PowerWashing the Engine Bay
 

Is it okay to spray the engine down when it is running or when it is not to hot???

You wouldn't catch me under the hood for ANYTHING with a power washer......water and electronics don't mix.

Some of the car shops "steam" clean the engine bay though I believe. That looks pretty good.

It is my understnading that the electronics are pretty much water proofed. I did it to my Celica a number of times and never had a problem. Thanx for the input though.

I wouldn't do it. I had a friend power wash his engine bay and it wouldn't start after he did. True, it wasn't an RX-8, but I doubt it's a good idea to force water where it normally doesn't.

I used to steam clean a lot of engines. Sometimes an engine would not start after, but it was ALWAYS because water got in the distributor. Unhooked the cap, compressed aired that baby dry, and everything would be fine.

I don't know what, if anything under the hood of an 8 might be sensitive. But it sure looks good to haave a clean engine...

I was at the detailers last week....they pressure steamed a new Chev Truck. Throttle is drive by wire like our 8's. We had to open, and dry out the plugs for throttle sensor, fuel injectors, MAF, and then get the PCM reset before it would run over 3K RPM. Took about an hour to get it running right. All of the "waterproof" plugs were all full of water. I would stay away from the engine on my car with any pressurized water. Try some citrus cleaner and a brush on the dirty spots....takes a lot longer, but it won't drown your engine. If you can find it, some places have a solvent based steam type cleaner that is electrical safe. The only problem is that it comes in 45 Gal drums and is VERY expensive.............

I've done mine a few times. A good pressure cleaner is one that doesn't spray a whole lot of water. The pressure cleaner I use is "dry" enough that I can open my doors and spray out the door jambs without soaking the interior.


Just remember 2 things.......

1)Don't take the wand point blank to any electrical connections.
No matter how weatherproof it is you WILL force water in at
close range.

2)Don't get the car hot and then spray the engine bay down
with the car shut off. Either do it with the car cold, or do it with
the car hot and running.