Pressure-washing engine...

[gmdh555]

Stupid as it sounds? Would my car never start again??

 

Want to get rid of the baked-on residue of a coolant spill...

 

Yellow and black 1.8 VX, pics here, for sale here

 

Edited by - gmdh555 on 29 Apr 2005 14:48:28

[wonkey eyed barmaid]

try a chemical cleaner on it first, so soften up the grime, so as you dont have to use TOOOO much water.

 

ive pressure washed my engine bay before. no probs.

 

try S100 or Hein Gericke motorcycle cleaner. both good at getting muck and oil off, but dont contain too many harsh acids.

[Sheds Moderator]

Have done this too, in the past. Best to put a plastic bag over things like the alternator and go easy round electrics. Softening it up with Gunk or Jizer a good idea too. In fact I will soon do this to the 2CV to get 27 years' grime off the engine and box and reduce the hot oil stink I get every time I start it (TADTS...)

[Bare]

Used to do this all the time.. when I was younger and Penniless.. kept buying /driving 'Beaters' Worked perfectly everything came out spotless. No chemicals to strip paint or dissolve wiring insulation :-)

But I used the Jet Spray wands at the local Car wash Emporiums.

Not so sure about using one of the currently popular 1500Psi Pressure washers on or near electronic bits. Lower the pressure significantly and understand just what a mess Sloth could make.. Should be Fine :-)

[tricky dicky]

Ask Jase L about his experience pressure washing his VX engine bay . We spent 3 days, a gallon of WD40 and finally an AA callout resolving that one!

[JasonL]

Gareth

 

Just make sure you keep the engine running whilst you do it & then no problems.

Jason

 

1.6 Vx (Blydenstein) soon for sale due to arrival of new Superlight R300

here

[gmdh555]

Done it - Gunk Ultra, five minutes soak-in followed by pressure-wash. LOL at Jason/Rich - you were posting while I was washing . Didn't have the engine running as I wanted to do it while cold. No ill effects, just been for a spirited "blow dry" and even seems to smell cleaner (the car, that is) .

 

G

 

 

Yellow and black 1.8 VX, pics here, for sale here

[susser]

If you use Jizer or Gunk, make sure you wash it off thoroughly, it's hydrophillic and so it'll make moisture form on such things as electrical connections, causing corrosion. Mind you I always loved the smell of a hot Gunked engine since my old Norton days.