Engine cleaning

2002 LS V8

Planning on pressure washing the engine. I remember that on older cars you had to avoid getting the distributor wet.

Since there are no more distributors, is there anything that should be avoided when pressure washing the engine? I plan on pre spraying it (a cold engine) with a can of engine degreaser.

You won't want to focus much on the valve cover gaskets, forcing water past the coil seals will cause a misfire. You also should avoid the various fluid reservoirs and the alternator.

Is the engine dirty from oil leaks or why are you pressure washing it? If it's just dusty why not just use a detergent, soft brush and hose to rinse it off?

-Rod

No leaks but its just really road dirty. I plan to get up one morning and spray a can (or two) of engine cleaner on it -- then spray it down with one of those pressure fittings that connects to the garden hose. I just don't want to get something too wet that would cause it to not start.

If you're not looking to really de-grease anything, just clean off road grime, I would suggest not using the pressure nozzle and instead just use a shower spray or hose pressure. It should require much force to spray off the road grime after soaking with cleaner. The spark plug wells/coil seals would be my biggest area of concern, but with the alternator so low in the engine compartment and all the other electronics and connections under the engine bay I'd personally just use some car wash soap, a soft brush, and garden hose (which I have on my wife's prior 2002 V6 with no issues).

-Rod

If you're not looking to really de-grease anything, just clean off road grime, I would suggest not using the pressure nozzle and instead just use a shower spray or hose pressure. It should require much force to spray off the road grime after soaking with cleaner. The spark plug wells/coil seals would be my biggest area of concern, but with the alternator so low in the engine compartment and all the other electronics and connections under the engine bay I'd personally just use some car wash soap, a soft brush, and garden hose (which I have on my wife's prior 2002 V6 with no issues).

-Rod

+1

I cover my fuse box and my K&N cone with plastic pages, mist, simple green and my tire brush, and mist rinse. Works great with no ill effects; I detail with Meguiar's Mirror Glaze vinyl & rubber cleaner/conditioner.

Great comments, thanks. You detail with Meguiar's Mirror Glaze vinyl & rubber cleaner/conditioner on the engine? Doesn't that cause a stink when you drive.

Great comments, thanks. You detail with Meguiar's Mirror Glaze vinyl & rubber cleaner/conditioner on the engine? Doesn't that cause a stink when you drive.

Not at all, it does attract dust out here in the desert and I have to redo once a year.