engine pressure wash

[dayton9741]

How I should wash my engine pressure wash or not? and what about the transmission

[wrinkledpants]

No pressure in the engine bay. You can use Pressure from below on the bottom of the motor and tranny. Don't point the hose at any sensors, though.

[redstrosekNic]

Take the alternator housing out of the car to gain access to the tops of the cylinders. Spray your degreaser of choice (I used Gunk), then rinse off with low pressure, flowing water. Be sure to get the oil cooler well. Make sure to rinse all the degreaser off.

Put rubber gloves or plastic over things like the distributor and the various electrical sensors, as was already mentioned.

[Tidybuoy]

I clean my engine fairly often. I learned a trick a while ago that works great. With the engine off, I spray degreaser thru the fan and get as much of the top of the engine as possible - then let sit. While sitting, I clean the rest of the top of the engine with a warm soapy rag (just using dish soap).

After the degreaser has sat for about 5 min, I start the engine and spray the hose, full pressure, into the fan. The fan dispurses the water all over the top of the engine. I do this for 5 minitues or so. I also gently rinse the rest of the engine compartment.

I heard that this is how they clean engines on the race cars and I've been doing it for years.

[wrinkledpants]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

After the degreaser has sat for about 5 min, I start the engine and spray the hose, full pressure, into the fan. The fan dispurses the water all over the top of the engine. I do this for 5 minitues or so. I also gently rinse the rest of the engine compartment.

I heard that this is how they clean engines on the race cars and I've been doing it for years.

That's a great idea.

[mpetry]

A clean engine runs cooler! Years of accumulated oil and road gunk makes a great insulating blanket. Keep it clean - it runs noticeably cooler !

Another great cleaner that you may not have thought of is "Scrubbing Bubbles" bathroom cleaner. Amazing stuff - especially after you cut the nasty stuff with degreaser, it will leave metal surfaces sparkling clean. Works great on wheels too.

[dayton9741]

My engine is currently out of car so it should be alot eisier to cleandont you think?

[wrinkledpants]

Do your prep work in the form of degreasing, and pressure won't be needed.

[E Sully]

Watch the vent on top of the transmission.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by dayton9741

My engine is currently out of car so it should be alot eisier to cleandont you think?

In that case, I would used oven cleaner on both engine & trans. It leaves the engine sparkling clean. I've cleaned many transmissions with easy-off and they looked new then finished.

[Guardsred911]

Oven cleaner... interesting... I just was in the garage using Foaming engine brite.... how is Over cleaner compared with that?
409 is pretty mild too for the topside of the compartment...

[Jrboulder]

FYI DON'T use oven cleaner on your Fuchs or anything anodized!

Unless you want to refinish them

[hbueno]

For you guys who degrease and wash, where do you drain the runoff to? Do you have a drain with a grease/oil trap?

Hugo

[rusnak]

omg...be careful what you use to degrease your engine!

I would definitely stick to automotive degreasers, and be sure to follow all the instructions. I like Purple Power or Super Clean, but not on paint rubber or cloth. Always make sure the engine is clean, and wet before spraying the cleaner on the dirty metal parts. Rinse very thoroughly, and dont let the cleaner sit on the metal for long.

As for pressure washing, be careful. That water can get into places that it should not. Adjust your pressure low, and only use enough pressure to get the job done.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by hbueno

For you guys who degrease and wash, where do you drain the runoff to? Do you have a drain with a grease/oil trap?

Hugo

best thing may be to use a car wash that recycles their water

worst would be to do it in the street where the pollution drains into the rivers & lakes that your kids swim in and where the fish you eat comes from

if you do it on your lawn, then there could be some pollution of ground water

pollution will be minimized if you use a wooden or plastic wedge to scrape it off first & put that in a landfill (i.e. trash)

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by RWebb

if you do it on your lawn, then there could be some pollution of ground water

pollution will be minimized if you use a wooden or plastic wedge to scrape it off first & put that in a landfill (i.e. trash)

wisegeek.com

Groundwater is the source of drinking water for more than 40% of the population of the United States and up to 90% of the population in rural areas of the country. Groundwater is the source that wells and springs tap into. It was previously assumed that this source of water was not subject to contamination, but recent studies have shown that groundwater can in fact become contaminated by leachate.

I try not to think about this , but you can't help but wonder where it ends up. (not to mention my carefully sorted plastic recyclable stuff gets shipped to China (shhh!) , probably to fuel dirty factories, ah well better for the pristine Tassie environment )