washing the engine bay
 

hey there, i just picked up a jug of simple green today and plan on doing an engine bay spring clean up. now i have just a couple questions.

i've done some reading and know that electrical areas should be covered during the process. but there is some debate on wether or not the car should be running or not running. some advice or tips to help out would be great thanks :)

I remember my dad cleaned his car one time and had turned the car off and couldn't get it started again, but that was years ago and I can't really tell you why it didn't start.

That said, I would just leave it running and make sure every thing is tightly closed and you may want to cover some things. Check out this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-show-shine-26/help-cleaning-engine-55996/

Switch off the engine, it is safer for your fingers and it gets pretty hot. Also, you run a higher risk of short circuiting it when there is water while it is running. I always hose it down when it is switched off and so far, no problemo.

In a word - don't. Just too many electronics these days. Rather, do it by hand (cleaner on a cloth). Takes a while longer, but you'll rest easier.

all the electrical connectors are fitted with multiple seals, as long as everything is fully connected there won't be any problem, I'm on my way to do the same now ...

I've washes my car through the drive-thru wash and I have a vented hood. I never had a problem getting the engine bay wet, while the car is running.

I used to rationalize it that way myself, until ....... :(

I wash my engine with a garden hose about two or three times a year. I've never had a problem. The distributors in older engines will short out when they get wet. This will cause the car not start until all the water has evaporated.

Our car is distributor-less, so it's not a problem. DO NOT wash the engine when it is hot. And always start the engine and let it fully warm up AFTER you have washed it.


WARNING: Washing the engine when it is hot can crack the block. (destroy the engine)

Jedi Zainos his engine bay!

I have no problem with steam cleaning or pressure washing, as both those methods actually use relatively little water. But a regular hose is not the way to go, imho. I had one bad experience with a hose on my Jeep, and never again.

Why does that not shock me at all. :lol:

Never wet your engine while it is still hot. If you cool the engine block too fast , you can cause major problems. Also be careful with pressure washers. You stand the chance of forcing water into electrical connectors, knocking off vacuum hoses ect. When you finish, start your engine and go for a drive to dry it off.

Told ya, get the engine degreaser by Meguiars. Works great. Use it and spray with a watter bottle after it. Dont let it dry.
You can use it on your wheels and parts of the car around the wheels too!
like the lip of the fender facing the wheel and the parts of the appearance package. Parts that get hit hard with dirp. Then just wash it off as you wash your car :smoker:

I cracked the block in my RX8 a long time ago, I think it runs better now :)

I used the high pressure gun at the self service car wash this Sunday, sprayed it all down with degreaser and cleaner and let those soak in for 15 minutes before blasting the engine bay down thoroughly, no problem ...

I want pics!!!

thanks for that link nemisis i was just wondering about if it was safe to clean the engine bay with a pressure washer.... gonna go give it a shot tonight because mine is diiirty. ill let you guys know what happens

I use some rags and clean any areas I can reach...then I take some armor all and clean all the plastics up.

People drive-through standing water and rainstorms of biblical proportions quite often, yet you never hear of a cracked engine or other damage from that deluge from below. Remember that the engine bay is completely open to the road.

I've been using the car-wash wand to clean my engines for 34 years and never had any problems at all. Even my '80 RX-7 got the wand treatment.

yes had no problems last night... sprayed a can of gunk remover and sprayed it down looks good as new!!

Good point. I'm letting one bad incident cloud my similar many years of steam/pressure washing without any problems.

one qs, when washing cleaning the engine bay, is there anything you need to re grease, might be a stupid qs, just wanna ask thou.