Hey everyone,

The guys I bought my car from, never really took care of my car befor I bought it. The engine bay looks like it hasnt been washed for the 10+ years its been alive. I was wondering if it was possible to use a power washer to clean my engine bay? Are there any components I need to cover up to prevent fron water damage?

Thanks guys,
-Cody

Definitely don't just take a power washer to the engine without covering up the air filter etc. Search, I'm sure this has been answered before. There's even really good degreasers you can buy for this type of thing.

you can do this, I recommend covering up all the relays, air intake, and letting your exhaust manifold cool down before doing this, you want clean water, and you want to buy a nice engine decreasing product as well, make sure you have everything covered up before you do this, start at the top and work your way down, I would actually recommend cleaning the engine bay by hand with something like wd40 over using a pressure washer if this is your first 420a car, you will really get to know the engine and were everything is located, and it will yield better results in the end.

Originally posted by talon749
you can do this, I recommend covering up all the relays, air intake, and letting your exhaust manifold cool down before doing this, you want clean water, and you want to buy a nice engine decreasing product as well, make sure you have everything covered up before you do this, start at the top and work your way down, I would actually recommend cleaning the engine bay by hand with something like wd40 over using a pressure washer if this is your first 420a car, you will really get to know the engine and were everything is located, and it will yield better results in the end.

+1 Definetly cover ALL vital sensors, screw it... COVER ALL SENSORS. Too many cases in which a lil water drop will cause BIG headaches.

I also want to add, you will want to wax your strut towers!! make sure you don't have any rust, if you do fix it!!, I can personally tell you i have watched my friends strut towers rust away, while I kept mine up and they have yet to even surface rust, you can also put some armor all on the plastic and rubber pieces for a nice look

Originally posted by talon749
I also want to add, you will want to wax your strut towers!! make sure you don't have any rust, if you do fix it!!, I can personally tell you i have watched my friends strut towers rust away, while I kept mine up and they have yet to even surface rust, you can also put some armor all on the plastic and rubber pieces for a nice look

I love dry climates! never had any rust that couldn't be fixed with a little sandpaper and some primer. :)

Thanks guys for the help,

What do you reccomend I use to cover up all the vital parts with?

-Cody

Originally posted by Shadow2877
Thanks guys for the help, What do you reccomend I use to cover up all the vital parts with? -Cody

Plastic baggies and masking tape work well.

Honestly, I never cover anything up except for the intake manifold; but then again, I don't go crazy and blast away my engine with high pressure water. The only problem I ever had was when water got around the sparkplug wire boot and caused a temporary short/misfire.



-http://www.symtechlabs.com/-

Originally posted by VelocitaPaola

Originally posted by Shadow2877 Thanks guys for the help, What do you reccomend I use to cover up all the vital parts with? -Cody

Plastic baggies and masking tape work well. Honestly, I never cover anything up except for the intake manifold; but then again, I don't go crazy and blast away my engine with high pressure water. The only problem I ever had was when water got around the sparkplug wire boot and caused a temporary short/misfire. -http://www.symtechlabs.com/-

Nice, and great thread..

Could you guys post pictures these components wrapped up, because I'm gonna do the same but I would to see the before and after pictures.

its picture time guys, show your wet and dirty pictures of your rides. LOL

i recomend cleaning it by hand . it may take a longer but iv heard to many stories about getting water inside sensors and there car wont start . sometimes it can take time finding the problem too . if you really want to pressure wash it like everyone said cover every single sensor , ecu even tho its sealed ,coilpack,wire connector and air intake . just put sandwich bags over that stuff and wrap it with tape so no water can get in .

Originally posted by boosted60trimrst
i recomend cleaning it by hand . it may take a longer but iv heard to many stories about getting water inside sensors and there car wont start . sometimes it can take time finding the problem too . if you really want to pressure wash it like everyone said cover every single sensor , ecu even tho its sealed ,coilpack,wire connector and air intake . just put sandwich bags over that stuff and wrap it with tape so no water can get in .

I'd rather use a garden hose instead of pressure washing, but doing it by hand wouldn't hurt either. Thanks

I wouldn't stick a hose in my engine bay if you paid me. I'd rather spend 5-6 hours cleaning it with a toothbrush.

Originally posted by dsmmyth
I wouldn't stick a hose in my engine bay if you paid me. I'd rather spend 5-6 hours cleaning it with a toothbrush.

What I meant , I stand a few feet away from the engine and set the nozzle to a light spray. I haven't done it yet, I might not.


So, how you guys keep your engines looking so good, if you don't wash it

Not blowing up engines and there for not splatering oil all over the compartment? Aside from the grime already there, my engine hasn't gotten any dirtier since the 4 years I've had it :shrug If anything, all the removing and replacing of parts has forced me to clean some of them up.

Originally posted by edxmon
Not blowing up engines and there for not splatering oil all over the compartment? Aside from the grime already there, my engine hasn't gotten any dirtier since the 4 years I've had it :shrug If anything, all the removing and replacing of parts has forced me to clean some of them up.

Yeah, I know mine isn't that bad.

I'll post pics of it today ! just bought a small digi cam the other day. The quaility of these vupoints are very good

i clean everything but hand and my engine bay looks flawless . its not that hard . a can of engine bright and 10 wet rags and a little elbow grease and it will be clean in no time . some parts i take off and clean .

I've never had any issues with powerwashing engine bays, maybe I'm just lucky