Engine bay cleaning

Has anyone got any tips on washing the engine of my GT Forester. Is there any thing I should cover/block for high pressure cleaning etc? Should the engine be cold to start with? TIA Cheers Peter

Reply to
Wallaby
Loading thread data ...

In the olden days (days of my experience) you don't do it with a hot engine, especially on an aluminun case. But by the time you wash your car the engine should be cool enough. Other than that there shouldn't be any problems. But, don't use a high pressure sprayer like they use to wash a house, you could blow holes in hoses! Also, NEVER use the stuff that's used to clean really cruddy undercarriage parts, it contains an alkali that can hurt aluminum with extended usage.

Had a friend that used that stuff on the rudders of his English catamaran. It had gotten really cruddy sailing through an oil slick. The English aluminum had a high copper content and the stuff ate the copper from the rudder. He had to buy new rudders as a result.

Reply to
Don Nickell

Just don't get the tip of the hi-pressure wand in real close (< 5-6 inches) to the electronics/fuse box/ignition modules/alternator, etc.; ya don't want to force water in and risk wetting something. If it's really cruddy, an application of Gunk engine cleaner will do wonders. This _must_ be done with the engine cold, or at least cool. Other than that, go for it. If, once you get it clean, you make it a habit to pop the hood and give the engine compartment a quick rinse every time you wash the car, you'll find that it stays quite clean and nice with minimal effort.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101

Reply to
S

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.