Washing your engine

[Josh]

So I sprayed out my engine bay with the pressure washer as usual, but this time I sprayed around longer than usual (In valley, timing cover, etc)

Dried the car off and went to start it and it was running like crap. Misfiring and stumbling.

Turns out water got into the #6 injector connector (Im running an efi setup) and in and around the #6 spark plug. Long story short I fried an injector and one of the coils in the coil pack. Replaced both with spares and its running better than ever.

So moral of the story is take care when washing your engine bay. Especially with these non weatherproof connectors our cars have.

[NightFlyer]

I don't even wash the car, in a traditional sense, let alone the engine. The stock electrics are too easily compromised by water/moisture IMHO, thus keeping things as dry as possible is in your and the car's best interests.

If I ever were to spray down the engine, I think I'd bag as much of the electrical connectors and the spark plug holes as I could.

On the bright side, your engine is probably squeaky clean, thus a perfect time to take and post some pics of it (even though you don't have a plastic intake cover :wink:) :thumbup:

[Josh]

I don't even wash the car, in a traditional sense, let alone the engine. The stock electrics are too easily compromised by water/moisture IMHO, thus keeping things as dry as possible is in your and the car's best interests.

If I ever were to spray down the engine, I think I'd bag as much of the electrical connectors and the spark plug holes as I could.

On the bright side, your engine is probably squeaky clean, thus a perfect time to take and post some pics of it (even though you don't have a plastic intake cover :wink:) :thumbup:

I am going to upgrade the connectors of my injectors to more current weather proof ones and take it easy with the pressure washer. But I will still hose out the engine bay! It is one of my OCD things to have a clean and tidy engine bay and missing that cover bugs the crap out of me lol.

However I will be plunking something on top of the intake this winter or next winter that will make that little cover a moot point and look much better ;)

[NightFlyer]

However I will be plunking something on top of the intake this winter or next winter that will make that little cover a moot point and look much better ;)

This sounds exciting :biggrin:

[AugustneverEnds]

I gently spray Scrubbing Bubbles on the hard components (intake manifold, valve covers) and wipe it all off. Does a good enough job and no high pressure water involved. I'm also a fan of the Hefty bag over the engine when the car gets a bath

[Josh]

I gently spray Scrubbing Bubbles on the hard components (intake manifold, valve covers) and wipe it all off. Does a good enough job and no high pressure water involved. I'm also a fan of the Hefty bag over the engine when the car gets a bath

x2. I use scrubbing bubbles on the rockers and tires. Works great, dont even wipe it off.

[Ron]

I like to use a combination of the above- I use a mild engine cleaner calling for a cold engine, brush anything major, let is soak a while, spray again for GP, start it up and rinse it off with a garden hose (you can hear the engine change if you hit/create a bad area with the water before it gets flooded etc), then blow it all off with compressed air and go for a ride.

[AugustneverEnds]

x2. I use scrubbing bubbles on the rockers and tires. Works great, dont even wipe it off.

Godsend for the wheels, beats scrubbing every nook and cranny for an hour or two

[sdg3205]

Scrubbing bubbles?! And here I've been backing the car into a lake to wash the engine like a sucker.

[Josh]

Scrubbing bubbles?! And here I've been backing the car into a lake to wash the engine like a sucker.

make sure its on, the alt fan will splash around the water.

[DMC5180]

x2. I use scrubbing bubbles on the rockers and tires. Works great, dont even wipe it off.

REALLY!!! your talking about DOW Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner? This is news to me. I'd like to se some before and after shots of this working.

[Josh]

REALLY!!! your talking about DOW Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner? This is news to me. I'd like to se some before and after shots of this working.

yep, the stuff in the green bottle. If i remember ill take pics next time I was the car. It lifts the dirt and it just kind of trickles off.

[NightFlyer]

REALLY!!! your talking about DOW Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner? This is news to me. I'd like to se some before and after shots of this working.

I use SC Johnson scrubbing bubbles on my wheels and rocker panels - works great on these applications.

I use Stoner or Sprayway glass cleaner on the front and rear fascias and all the glass.

I use carb cleaner and Johnson Diversey Deep Gloss on the stainless.

[vps3922]

Scrubbing bubbles?! And here I've been backing the car into a lake to wash the engine like a sucker.

Yeah, baby! That is the Canadian way of doing this. Chemicals, pah! :headbang:

[jawn101]

REALLY!!! your talking about DOW Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner? This is news to me. I'd like to se some before and after shots of this working.

Clint and I have been posting for years about the Scrubbing Bubbles for any black area on the car, most notably the fiberglass. It will remove anything and make it look like new. Soaked all the old carpet padding and adhesive off the interior, brings back the shine to the pontoons, undercarriage, etc. Unbeatable.

[Josh]

Clint and I have been posting for years about the Scrubbing Bubbles for any black area on the car, most notably the fiberglass. It will remove anything and make it look like new. Soaked all the old carpet padding and adhesive off the interior, brings back the shine to the pontoons, undercarriage, etc. Unbeatable.

yep, Clint was the one who got me using it!

[vwdmc16]

Really? I don't recall telling you about that but OK. I really need to clean my car, but im afraid of getting a fine(the drought around here is getting bad enough that you aren't supposed to wash your cars any more)