Washing the engine

[ArkCivEngr]

A few years ago at my place of employment, my "company" truck was in our shop for some yearly maintenance. I went by to see how much longer it was going to take, and was immediately set on my several folks in the area about the condition of my engine. They weren't talking about oil changing or anything like that. They were making fun of me because it was dirty. I then learned that most people wash their engines down when they're cleaning the outer body. I'd never heard of such a thing at the time.

I was cleaning the air filter on my Kubota the other day when I noticed a bit of dust in the engine compartment, and was reminded of the engine-cleaning idea.

So, how about it? Yes or no? I can surmise obvious points like waiting until it's cooled down and not to directly flood electrical components. Other than that, I can't see a whole lot wrong with it, although I've never done it before (on any piece of machinery I've owned), and have never had problems associated with it--except for some goofy DOT workers harassing me about it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

I've been washing the engines on everything I've owned for 50 years. And in fact, 50 years ago when my dad owned a service station I used to wash the engines on other folks' cars and pickups. I try to avoid the air intake, and don't hit a hot engine directly with cold water, and when through washing, I run it long enough to get it hot and thoroughly dry it out (most frequently blow off any excess water with my air hose before running it). I used to tell people I did it because I hated working on dirty engines and I might be the one who has to work on it next. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MrSteve]

Yes I have been washing "all" my engines right from my 1st one I ever had. 1st time I use Simple Green then after that just a hose down. Now if you are a lucky one (I wish I was) a steam cleaner is the best way to go. Just don't spray water "into" things you think you shouldn't like the alternator. I alway let the engine dry on its own, that way you know the water is away from things that shouldn't have water in them on start up.

 

[Birdhunter1]

To get grease off spray it down with engine degreaser when the engine is still warm and use hot water.

When I worked in the detail shop at the Ford dealer in college we washed engines all the time, brand new Lincolns and everything else you can think of.

 

[LarryD]

I hate working on a dirty engine.

I usually mix up a little gallon sprayer with water and Dawn and just spray a warm engine. Use the hose nozzel set to shower and repeat as necessary. It doesn't shine like new but sure helps see problems when they start.

 

[beenthere]

I wash mine.
A dirty engine looks like a --------- dirty engine. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Gamemaster]

Simple green is great for washing the engine..word of caution: thoroughly rinse aluminum items, because simple green will eat-away oxided alum. and keeps eating into the pits. But under the hood will look like new when done..I keep green mixed in a pump sprayer 50/50. I make it a habit of covering the distributor cap with a towel, wet the engine down, spray with green, soak 10-15 mins. and gentle-spray hose it off. If your engine has a build-up , use straight green the 1st time, if it is really dirty then use engine degreaser the 1st time...keeps the engine running cooler, you don't get too dirty work'in on it and easy to find leaks....good luck

 

[Billy_S]

I have always washed my engines. When I take the car to the carwash, I pop the hood and do the engine. At home, I have a power washer. I even wash my power washer engine with it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

When I was a kid, I worked at a car dealership. Although I don't necessarily recommend it, this is what we did there. Get the engine hot, then spray it with diesel fuel from one of those pressurized garden sprayer things. Then, over to the carwash to rinse it off really good. Made the engines look very good, even if the carwash didn't fare so well.

 

[Bird]

Billy, when I was a teenager, I worked in my Dad's service station. Back then, some of the bigger places steam cleaned engines, but some people claimed the hot steam was bad; penetrated wiring insulation, etc. I don't know about that, but haven't seen or heard of anyone steam cleaning them in a long time, except for cleaning parts when one is torn down. But we did it differently in the service station. I can't remember the name of the stuff (solvent) that we used, but we mixed it 50/50 with kerosene and sprayed it on the engine. Then we had a gun to which we hooked both a garden hose and an air hose, and washed it off with that. In later years, I generally used one of the coin operated car wash places to wash my engines, and lately, I've just been spraying them with Simple Green at home and then hosing them off with the garden hose.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Yep, me too. Like others have stated, I wash my auto and tractor engines. Who wants to work on a gease and oil caked engine. I don't want to worry about gobs of oil encrused dirt falling into the intake or the dipper stick when I'm trying to service it. It also allow for less "insulation" although I have no data on the relationship of dirt cake to heat retention /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I certainly agree that you can see problems quicker or potential problems.

That purple stuff by Castrol works amazing, expensive but it'll eat the pavement if you're not careful to rinse quickly.