Keeping it clean under the hood

[jshumate]

Does anyone know of a problem with spraying water on the engine to keep it clean? I used to use Simple Green and a pressure washer to keep my '97 looking good.

I noticed that the batteries now have insulation wrapped around them. Would it damage that to get it wet?

Thanks,

 

[BBRam]

I would just put a plastic bag around anything you don't want to get wet. I wash mine all of the time without any problems.

 

[DPKetchum]

NO PRESSURE. Just plain hose pressure. I tried simple green. Did not like the film it left. I use Gumout Engine foam and degreaser. Its MADE to clean under the hood.

 

[Nate]

I pressure wash the engine bay whenever I wash the truck (once a month or so), same as the Jeep.



I did the same with past vehicles. . no problems.

 

[LEggers]

MMM A little what ever I have in the garage and a good flooding with the garden hose takes care of the dirt.

#ad

 

[Matt400]

Hi John,

Here is my 2 cents. . If you are not sure what to avoid then I wouldn't use pressure. Pressure washers can force moisture into connectors, fold over a/c condenser fins and such. Pressure washers are nice for cleaning sludge from neglected areas though.



If your motor is pretty clean to start with then a blast with a garden hose should be plenty. Doing that shouldn't bother your battery blankets. Its what I do on my truck and just today did the wifes PT cruiser that way.

 

[jshumate]

Thanks for the replies. On my '97 I had to be careful with the AFE intake and a breather tube for the exhaust brake (bagged them both). Sounds like the new truck should be easier - at least until I change out the intake.

 

[Nate]

Yeah when I use the pressure washer, I use a 40* tip. I used a 10* on my Blazer once and I cut right though the heater tube for the carb



When I bought my truck last summer, the engine bay was terrible. The valve cover was about black even. What made it worse is alot of the seals were leaking. oil mixed with dirt makes a nasty mess after years of driving on farm roads. I actually took a putty knife to scrape the 1/2" think layer of gunk off the oil pan



What I do is rinse it off with the pressure washer, then spray everything down with Super clean or Simple Green, depending on what I have on hand. Let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse it off.

 

[jjdiesel]

Most important thing to do is to stay on top of it. Don't let it get too gruby in the first place, then it never requires much to get it looking good again.

All good comments above... don't forget to do it when the engine is cold, spray it down lightly, then apply your cleaner, let it set for awhile and spray off. I used to use a pressure washer but I think it's safer not to, so now I just use the garden hose. hth