll start it and drive it dry.
A 1991 Camry and a 1993 Corolla were notorious for getting water in the dist cap. Always covered it but always checked it/dried it before starting again.
A 1991 Camry and a 1993 Corolla were notorious for getting water in the dist cap. Always covered it but always checked it/dried it before starting again.
Last edited:
I do the same--cover the alternator with a plastic grocery bag and mist the engine when it is cool. Then spray everything with Simple green.
I hook the hose up to my water heater and use hot water to mist the engine clean.
I think some users have sprayed WD40 in the electrical connections prior to washing.
I hook the hose up to my water heater and use hot water to mist the engine clean.
I think some users have sprayed WD40 in the electrical connections prior to washing.
I don't wash engines. Ill wipe down any large visible plastic pieces but else it stays dirty. Rather it be dirty than my car be out of service for three days hunting down electrical gremlins.
Hose attached to drain on the bottom of hot water heater.
Very true. Al doesn't like simple green. It likes Greased LIghtening even worse.
Originally Posted By: wantin150
Very true. Al doesn't like simple green. It likes Greased LIghtening even worse.
I've seen what Purple Power (same as GL) does to aluminum engine components (my VW's). It aint pretty.
Very true. Al doesn't like simple green. It likes Greased LIghtening even worse.
I've seen what Purple Power (same as GL) does to aluminum engine components (my VW's). It aint pretty.
- Status
