Engine Washing 2006

[MCannon]

Any tips on washing my engine in this truck..... what to cover up ect??

Appreciate it!!

 

[Prairie Dog]

I clean mine several times a year. I take care to use only low pressure and stay away from elect. connectors, battery caps and insulation. Probably not wise to hit a hot exhaust, radiator, etc with cold water either.
Sometimes I do it at home by using Zepp brand purple degreaser (Home Depot) and just a garden hose ~ works great!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Same as above I have always used Zepp prod. Work used them so I did to :-laf

 

[ENafziger]

You don't really have to avoid that much. I use a high pressure sprayer all the time... just make sure to keep a little distance between electronic/connectors. It's highly unlikely you'll get water in the distributor cap or spark plugs and have a problem starting again . Do avoid direct spray into the alternator though.

I've used about everything on mine, from oven cleaner, Gunk, Purple Power, Tech 2000 degreaser, etc. Avoid hitting the hood liner with direct spray.

--Eric

 

[WMcGuire]

Stuff a rag in the carburator too..... :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

So do you think a guy would have to dry and polish the chrome muffler bearing

 

[cerberusiam]

So do you think a guy would have to dry and polish the chrome muffler bearing

Sheesh, your in rare form today. Nobody is safe from your rapier wit.



:-laf:-laf





Oh yeah, thread subject. What they said. I wash mine all the time with engine cleaner and am less than careful at times. Zero problems in 5 years.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I hope NOBODY takes anything said as being anything more than just fun. I was in a very important position very young with people that could make life a real B***H for me. I always said if I get out of this alive if I cant laugh and have fun I dont want to do or be anywhere around it. So take this as Im sorry if I offended anyone :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

My favorite car/truck wash guy has been washing under the hoods of my Dodges whenever he washes my trucks since 2001. He uses a pressure washer but it is low pressure, not the industrial strength washer that will blast paint off a building.

When I start the engine after he washes under the hood the alternator doesn't charge for perhaps 30 seconds until it slings the water out. I always worry that it will cost me an expensive alternator but it hasn't so far. My trucks remain clean as new under the hood.

 

[MMeier]

My favorite car/truck wash guy has been washing under the hoods of my Dodges whenever he washes my trucks since 2001. He uses a pressure washer but it is low pressure, not the industrial strength washer that will blast paint off a building.



When I start the engine after he washes under the hood the alternator doesn't charge for perhaps 30 seconds until it slings the water out. I always worry that it will cost me an expensive alternator but it hasn't so far. My trucks remain clean as new under the hood.

Probably just water on the belt , mine does that all the time when I spray off under the hood also.

 

[SRadke]

I have pressure washed mine a couple times after some minor catastrophes lol. I just avoid direct spray on the alternator and major electrical components.

-Scott

 

[HBarlow]

Probably just water on the belt , mine does that all the time when I spray off under the hood also.

I never thought of it being a wet belt. Makes sense.

 

[RVTRKN]

When I wash mine, I drive up a pair of ramps to lift the front end up in the air to get under the truck as well, and then let it sit over night, to allow it to cool to the ambient temperature. I learned this the hard way due to condensation, when I washed my gasser for the first time years ago, allowing it to cool first but was still warm. I had to remove the distributor to dry out the cap and points (yes, thats how old I am) so I could restart it. It did the same thing a second time, and so I dried it out again and let it sit open for the day. From then on, I let them cool to ambient before I hit them with water of any pressure. I also have only used Gunk cleaner except one experiment with simple green when it first came out and didn't like the results. I then use compressed air to blow the water/moisture off of connectors and related equipment, (this helps in eliminating water spots as well) then let it sit a couple of more hours with the hood open. Also a little more advise, I close the hood after applying the cleaner and rinse off any over spray on the fenders and windshield before I let it soak with the cleaner.

 

[opjohnny]

I owned a Mazda product that received three alternators, the first was cleaning the engine with the wand the second was the bottom blaster at the ride through car wash and finally a big puddle took the third. Made me a bit gun shy spraying lots of water under hood.

John

 

[RVTRKN]

I owned a Mazda product that received three alternators, the first was cleaning the engine with the wand the second was the bottom blaster at the ride through car wash and finally a big puddle took the third. Made me a bit gun shy spraying lots of water under hood.



John

Mazda is owned by Ford , are they not? Might explain it.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

engine clean

A Simple Green spray, let it set for 15 min. and then a good spraying from a garden hose. The engine and compartment looks brand new. Repeat if not clean the 1st time.

 

[DZink24]

i wrap my BHAF in a plastic bag and raise it up out of the way. then i spray everything under the warm hood with simple green, saturating it. let is set a minute, then fairly aggressively hose it off with either a garden hose or pressure washer (from a distance, and on the widest fan setting). i make sure to start it and let it run afterwards to heat it back up and dry off the electrical connectors on the drivers side.

 

[Harlacher]

I use my pressure sprayer with a plastic bag over the alternator and have never had a problem.

 

[Edgemann55]

I use a product called S 100. It's a cleaner/degreaser made for motorcycles. Just spray it on a cold engine and compartment and hose down. Once a year my Cummins looks and sparkles like new.

 

[rbattelle]

I owned a Mazda product that received three alternators, the first was cleaning the engine with the wand the second was the bottom blaster at the ride through car wash and finally a big puddle took the third. Made me a bit gun shy spraying lots of water under hood.

I blew out a Civic alternator washing under the hood a few years back. Never again. But the Cummins is a different beast.

A Simple Green spray, let it set for 15 min. and then a good spraying from a garden hose. The engine and compartment looks brand new. Repeat if not clean the 1st time.

That's what I do. I let the engine cool overnight before spraying, and usually don't start or drive it for 24 hours after to make sure everything is dry.



I wash the block on both sides through the wheel wells, and then the head all the spaces I can get to (including the fuel rail).



Water-unfriendly parts like batteries get washed manually with a paper towel. I use Armor-all on the rubber parts.



I can't say my engine compartment "sparkles" like new, but it looks decent. I do this routine once or twice a year - always in warm weather.



-Ryan