Automotive Care & Detailing Discussions on washing, waxing, polishing, detailing, cleaning and maintaining the beauty of your Lexus.

Pressure Washing Engine??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-26-01, 11:16 AM
  #1  
goral19
Rookie
Thread Starter
 
goral19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just bought a pressure washer and i was wondering how i should clean my engine. Should i leave the engine running or leave off, and i was wondering if i could hurt any of the electrical components in the engine compartment. Thanks
Old 04-26-01, 11:30 AM
  #2  
LexusRules
Lexus Champion
 
LexusRules's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: International
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

all i know is that you have to cover the battery and the air intake inlet with water proof plastic or something, and the fuse box too i think.
Old 04-26-01, 12:22 PM
  #3  
Kerr
Driver
 
Kerr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Bristol Va
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

you should be ok either way. just make sure all the little fuse box's are shut tight. Also you don't want to pray directly into the intake. I would not do it with the motor hot. Also you need to find out how powerful that sprayer is before you do the motor. I have seen some people wash holes in the hoses with them!!!

As for engine cleaners i usually just spray some 409 or simple green on i

Old 04-26-01, 07:54 PM
  #4  
geodesic
Driver School Candidate
 
geodesic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Is your engine compartment really, really gunked up? If not, you shouldn't even need the pressure washer. I wash mine every couple of months by spraying simple green on it, letting it soak, maybe scrubbing a few areas and then hosing it off (I don't use a nozzel on the hose - just let the water run out).

I don't feel very comfortable spraying high pressure water around all that wiring, relays, etc.
Old 04-27-01, 04:07 AM
  #5  
Ira Senoff
Driver
 
Ira Senoff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Power washing engine is just fine. Follow these directions:

1. COLD motor
2. Simple Green, 1:1 dilution rate. Apply with spray bottle
3. Sit one to three minutes
4. agitate areas in need
5. spray off, don't pray into intake, no need to wrap anything
6. towel dry all easy to reach areas (don't go crazy)
7. start engine (let it dry itself with heat)


and, if absolutely necessary, apply some sort of plastic dressing when the motor is cool again so everything is bright and shiny under the hood (but this attracts dust)
Old 04-27-01, 10:44 AM
  #6  
KKelly
Lead Lap
 
KKelly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Altos,
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I would just use a regular hose first with a garden sprayer. The simple green should remove almost anything. If there is some particularly bad area, maybe then use the pressure washer.
Old 04-27-01, 06:43 PM
  #7  
salimshah
Moderator
 
salimshah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 15,537
Received 1,069 Likes on 962 Posts
Default

Water and electrical (sensors, connectors) etc don't mix. Pressure may force the water further into such places. If you exercise enough caution and if you really have a need .... but NOT when the engine is hot/warm (high or low pressure).

I once ruined the sound deadener (under side of the hood) by garden hose with the nozzle set at sharp stream.

Salim
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jdt
Automotive Care & Detailing
6
03-19-18 12:12 PM
beneteau
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006)
3
06-13-10 05:22 PM
ta1972
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
24
03-17-08 10:55 AM
jdoggg1
Automotive Care & Detailing
10
09-07-07 08:25 PM
db6
GX - 1st Gen (2003-2009)
4
06-08-05 01:08 PM



Quick Reply: Pressure Washing Engine??



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:42 AM.