I'd like to clean the family car. The body wash and interior detailing looks easy enough but would anyone have any tips on how to approach an engine wash? Just a general wash to make the engine look spiffy new.
add: Something I heard from our local mechanic was that I should not get the alternator wet. This valid?
2007-09-20 00:45:38 · 6 answers · asked by e-man 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Wow - I've never heard so much negative about a clean engine.
Get some freezer bags from the grocery store, and rubber bands if you don't already have some.
Put a bag around the alternator
distributor
throttle body - carb
And wash away.
I recommend engine brite spray.
Let it sit on a rinsed engine for 10 minutes hose off - repeat.
This stuff is very good, keep it off the paint job.
Afterwards just run the car for a few minutes so it burns off all the water, if you have a compressor, use it to blow dry.
2007-09-20 01:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by cgriffin1972 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can take it to the local pressure car wash. Use the soap at hand and the water pressure. Do not aim the hose directly to components you could hurt them. Only to the engine block and such. About one foot or foot and a half of distance will be ok. Use your common sense. If the car is like about late 80s and above, the ignitions are pretty sealed. So if is the modular type (no rotor). Do not worry about it.
Is a good idea to clean an engine to see also where it leaks too.
2007-09-20 08:01:25 · answer #2 · answered by spammer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Washing under the hood is something I've done ALMOST every month to any car I've owned so far, i have used simple dish wash soap, or car wash soap along with a long brissle brush to help get into the tight hidden spots... i have had very few problems with doing any of this.
On a COLD engine, mist wet as much as you want to wash, add the soap, brush up, then rinse BUT don't SOAK...as long as most of the suds are gone your cool.
You can then Blow dry/vacum with a wet/dry shop vac, and warm the engine up for a few minutes...
Once it is pretty dry, you can mist on the WET look with a tire/leather shine liquid not too much. and wala a very clean looking under hood...just like when you first looked at it at the Freaking DEALER...heehaw
Best wishes!
2007-09-20 08:04:08 · answer #3 · answered by "/ J()€ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water inside any electrical connector is bad if you don't know how to blow water out of each electrical connector and have a air compressor I would use simple green and scrub brush and garden hose. It is the poor guy who go's to the car wash and has to hire a tow truck to take it to the dealership so I can blow dry all the wet electrical connectors. Spark plugs that sit in wells will fill with water and short out too. Unless you going to a car show keep the hood shut no one looks under there any more.
2007-09-20 07:57:03 · answer #4 · answered by John Paul 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
try not to do it with the engine hot as you can crack something and try not to get the spark plug and wires really wet then pray it starts if it doesn't you'll have to let it dry..
the alternators on most cars get wet when you drive them in the rain a little water should not hurt them..
2007-09-20 07:51:55 · answer #5 · answered by twandrews mechanic 20 years 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is right, It can be very involved, and provides nothing other than aesthetic value if you are selling the car. If can cause more problems, especially on an older car that suffer damage because of deteriorated shields and insulation. Think twice before doing this or have it done professionally.
2007-09-20 07:50:59 · answer #6 · answered by Jody D 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋