I have a 2005 Ford Focus and the dust over the engine does not look good at all. I would like to wash it. Would I damage the engine if I take the vehicle to a car wash (self service), spray under the hood with a degreaser and then rinse the engine with cold water (of course assuming that the engine has not run for a while and is cold)? What is the best place to clean the engine of a newer vehicle?
2006-09-20 02:07:57 · 23 answers · asked by linen 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
YES! A clean engine is a happy engine!! The only thing you might want to do is cover area where sparkplug wires come out of coil(s), - Since new engines have much higher secondary voltage (high voltage output), - there may be a tendency to arc over - depending on how much dirt has actually attached itself to the coil, - some will remain, unless you scrub it off with a brush or something to make it "squeaky clean"! A plastic bag (like a breadbag) or sometihng that is waterproof works pretty good. Also if you drive it to the car wash, the engine will have a little heat at least (depending on how long the engine ran to get there).
The heat radiating upwards will dry out that area fairly quickly, - if you wait a while after the engine has been washed.
Of course you don't want to shoot water up the air intake to induction system either. You can stuff a couple plastic bags in there to keep the water out too, (don't forget to remove them after you are done), - water doesn't make engine start too well!
Normaly I don't even put plastic bags on anything! I just take a couple rolls of paper towels along, and wipe water up on airlceaner, distributer (& or coils) -on old ignition wires, I just clean them down as far as convenient ( you could remove at sparkplug and wipe them down so they look "like new" wires again), - but be careful that you remove the "plug-on's" carefully (hold on to the big insulator part, don't just jerk them off holding onto the wire itself). These are "carbon track" wires, and the carbon track brakes easily, and it will them ruin wire, and the engine will miss on that cylinder - till you replace the wire!
Once you get the engine started, let it run a few minutes before you try to drive it away, the heat and air movement will take the rest of water away from the ignition components (even if engine misses when you start it), - this will also assure that you don't suck a "slug" of water from somewhere into the intake system and kill the engine. When engine is "killed" this way, you have to crank for a while for the water to be moved out of the intake, & combustion areas, so gasoline becomes "king" there to make engine run again!
If it is just dust, - you could wash it down with plain water (with garden hose- with spray head, - right there in you yard), - a little soapy water, - from a spray bottle works fine on the more "grungy" areas! Then you can let it "air dry" as long as you need to!
2006-09-20 02:48:32 · answer #1 · answered by guess78624 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pick up some Simple Green at the store. Then go to a self service car wash, spray the Simple Green on the engine and let it set for about ten minutes. Using the pressure wash mode, spray the whole engine compartment down. This stuff does a GREAT job.
2006-09-20 02:14:28 · answer #2 · answered by Steve B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've got exactly the right idea. What you want to do is what the used car sales people do--wash the engine. Go to a car wash. Wait a few minutes to let the engine cool, though that's not necessary (as rain gets on the engine from the bottom, for example). Soap it thoroughly, then rinse. It will probably require high spray and several soap-and-rinse cycles, though maybe not since yours isn't so old.
2006-09-20 02:12:42 · answer #3 · answered by Pandak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to spray degreaser on your engine and wash it off with a hose without damaging anything. Make sure the engine dries a little before you start it.
2006-09-20 02:11:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a problem. Just be sure that...
The spark plugs are in tight and that you don't use the super high pressure on it.
You don't need any special cleaner... just pressurized water.
Everytime I wash my car (which is like 2x a year), I lift the hood and spray down the engine. I have 200k on my car... doesn't hurt it a bit
2006-09-20 02:15:56 · answer #5 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ford model vehicles you shouldnt wash your engine until you have covered the electrical and the firing systems...so just put like a garbage bag over the electric connectors and the spark plugs and wash away...foaming engine cleaner works really well...
2006-09-20 02:12:29 · answer #6 · answered by Tyler Durden 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can.
Do it yourself, it's really easy.
Take a degreaser, spray it on the engine, rinse with cold water, done !
Easier than you can imagine.
2006-09-20 02:12:08 · answer #7 · answered by Classy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do it but you have to make sure all the wiring is secure and without tears or cuts, and any intake fluid areas are completely sealed and capped. Be careful and it can be done. Have someone with you who has done it before. It can even be done in a manual car wash.
2006-09-20 02:10:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes most car washes have engine clean settings,also as you said if motor is not hot . if all the components are well defined you should have no problem. i have a link may help good luck
2006-09-20 02:11:36 · answer #9 · answered by g w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can powerwash your engine, car dealers do it all the time, just make sure not to jet it in the air filter or electronic as much as you can and since its newer you shouldnt need degreaser really....
2006-09-20 02:10:19 · answer #10 · answered by lordbling55 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋