Power washing engine compartment and engine

[old skool]

I live here in the desert of the southwest and my engine and compartment has accumulated a lot of dirt and dust. I want to power wash it, but I don't want to get water anywhere that could cause problems. Any tips on what I should cover or watch out for in the process?..Product to use in cleaning?

 

[Raekal]

THat's the best general example I can provide. Get the bulk out dry, degrease, then rinse it down. Use common sense, avoid or cover electrical items, Keep the pressure washer 1+ foot away, and use brushes + your garden hose if you need something more aggressive than that.

 

[Randy]

I clean mine once a year.. To add Raekal's warm the engine for a few minutes, not fully warmed up but maybe to about 100 deg or so. I use a citrus cleaner and spray everything down, then rinse with low pressure from the hose and then if you have an air compressor blow off all the excess water from all the nooks, crannies and around all the electrical connections, then towel dry and wipe everything down using the spray cleaner. You can then remove the air duct and electrical cover and wipe those if you want to do a good job.

I then let it sit for awhile and the warm engine helps dry up any water left around the engine, then start it up and take it for a drive..

 

[old skool]

Thanks

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

THat's the best general example I can provide. Get the bulk out dry, degrease, then rinse it down. Use common sense, avoid or cover electrical items, Keep the pressure washer 1+ foot away, and use brushes + your garden hose if you need something more aggressive than that.

Heh. I just watched that video last week for the first time and it did inspire me.

He gets waaaaaay too excited in his videos (I'm sure that's his gimmick tho) but he's got some really good content. His detailing and even simple color correction videos are also good.

 

[EXT4ME]

Good tips above.

The last time I power washed my engine, I was very careful to protect the alternator and not spray water under the intake.

I guess I wasn't as careful as I thought I was since I got knock sensor error codes shortly afterwards.

Two new knock sensors, harness and intake gaskets and all is fine now.

 

[Vegas Avy]

I live here in the desert of the southwest and my engine and compartment has accumulated a lot of dirt and dust. I want to power wash it, but I don't want to get water anywhere that could cause problems. Any tips on what I should cover or watch out for in the process?..Product to use in cleaning?

I detailed cars for a living and I can tell you as long as the engine is cool all we did was cover the Mass Air Sensor with foil, spray the whole engine with Meguiars super degreaser starting from the back drivers side and working around to the passenger side, then within a minute spray it off thoroughly in the same direction. Wait for it to dry and then apply dressing if desired, but in the dusty desert (I live in Vegas) I don't recommend dressing. It just makes it dusty faster.

Never had any problems with electrical.

You can check out our work on IG @detailersoflasvegas to see what our work looks like. We're one of the most prestigious IDA certified detailers in the country.

 

[Vegas Avy]

Good tips above.

The last time I power washed my engine, I was very careful to protect the alternator and not spray water under the intake.

I guess I wasn't as careful as I thought I was since I got knock sensor error codes shortly afterwards.

Two new knock sensors, harness and intake gaskets and all is fine now.

Your alternator is waterproof. You don't have to worry so much about spraying it. On the knock sensors I wonder if your foam insert things between the intake and valley cover may have come out. Moisture in the knock sensors is pretty common in these engines.

 

[old skool]

Sprayed it down with Gunk engine de-greaser...let sit for 10 minutes...showered off with garden hose...Cleaned up pretty decent.

 

[EXT4ME]

Your alternator is waterproof. You don't have to worry so much about spraying it. On the knock sensors I wonder if your foam insert things between the intake and valley cover may have come out. Moisture in the knock sensors is pretty common in these engines.

I smoked an alternator on a Trans Am I had back in the day, so I tend to not take any chances.

Better safe than sorry, especially with such an expensive part.

I wouldn't doubt if the foam insert wasn't totally wasted given the age of the truck.

I was just surprised that even with my precautions, enough water got in there to mess up the sensors.

And also, those sensors were old and it may not have taken much to waste them.

 

[old skool]

I placed a plastic bag over the alternator, just to be on the safe side.