Pressure washing engine
Pressure washing engine
(OP)
So my truck is a “ leaker”. It’s had its share of oil, anti freeze, and power steering leaks over its 400k mile journey. Enough that our severe winters with heavy salt have had little effect under the body and frame. It is a slimy mess under the hood.
Since we are car guys, we got talking about pressure washing under the hood. Some of the local detail shops don’t do this any more as they have had problems with the newer cars electrical systems after pressure washing under the hood.
I regularly wash the under hood of my Fiberglas 41 Willys with 6-71 blower. It leaks oils occasionally and I drive it a lot so it can get messy in a day or two. My el Camino is bone dry but gathers dust and grit like a magnet so it gets washed under the hood weekly.
So far I’ve never had any problems with either car.
Back to my truck. It’s a diesel so add a little diesel fuel too. It has a computer for all the truck plus the fuel injection is computer controlled.
What’s the general opinion of pressure washing cars and trucks under the hood?
Byron
Since we are car guys, we got talking about pressure washing under the hood. Some of the local detail shops don’t do this any more as they have had problems with the newer cars electrical systems after pressure washing under the hood.
I regularly wash the under hood of my Fiberglas 41 Willys with 6-71 blower. It leaks oils occasionally and I drive it a lot so it can get messy in a day or two. My el Camino is bone dry but gathers dust and grit like a magnet so it gets washed under the hood weekly.
So far I’ve never had any problems with either car.
Back to my truck. It’s a diesel so add a little diesel fuel too. It has a computer for all the truck plus the fuel injection is computer controlled.
What’s the general opinion of pressure washing cars and trucks under the hood?
Byron





RE: Pressure washing engine
I'd foam her up with Gumout Engine Wash or similar, and rinse very, very gently, but thoroughly, ON A WARM DAY or in a heated garage, and not turn the key until everything was demonstrably dry.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Pressure washing engine
A safer way to clean is to first spray the parts to be cleaned with a water soluble solvent that is capable to emulsify hydrocarbon residues from engine oil and diesel fuel, then let it soak in for a while and then just rinse with low water pressure - the water then will run off as a "milky" fluid because it has formed a emulsion with the oil and fuel stuff you wanted to get rid off.
High pressure cleaners can be very useful, but keep them away from electronics and also from your tires - they are capable of making miniature holes in them if used from too short a distance too long.
RE: Pressure washing engine
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Pressure washing engine
Then spray on of the Gunk like detergent products, and use a parts cleaning brush accessible problem areas.
Finally, After letting it sit a bit, rinse low/no pressure water.
Pretty much what it says on the Gunk EB can I think, and quite unlike what is shown on the official Gunk videi
os
RE: Pressure washing engine
Keep the pressure washer nozzle a couple feet back from the engine. If you get it closer to clean a grimy spot on the block, move it straight in to the spot so you avoid high pressure on possible sensitive items.
RE: Pressure washing engine
Really heavy grease deposits seem to only come off with the use of solvents, but a lot of the time deposits like that are best just left alone, especially if they're not in a particularly visible place. The countershaft sprocket cover on a motorcycle engine and the surrounding area get really nasty (chain lube + dirt) ... but the only time I ever clean behind there is if it all has to come apart for some reason. Otherwise I leave it alone.
RE: Pressure washing engine
Up north many folks still prescribe to redneck undercoating - spraying the underside of vehicles with used motor oil from a garden sprayer to prevent rust. The first step in most maintenance projects on those vehicles is pressure washing.
RE: Pressure washing engine
I just rinse with a garden hose and a spray head.
It de-greases bearings too.
I get it by the gallon at Sam's Club.
RE: Pressure washing engine