Is it safe to hose down the engine?

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

0

17

Northern VA / VT

Aug 17, 2007

#1

• Aug 17, 2007

• #1

I'm going to clean the engine bay today. Wondering if spraying it down will cause damage.

I've heard many methods such as:

- have the engine warm
- spray down with water and tire foam
- close engine for 20-30 min.
- wipe clean with cloth

I'm just worried because I'm bringing the car down to college tom. and if I **** up something, I'm screwed.

 

94-302-vert

Active Member

Aug 16, 2004

1,947

2

36

NE CT

Aug 17, 2007

#2

• Aug 17, 2007

• #2

Just don't use the high pressure nossle on the hose... I have rinsed off every engine I have ever had... A lot of times I will dampen it, wash items with the car wash, then take the nossel off the hose and rinse it all away... never had any problems.

Normally the engine is cold... I figure this is no worse than driving in the rain... Just try not to hose electronics... but to get bugs, sand, and crap out of there it works wonders...

 

G

ga94gt

New Member

May 17, 2007

138

0

0

Ringgold GA

Aug 17, 2007

#3

• Aug 17, 2007

• #3

I work at a detail shop, and we always leave the motor running and scrub the engine with degreaser and spray it off with a pressure washer.

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

0

17

Northern VA / VT

Aug 17, 2007

#4

• Aug 17, 2007

• #4

Alright sounds good! I'll try it later. If it turns out good, I'll post pics of my stock engine bay. lol

 

1TallMF

New Member

Apr 17, 2006

955

1

0

Montreal

Aug 17, 2007

#5

• Aug 17, 2007

• #5

I usually go over the whole engine bay with a good degreaser (on a cold engine), leave it for 15 minutes, then hose it off with a regular spray nozzle (low pressure). The only things I try to avoid are the alternator and distributor, and if you have an open air filter element like on a CAI you sould but a plastic bag over it. For a nice finishing touch go to a parts store and get a can of "engine finish", its like a clearcoat that you can spray over everything, makes all your hoses, wires and everything else look like new again.

before:


after:

 

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WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

0

17

Northern VA / VT

Aug 17, 2007

#6

• Aug 17, 2007

• #6

Thanks for tips Stephane. I'll go ahead and buy some degreaser later this afternoon. Just finished spraying down the engine with water and tire foam and it's looking great already. Wiped it down with a clean towel.

I don't know how they got there but there were penut shells under the upper manifold.

 

B

bimmertech

New Member

May 3, 2005

1,123

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0

merriam, ks

Aug 17, 2007

#7

• Aug 17, 2007

• #7

it's generally a good idea to wrap up the dizzy to prevent water from getting inside--zip lock baggies work great.

 

earleys94gt

Active Member

Aug 31, 2003

1,223

16

49

Ashley, Ohio

Aug 17, 2007

#8

• Aug 17, 2007

• #8

"bag off" your alt. and dizzy, degrease and spray off engine w/ engine off, then let it run for a little while to dry it all.

 

Car Nut

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2000

1,176

1

37

Snellville, Georgia (Atlanta area)

Aug 17, 2007

#9

• Aug 17, 2007

• #9

A leaf blower works wonders getting water out of hard to reach places: battery tray, under the upper intake, other odd places.

I do the cold engine routine, too. Bag off a few things, then degreaser and low pressure water. Engine shine works wonders.

 

MysteryMachine

Active Member

Jun 21, 2003

1,835

2

39

Parkesburg, PA

Aug 18, 2007

#10

• Aug 18, 2007

• #10

I cover my dizzy. if that gets wet and you start it you could majorly screw your timing. I've seen it happen.

I dont worry about anything else

 

illwood

Member

Apr 3, 2004

636

1

19

Worcester, MA

Aug 18, 2007

#11

• Aug 18, 2007

• #11

WhiteStallionGT said:

I don't know how they got there but there were penut shells under the upper manifold.

Click to expand...

Maybe your 5.0 got hungry.