Washing of Engine Bay - Safe?

[fenderbender]

With today's engines having a lot of electronic stuff, is it safe for you to wash your engine bay? Will something get shorted if you do this. I noticed that modern engines have lots of those cable harnesses and connectors going to different places.

If wet washing is ok, is it recommended to spray it with detergent mixed with water or gaas? I see some people doing this. Would this prematurely make the rubber stuff brittle?

[1D4LV]

hmmm imho, if the one who will wash you engine knows what he is doing, then it is perfectly safe...

pero ako, i really don't have my engine washed by those guys na nasa ordinary carwashes, o maski na sa mga gasoline stations... one error during the wash process and pffffffft......

imho again, the engine does not really need regular washing... what i just do it to brush it (using a paintbrush) every weekend, and wipe some parts, which are not cleaned by the brush... ayus na sya...

[pajerokid]

In general, yup pwede. but of course you have to take extra care with the electrical and electronic components.

[artpogi]

fenderbender

kayang-kaya mo yan, isang maghapon lang yan oks na ulit yan, masakit nga lang sa likod

[revoGSX]

ang alam ko dapat takpan ng plastic yung alternator para hindi agad masira..

[boybi]

i think car manufacturers are not stupid enough to leave those electronics parts unprotected. some water can still be splashed into the engine bay when raining and traversing flooded streets so they have to have some kind of protection for the electronics against these water splahes. i've been having my engine bay washed since my first car and i haven't experienced any malfunctions as a result of washing.

[otanex]

unless you want it detailed to your suking detailing shops like bigberts.. hehehe... ( may kasama pang ad ) hihihi

[woodfire]

your best bet is to have it detailed. then, just maintain it weekly na lang by brushing and wiping.

what's your car? for engines that do not have many electrical sensors, okay lang ang engine wash.

i know for sure that euro cars with multiple sensors are sensitive to car-washing. a waterless engine detailing is suggested.

[Tiny]

Originally posted by fenderbender
If wet washing is ok, is it recommended to spray it with detergent mixed with water or gaas? I see some people doing this. Would this prematurely make the rubber stuff brittle?

Detergent is very harsh to plastic and rubber compounds, get a pro na lang like Big Berts!

Make sure the owner loves cars din, that helps.

[mazdamazda]

the danger of having your engine washed by those carwash boys is that they tend to use too much pressure!

as what the've said, regular cleaning with a brush & cloth will do. if you really want to use water just be careful with it.

[Jeepcruizerph]

which part of the engine are we covering here with plastics for gasolines? carb and alternator ba?

[revoGSX]

tulad ng sabi ni boybi, car manufacturers put some protection on electrical components.. I think the protection is only meant for water splashing under your engine, pag engine wash kasi parang ni-submerge mo na rin sa baha..

but to be on safe side, takpan na lang ninyo yung alternator ng plastic, yung iba pati yung distributor cap.. not sure kung pati aircon compressor kelangan pa

[TJMaxx]

Tama ka Revo, takpan lang yung distributor
cap and that will do.

7 Years na po na every 3 months ko pinapa-
engine wash yung aking Civic. Wala pa naman
naging problema so far. Car shampoo lang naman ang detergent na ginagamit pang-alis
ng dumi at hindi gaas o kaya yung mga degreaser spray..

[artpogi]

Originally posted by revoGSX
not sure kung pati aircon compressor kelangan pa

di na kailangan takpan ang A/C compressor, inilulubog nga yan sa tubig kapag nili-leak test eh

[icon]

yung cone filter and alternator lang tinatakpan ko with plastic. hindi din mabalot completely yung alternator bcoz of the wirings kaya cover as much as you can na tipong di sya mapapasok ng tubig.

ang side effect so far from engine washing is yung squeaking belts. ginagamitan ko naman to ng 3m belt dressing from time to time.

[mintoy]

one thing i would suggest is to make sure your engine has cooled down before your start spraying water on it. cover distributor and alternator are a must. fyi, no matter how high the pressure of you water is. not all the dirt will get off your engine compartment. what i do is use dishwashing soap mixed in water and with a rag. soap the whole engine compartment. dishwashing soap is best becuase it does not leave water marks when the water dries.

mintoy

[revoGSX]

Originally posted by icon

ang side effect so far from engine washing is yung squeaking belts. ginagamitan ko naman to ng 3m belt dressing from time to time.

meron ba nitong 3M belt dressing sa SM? or any ace hardware?

[baiskee]

meron sa sm revogsx, may nabili ako dati...buy the small one kung meron, binili ko kasi yung malaki..eh minsan ko lang nagamit tapos ayun, nakatambak na lang sa bahay. ;)

..kung makapag hihintay ka..sa august makati EB, dalhin ko dun natin spray..nyehehe

[jkyamog]

I plan to clean my engine too. I bought a degreaser, yung Orange burst. That is safe right? In terms of it will not eat metals or make rubber brittle, etc.. I am not going to degrease all just some parts that had oil due to a minor leak that I fixed. I plan to apply some degreaser and wipe the oil stains.

Ang procedure ko is to apply some degreaser, wipe, then when its a bit clean, wipe with damp cloth. Ok naman iyon diba? Mapalit lang sa starter and alternator ang aking area na gagawin.

[revoGSX]

Originally posted by baiskee
meron sa sm revogsx, may nabili ako dati...buy the small one kung meron, binili ko kasi yung malaki..eh minsan ko lang nagamit tapos ayun, nakatambak na lang sa bahay. ;)

..kung makapag hihintay ka..sa august makati EB, dalhin ko dun natin spray..nyehehe

thanks... maingay na kasi yung mga belt sa auto ni erpats, nilalagyan lang ng konting grasa sa gilid ng belts pero natutuyo din.. sige check ko ulit sa sm..