ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
• Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The
high-pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
• Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the
engine block or other engine components.
• Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser (ZC-20) on all
parts that require cleaning and pressure rinse clean. In Canada, use
Motorcraft Engine Shampoo (CXC-66-A).
• Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running; water in the
running engine may cause internal damage.
• Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark plug wire or spark plug
well, or the area in and around these locations.
• Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.


The above is from the ower's manual. I clean my engine evey time I wash my car. Just cover the battery, the PCM, fuse box and the air filter and you will be ok. As long as the oil is not baked into the engine, car washing soap will be anough to cut the oil.

 

↑↑↑ Wow . . . I don't think I've ever cleaned an engine unless it was out of the car for rebuild/internal upgrade.


Norm

 

Thanks Chub46, I have a detailer coming by later today. Between the two of us we should be able to get most of it. What a mess.

 

Cleaned couple times now, not THAT big a deal so long as you take the reasonable precautions and make sure you've covered the stuff mentioned(with engine cold).

I would only do it with a shop-vac ready to go though, pools at COPs. Which is why I rarely do it..too lazy to do all that prep to make it semi-shiny for a few weeks. Certainly save him some time though. Do prep, spray grease cutter/remover, wait, hose off, vac, a little wiping down to dry off areas faster and some of the harder ground in stuff, done.

 

Simple Green, spray on, rinse off...allow to dry in the sun. Avoid the electronics and alternator, cove with plastic bag.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/09-00809.php

PS. The aviation version doesn't corrode aluminum....

 

You'll get water in the spark plug wells if you spray the engine. there's no good way to cover them and the cop boots aren't water tight. hell, they aren't even dirt tight.

 

Worried me a bit at first as well, pools there, but nothing will get in so long as you don't use any real pressure behind the water, open hose. Just shop vac 'em after rinsing.

 

I don't spray the engine, I use a garden hose at a trickle to rinse the engine being careful about where the water goes. It's a two hand operation, rinsing with the hose and wiping with a rag.

 

this thread needs a picture!!!