Very basic dumb question coming your way right now.
Bought some degreaser today, gonna give the engine a massive hit in it as it looks like its been through a rally.
Just wondering if i should be covering anything up before i soak it with degreaser and hose the engine bay? Like my amp cable etc etc.
Sorry about the really really dumb question but i dont wanna cut loose with the water and have something short out and break.

Very basic dumb question coming your way right now.
Bought some degreaser today, gonna give the engine a massive hit in it as it looks like its been through a rally.
Just wondering if i should be covering anything up before i soak it with degreaser and hose the engine bay? Like my amp cable etc etc.
Sorry about the really really dumb question but i dont wanna cut loose with the water and have something short out and break.
Nah mate you'll be fine.
What i recommend is this
Buy like 4 or 5 cans of degreaser
Put car on car ramps
Get high pressure washer like a karcher
Lather degreaser everywhere and blast with high pressure washer
Your main areas for concern will be around the sump and tranny and all of the crossmembers - They get CLOGGED with oily residue
Also behind the engine where the brake lines etc are.

I'd probably just place a plastic bag over the dizzy cap just for piece of mind but besides that mate go wild!

Doing it that way helps alot, you may want to get a full bodysuit though when going underneath or wear really ****ty clothes cause stuff goes flying.

Should of seen the amount of crud from under/around my car and engine bay pwoahh

Sweet, got a big car cleaning day lined up tomorrow before she goes in to get all the damage on the front end fixed, the car yard i bought it off used armourall in the engine bay so **** is stuck to it everywhere.
Bought some turtle wax colour cleanse stuff today too, works a treat at getting rid of tiny scratches, dam black car, so many little scratches all over it when you look at it closely.

Plastic bag your alarm if you have one. they dont like water.

sounds like a sticky :) this is useful if people put enough information about degreasing the motor in here. i also need to do this when i get the car back

sounds like a sticky :) this is useful if people put enough information about degreasing the motor in here. i also need to do this when i get the car back
haha doubt it, i thought i was gonna get flamed for asking such a dumb question:P

haha doubt it, i thought i was gonna get flamed for asking such a dumb question:P

Ive often wondered about this myself, just never at a time when there was someone there to ask lol

So what about pressure cleaners? I don't have anywhere to hand-wash my car so i use the selfserve ones that have popped up everywhere. It doesn't feel right spraying the engine bay with a karcher, any particular areas to avoid? How well is the fuse box protected?

The only thing I do in regards to being slightly safe is to do it last so as the engine has time to cool down a little.

Kieran

haha doubt it, i thought i was gonna get flamed for asking such a dumb question:P

pfft if you want we can flame :) otherwise im sure there are some dying to ask some stupid questions just too embarrassed to do so, so good on ya

Ive often wondered about this myself, just never at a time when there was someone there to ask lol

So what about pressure cleaners? I don't have anywhere to hand-wash my car so i use the selfserve ones that have popped up everywhere. It doesn't feel right spraying the engine bay with a karcher, any particular areas to avoid? How well is the fuse box protected?

The only thing I do in regards to being slightly safe is to do it last so as the engine has time to cool down a little.

Kieran

as far as ive seen detailers at dealerships always have the car running when using the pressure cleaner on the motor, so did my boss actually. id assume to do similar

as far as ive seen detailers at dealerships always have the car running when using the pressure cleaner on the motor, so did my boss actually. id assume to do similar

some do, some dont..

I reckon over the last 12 months ive pressure cleaned around 500 engine bays.. both hot engines and cold engines.. with both cold water and hot (150°C) water at up to 1500psi..

All i do is soak the entire engine bay with degreaser, let sit for 5 mins then go to town with the pressure washer.. occasionally on real dirty ones they will get another hit of degreaser at a go at 150°C (first go is at 70°C)..

To date ive NEVER had any serious problems.. Toyota Aurions seem to have exposed ECUs or what seems to be a lot of wires going into a not-very-well-sealed box.. never had a problem with those or anything..

only trouble i have had is if water gets in the spark plugs (on engines where the plugs sit in the top of the engine).. makes the car run rough, but a quick spray of compressed air and a squirt of WD40 and its all go again..

It doesnt even cross my mind now with washing engine bays that something can go horribly wrong.. obviously im careful but i clean 2 or 3 on a daily basis and nothing has happened yet so i figure its perfectly safe to do so..

older cars im a bit weary about.. its mostly common sense really..

some do, some dont..

I reckon over the last 12 months ive pressure cleaned around 500 engine bays.. both hot engines and cold engines.. with both cold water and hot (150°C) water at up to 1500psi..


So you have never had any problems cleaning a hot engine? I am always worried that spraying cold water on a hot engine will lead to the engine/exhaust manifold cracking, any chance of something like this?

So you have never had any problems cleaning a hot engine? I am always worried that spraying cold water on a hot engine will lead to the engine/exhaust manifold cracking, any chance of something like this?

Not really as you arnt SOAKING it in water, the water will just burn off, and even so, they are only a small manifold so i doubt the expansion of the metal over such a short distance would be anything to worry about.

So you have never had any problems cleaning a hot engine? I am always worried that spraying cold water on a hot engine will lead to the engine/exhaust manifold cracking, any chance of something like this?
well the water is usually a minimum of 70°C when it comes out of the pressure washer so its not stone cold water hitting it..

i have busted a couple of windscreens with hot water out of th pressure washer though.. :shock:

Its a bit like brake discs.. cleaned plenty of them while hot (straight after being driven) and never had one crack or warp..

like tuffy said, your not soaking them/it in water and most of it burns off/turn to steam straight away..

Lol at burns off, water doesn't burn.

i just hit my engine bay with the "tyre/engine cleaner" at the car wash, let it soak while I do the rest of the car, then soap, then water.

Lol at burns off, water doesn't burn.

i just hit my engine bay with the "tyre/engine cleaner" at the car wash, let it soak while I do the rest of the car, then soap, then water.
Well turns into steam whatever it does you know what i mean :P

my mates AU foulcan cracked his block running through a puddle, lol ****ed his engine!:bowrofl: