If I want to pressure wash my car's engine, what parts do I need to cover up with plastic first?

Question

Actually, it's my girlfriend's car- it's a 1995 Eclipse. Does this engine have a distributor? If so, won't I need to cover up the distributor with, say, a plastic bag or something before I pressure wash the engine and the engine bay?

Answer 1

Alternator & distributor if equipped. Remove your battery connections & let thoroughly dry when completed washing.
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Answer 2

Whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy. I'm a Navy mechanic and I wash engines on trucks that service men and women, fighting for your country's freedom, use every day, and there's no problem with it. I would just advise that you avoid prolonged spraying on components like the distributor, alternator, plug wires, and other electrical/electronic connections and components. You don't need to cover anything with plastic, or spray any special chemical on anything afterward. Just focus on the dirty/greasy areas of the engine block and pan, and the transaxle, and you should be fine.

Answer 3

If you've never wash a engine I wouldn't recommend a pressure washer,use good quality engine degreaser let it soak and use low pressure.But which ever cover the alternator,Tps sensor on the throttle body.Using high pressure will make it easy for water to get into electrical connects and create all sorts of problems.When finished let it completely dry.Also theres some stuff at auto zone for electrical connects that you spray on and it removes water/condensation.Use that to to help remove any possibility's of problems.

Answer 4

Cover absolutely nothing. Go to the car wash and soap blast all you want.

I've been doing this for 45 wears with no starting problems whatsoever.

Answer 5

for the main section very few human beings wash the engine, if there is no oil leaks, then often airborne dirt and dirt would not carry at the same time except some thing provides it a reason to adhere to it. the suited way is to apply a steam cleanser, at the same time as the motor is working.and be careful to no longer tension any heated steam into electric powered connections or digital bins on the fender wells. and don't shoot steam or water into the distributor cap. by leaving the engine working all you will desire to do is tension it around for a at the same time as, the final subject I wiped sparkling became early 90s thunderbird, and a few sensors popped on, yet as quickly as I drove it for sort of 40 5 minutes the lighting fixtures furnishings went out. I had a roommate who worked for a element guy, his boss used to deliver him to a motor vehicle wash he used the no cleansing soap selection. because of the fact with the engine warm, the water will basically knock the grease and dirt off very almost rapidly. I watched him do various automobiles, and after that did a number of my very own, yet I on no account theory it became a solid thought to spray chilly water, onto a warm motor. Steam cleansing solves that difficulty, yet as I stated you will get steam, which turns to water, interior the incorrect places while you're actually not careful, so except for some reason your engine became coated with oil, and has airborne dirt and dirt caught to it, and you purely can not take it anymore, attempt to get it steam wiped sparkling someplace.. I had a pal call me as quickly as, after he used that engine gunk crap, on a cold motor, it did what it stated, yet he shot water into his distributor cap, we dried out his factors, and the plug wires interior the distrubutor cap as suited we would desire to, i ultimately have been given it engaged on 2 cylinders, my pal became freaking out, he theory his engine became wrecked, then yet another cylinder caught, I had him feathering the gas, and protecting it working, he became making greater noise at one factor than the engine, I instructed him to maintain it working, particularly quickly we had a six cylinder v8, and while all 8 started firing he became the happiest guy interior the state, he stated what do I do now? and that i instructed him tension it till you think of the engine is dry, and rancid he went chuffed as a guy in a mint 1970 torino with a 351

Answer 6

no, you could go ahead and wash the motor, shouldn't be a problem at all. for peace of mind just pressure wash the motor with it running. i wash my car's engine when its running and i have never had a problem. 2004 lexus 4x4. have fun.