Hosing down the engine

[Helirich]

So next week I?m going to a car show. I live on a dirt road and it?s hard enough to keep the car clean, let alone the engine. The red clay dust gets everywhere. When I go to car shows, I leave the louvers and trunk down and just open the doors. That way everything looks pretty good. I usually don?t even hang around the car at a show because I like to look at the others. But inevitably I?ll go to the car to do something and someone will come up and ask to see the engine. I hate to show it, but it appears rude if I don?t.

This time I was thinking of hosing it down and maybe ever putting some armor all on some stuff. Thinking about this, I wonder about the Valley of Death. If I hose it down, does water just sit there corroding it? Mine is garage kept, so it doesn?t see water except the rare time I get caught in the rain. I don?t actually wash it, I just wipe it off now and then. Maybe it?s smart to never actually hose it down. What do you guys think?

[bytes311]

So next week I?m going to a car show. I live on a dirt road and it?s hard enough to keep the car clean, let alone the engine. The red clay dust gets everywhere. When I go to car shows, I leave the louvers and trunk down and just open the doors. That way everything looks pretty good. I usually don?t even hang around the car at a show because I like to look at the others. But inevitably I?ll go to the car to do something and someone will come up and ask to see the engine. I hate to show it, but it appears rude if I don?t.

This time I was thinking of hosing it down and maybe ever putting some armor all on some stuff. Thinking about this, I wonder about the Valley of Death. If I hose it down, does water just sit there corroding it? Mine is garage kept, so it doesn?t see water except the rare time I get caught in the rain. I don?t actually wash it, I just wipe it off now and then. Maybe it?s smart to never actually hose it down. What do you guys think?

Be careful not to soak the spark plug boots with water. Water will get down into the valley but evaporate with the engine running.

[Timeless]

Waterless wash product works well for cleaning. To keep it looking nice try to find CD2 engine detailer - now discontinued. If not, Im lucky and have 1 can left but I also use Griot's engine bay dressing aerosol. Eastwood also makes a product but I haven't used it.

[Rich]

Interesting note about the waterless approach.

For a different waterless solution consider using compressed air and a long wand.

Try something like this kit. Or you can attach a section of rubber hose to your air gun for more flexibility.

With directed compressed air you can reach the alternator, timing chain cover, distributor, the K-Jet bits and bobs, the top of the muffler, all the stuff along the firewall and then use a wet towel or rag to dust the exposed parts of the engine bay, the frame rails, the pontoons, etc. I find a clean 2in wide fine-bristle paint brush does a decent job dusting those larger areas, too.

What compressed air won't do is remove dust that settled, then got wet and dried into place. At least not all of it.


Related thoughts for keeping it clean after you get the dust off: Short of covering the top or bottom of the engine bay there are ways to minimize the amount of dust while on dusty roads.
a. Minimize the run time of the cooling fans (-->A/C turned off, approach the road with coolant temp low)
b. Drive slower

[JBaker4981]

Water in the VOD will evaporate off as the motor gets hot and stays hot however the issue does not stem from a pond of stagnant water... If you have trash, debris, etc in the VOD, you will end up water logging it and causing it to hold moisture, which is where problems will arise.

I wouldn't play rain maker on the motor.

If dust is an issue, why not blast it with compressed air and wipe it down? Obviously you would not be able to do that at a car show but still..

[glockworks21]

anyone used a steam wand? there are some decent ones on amazon. Alex on LSC used one on a lot of sections of his D when he was restoring. I was considering getting one. I feel it would be better than blasting water on the top half with too many sensitive parts. When I first got the car I had a shop steam the bottom half of the engine just to remove years of dry oil so I could start chasing leaks. It came out amazing. seems like you would have more control up top with steam than water and it seems to remove alot or old dirt. especially if you follow with a rag Thoughts??

[David T]

I would not use water on the motor. Too big a risk of getting water in the spark plug wells, making the connections on the ballast resistor rust, getting water in the distributor, etc. Just spray and wipe down all of the visible areas and maybe use compressed air. You may not have problems right away but eventually it can cause you a lot of trouble.

[dmcman73]

I use Tub O' Towles, they are pre-moistened cleaning cloths and they works wonders on grease, grime, glue residue...I even used them to clean up some areas where I got windshield urethane on while setting the windshield. I used these on my engine after I park for a show and people always comment how clean the engine looks. Seriously, these things are great..I even use them around the house. tub.jpg

[Helirich]

I use compressed air now. It?s very good for getting dust out of the pontoon area. Not as good of luck in the engine compartment. Those Tub o towels sounds like a good idea. I have used the Amor all wipes on other stuff. I think I will not use water spray.