Engine bay jetwash?

[AntB]

What are peoples thoughts on the above.

I was on the verge of jetwashing the engine bay yesterday when I washed the car, but thought better of it just incase..

Do people do this without any issues...? I guess avoid any electrical bits..

A

 

[tref]

It takes the beige paint off the cam cover on my S2!

 

[Lowtimer]

I won't do it on any of my cars, and don;t klet anyone else do it either. Too much risk of water finding its way in where it should not - plus the quite significant possibility of the force of the water jet disturbing something.

 

[JamesBall]

Isn't steam cleaning the recommended method to use?

 

[Lowtimer]

Not by me. Steam cleaning makes everything (very) hot and wet. As the steam jet passes anything electrical it will heat it up suddenly, and as the steam jet passes away the cooling components will draw in moisture from the moisture-laden engine bay atmosphere.

 

[JamesBall]

So just leave it dirty?

Sounds good to me

 

[Hilux]

Use a brush on engine cleaner and wash off with a hose under mains pressure.

 

[marcoturbo]

Buy a gallon of Surfex from Bilt Hamber, many brushes (hard, soft) and no need for a jetwash !

 

[alwigley]

Something like gunk, rubbed in with an old paintbrush works fine and can be hosed off normally but keep the water away from all electricals - plastic bags over distributor/coil etc should help keep splashes off. Steam cleaning in my experience only causes awful electrical issues in the long run.........

 

[Copperman05]

Ant I dont recommend steam or power washing your engine its too risky, Here's how I do it.

Disconnect battery
Using tin foil cover and wrap it around any electrical items you see that need to be protected from water (HT leans, dizzy, etc), , the foil will nicely encapsulate things and keep water off.

Use a good (environmentally friendy) engine degreaser, the citrus ones are good as is Bilt Hambers Surfex HD, dilute or use neat and work into nooks and cranies using varius brushes. You may want to wear gloves too.

Once cleaned rince off with hose and slow running water.

Reapply grease to headlight mechanism and bonnet release. Reconnect battery.

Finish with airospace 303 protectant and your done.

Edd

 

[zcacogp]

I'll buck the trend and say that I have jetwashed under car bonnets for many years without problems. You DO need to take care where you aim the jet but it's not a problem if you are careful.

However the best method is, as a few on here have said, to use a cleaner and some brushes to scrub the junk out. (Jetwashers actually aren't that effective at removing well-caked-on dirt.) Then wash it all off with a jetwasher on a 'fan' setting.


Oli.

 

[pauly]

Leave the engine running while rinsing it off, at least you know if water is getting where it shouldn't and can stop.

 

[Lowtimer]

... unless water gets into the induction system and hydraulic-locks the running engine, which means a bent con-rod at the very least

 

[zcacogp]

.... which is massively unlikely, as the induction system shouldn't be taking in any significant amount of air (in fact, any air at all) from anywhere other than in front of the air filter.


Oli.

 

[xenon]

You'd have to be unbelievably ham-fisted to get enough water in the induction to cause a hydraulic lock.

 

[jr2015]

Hosing down a running engine could cause the operator of hose to get a hell of a big electric shock, get one of the kids to do it!
jr

 

[will lyons]

I use a citrus based cleaner various brushes and a 3 litre pump spray set to a fine jet to accurately forcefully rinse specific areas any really heavy thick parts I used brake and clutch cleaner to break down the worst patches.

now all I do is a quick spray with the cleaner followed by a rinse with the plant sprayer and final spray over with a rubber protector leave to dry then rub over the polished cambox and air intake takes a while but worth the effort