Hi guys, was wondering if there would be any damage to the engine or electrics if i send my engine bay for a wash... from what i see at the place, they hose it down wash the sides with soap and hose it off again... thats all... cost $20... but then again would it damage anything?

It shouldn't cause any issues. I wouldn;t spray a hose directly into your alternator but if its a proper car washes thats doing this i assume they know what they are doing?

just DIY at the carwash for $2... stay away from all the major electricals -(at least with high pressure) u wont have any issues.

just DIY at the carwash for $2... stay away from all the major electricals -(at least with high pressure) u wont have any issues.

does it mean i should stay away from the right side of the engine bay where the battery is?? so there is no issues to pressure hose the engine?? should i keep the engine running while i am doing the washing?

engine off, make sure the engine isnt too hot either.

battery shouldnt be too bad jsut keep it away from the distributor etc
Spray the engine soap stuff all over...then blast the edges of the engine bay, so the pressure is not aimed into the engine bay. lightly spray the electronics etc, they shouldnt need to be blasted.

plastic bag over any aftermarket alarm sirens etc as they hate water.

if you have a pod make sure to cover that too

If you want a really clean get a cheap steam cleaner, they do it to cars at the auctions. Commodore and fagna engine bays looked new when they came from there, and they obviously wouldn't do it if it caused problems.

stay away from all the major electricals -(at least with high pressure)

I am mechanically inept. What are the major electricals, and where exactly are they located?

My engine bay's looking pretty dirty too (was actually telling myself last night that it needed a clean), but I'd be pretty embrassed if I did the engine bay at the car wash and it then refused to start afterwards....

I am mechanically inept. What are the major electricals, and where exactly are they located?

My engine bay's looking pretty dirty too (was actually telling myself last night that it needed a clean), but I'd be pretty embrassed if I did the engine bay at the car wash and it then refused to start afterwards....

Fusebox near battery, any visible wires and where they connect together, alternator etc.

BTW just dont get too much pressure near the spark lead ends... they may missfire but should b good after u take em off n dry n clean em

I hit the whole lot with engine/tyre cleaner at the car wash, let it soak while I do the rest of the car, then high pressure it all off with just water. Never had any big problems.

I wash all my Verada's engine bays. Have never had a problem until my KJ2 AWD. For some reason water gets into the transmission electrical plug which is located next to transmission dip stick. What happens is that nothing happens when you put it into Drive like being in neutral and when you put it into reverse, you get an almighty crunch as it drops into gear. Just put a bag or glad wrap over the plug and you will be right. If you do get water in in then just unplug it, blow out the water sitting in it with a air stream or even just a straw and blow with your mouth, put a small light spray of wd40 over the terminals then plug her back on.

all i do is get degreaser spray it on everything or most things excluding alternator and electrcs, let it sit, the get a hose a hose off with almost no pressure, and she is clean as a whistle.

Mike

hm... degreser... my friend tried that and it took off a thin layer of paint in the engine compartment... hahaha..

i have two of those little sprayers you buy from bunnings. fill both of them with degreaser and go nuts with them. done many engine bays like this with no probs. soak everything (apart from alternator and distributor) even the firwall and all the boots n stuff. then get the garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle and go to town. lol.

i didnt spray it on the paint, only on the engine! It was really bad because i had a major oil leak a while back, and forgot to clean the engine up afterwards, thus leaving it there to collect dirt, dust and what ever else. Now i can see most of my components due to the rain stopping me from getting all the components of the engine which needing doing!

the paint i just got a little bit of soapy water with a cloth and cleaned it then, when i hosed down the engine just hosed own the suds, thus not getting it every where on my electrics, plus it drys faster as well.

Mike

Best thing ever...when I pulled the head off my car there was that greasy dirt buildup caked onto the block. actually it was everywhere. got myself a tin, a paint brush and a can of petrol. BEST thing toclean that black greasy build up. block looked BRAND NEW..lol

i just get some of those cans of export degreaser from autobarn and go crazy. it is safe on paint (unless it was a really dodgy paint job) and the pressure of it also blows a bit of the crap off. then just a hose off. if it is really stuck on there get an old washing up brush (the scrubing brush with a long handle) and use that.