Can I use rainwater to clean my engine compartment???

Jack Haines did pass the time by typing:

Other than make the engine wet, rain is't going to move much if any dirt. You need soap/engine cleaner and a brush to move anything.

I've had reasonable results going to the dollar car wash and using thier pressure washer. Take the tools you'll need to pop the distributor cap off, and a shop towel in case you water under the cap.

Carl

My wife bought one of those small steam jet cleaners but quickly realized that it's too small to do much more than the stovetop or the sinks or the edges of the bathtub. HOWEVER it is absolutely marvelous for cleaning under the hood! (by the way, I always disconnect the battery before I have at it, just to be safe).

Drifter "I've been here, I've been there..."

Also note that if you're going to be dousing the engine compartment with water that's under pressure you want to be careful about forcing it into places that cause trouble. Avoid the side seams of valve cover and other gasket areas; at least from direct pressure. That and it never hurts to wrap the distributor and any other electronic boxes with some plastic. Disconnecting the battery is always a good idea (be ready to reprogram your radio though) but doesn't do you any good if water has gotten into the electrical circuits and shorts out on being reconnected.

Good comment about the valve cover gasket, also I'm very careful about the fill cap, and especially around the brake fluid reservoir. The nice thing is how small and controlled this jet of steam is so I haven't needed to cover the distrib etc. though the advice to do so is good.

Drifter "I've been here, I've been there..."

I would be more concerned about getting the engine management unit wet from the spray. I clean the engine by hand...

Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

I balsted my engine (4.0 '03TJ) a dozen times last year...jus eaze up when spraying the electrical components...but I don't have a distibutor cap :)

-- Jeff '03 TJ & '95 ZJ

For a minute there I thought you were asking about the West Virginia carwash. You just go for a drive in the rain. I usually use this method to clean my older cars. Cheers, Mike Davis

Well, as a native West Virginian, I can say with reasonably certainty that driving through a creek is the preferred method. :-)

At least, that is how I cleaned most of last weekends mud off of my TJ .......

Bryan