Cleaning your engine

[fabienX]

So I am having lunch with Gunter today. Don't worry you are not supposed to know who Gunter is but he wanted credit for the tip before I post it here. Gunter goes "I washed my engine last night and you're not going to believe how clean it is. Have you ever seen a new engine?". I am amused but suspicious. We head to his garage. Pop the hood. Holly shit, the thing looks brand new. Not a spec of dirt, every cable, every bolt is clean and shiny. Unbelievable.
This is how he does it.
1. Spray some "Spray 9" on the engine.
2. Let is sit for 5 minutes
3. Spray (gently) it with soapy water
4. Spray with water to rinse off.
5. Cover wet engine with Armorall including all cables and hoses (for the record, I disagree with this last step).

As I said, I wouldn't do the last step but steps 1 through 4 should work fine. Any thoughts? Tell Gunter what you think and reply to this thread.

[fabienX]

Trust me...you gotta use Armoral!

[fabienX]

Sorry folks. The last post was from Gunter himself. Interesting security...

[Olegkha]

Just cover Alternator with something , and distributer and fuse box, and anything that looks like relay or stuff like that , and you can wash the hell out of your engine

[superjens]

Why cover anything? I mean, especially the alternator. It gets soaked when you drive around in the rain anyways, it isn't that sensitive to getting wet. I hose down the engine every time I wash it, and if crap is particularly caked-on then I use some of that orange-based cleaner. After many muddy days and hours on air-filter-choking dusty roads my engine compartment still looks brand new. Go ahead and hose it -- just make sure you do it when it's cold, not hot!! Hot engine + water = bad!

[warmonger]

The only problem I have had cleaning my engine compartment after a typical Florida mud bath is the int. wiper module on the 2000 X. It is not sealed and if you get water in it, your wipers will run constantly until it dries out. Whenever I clean the motor (I use Simply Green and if anyone has any doubts about how well it works just ask Aussie or UTJMac) I remove the module before spraying water in the engine compartment. That way it stays dry and I don't have that problem. I looked at a 2001 and it didn't have the same module I have so I can't attest to how it works on the 2001 and up Xs.

The only time I ArmorAll the motor is prior to a show. Armorall uses a slick oil-type base and if it gets on the belts can cause them to slip. I have seen serpentine belts tossed off the engine from it. It shouldn't happen on the X since they don't use a tensioner. But if a tensioner is involved in the newer models, I wouldn't recommend it on a regular basis.

[Olegkha]

Originally posted by superjens
Why cover anything? I mean, especially the alternator. It gets soaked when you drive around in the rain anyways, it isn't that sensitive to getting wet. I hose down the engine every time I wash it, and if crap is particularly caked-on then I use some of that orange-based cleaner. After many muddy days and hours on air-filter-choking dusty roads my engine compartment still looks brand new. Go ahead and hose it -- just make sure you do it when it's cold, not hot!! Hot engine + water = bad!

If you have mud on the alternator, and you push it in with the water
you will be looking for a new alternator with in couple of days

There are few people who can attest to the from MAXC/NJAX
we all lost our alternators after going through mud, and not having problems for a while , but after washing it and spraying water on the alternator , lossing it with in couple of days

New alternator runs you about 110 from a rebuild shop, and close to 300 from a dealer... so its your choice

[cmxterra]

Originally posted by Olegkha


There are few people who can attest to the from MAXC/NJAX
we all lost our alternators after going through mud, and not having problems for a while , but after washing it and spraying water on the alternator , lossing it with in couple of days

Reminds me of the story of the guy who went to the doctor. He said that every time he poked his eye it hurt. The doctor said for him to stop poking his eye

Moral of this story.. stay out of mud (at least the really deep mucky kind).

Oleg. Perhaps when you "cleaned the alternator" you did not do a thourgh (sp) job. And by not being meticulous about it caused mud to get farther into the alternator causing the failure. Just a thought not trying to bust your nuts or anything.

[Olegkha]

well carlton, i am not sure whats the right way to clean the alternator, but spraying ALOT of water on it while washing the engine coused My alternator to go bye bye

I drove with Mudy alternator for 2 weeks, and after washing it it was dead with in 24 hours

Dave (GoliathX) drove with his engine muddy for a while, and after washing the alternator it was dead with in 40 miles of driving the next day

Nick (DaminBlue) Washed the engine and the alternator was dead with in ... days ( i am not sure what actualy coused his)

and the list goes on... i got couple more exsamples if you want to hear them

So i figure NOT washing the alternator will prolong its life
pushing mud IN, is a sure way to kill it


as for staying away from the mud (at least the really deep mucky kind) Some times its not pocible to go around it , so you have to go through it

[aero_steve]

The last 2 times I washed my engine I used Simple Green and sprayed it off with a garden hose. Everything looked great, except the next day the Service Engine Soon light came on. 1st time this happened it was a faulty O2 sensor according to the fault code. The 2nd time the light went out before I got to the dealer after (2-3) weeks and about 1000 miles. Has anyone else had problems with getting 02 sensors wet?

[ozxterra]

Hmmm, and to think all I did was drive through a river in the Sultan Basin area to get my engine sparkly clean. Did wonders for the interior too!

Four XTerras and no issues even though three of them spent almost 15 minutes sitting in the river.. The water was exceptionally clean though so that might have had something to do with it.

If it gets really nasty I just pop the hood and blast it at the spray and wash. The spray is fine enough that is doesnt deluge the engine bay and it blows the crap off it.

Driving here in WA and BC the rig is wet for half the year anyway..... Its like worrying about hail dents on your truck if you live in north texas in spring without a garage... theres not a lot of point to it..

That being said I wouldnt mind a snorkel and other sealing gear.

[kaybeejay]

Originally posted by aero_steve
The last 2 times I washed my engine I used Simple Green and sprayed it off with a garden hose. Everything looked great, except the next day the Service Engine Soon light came on. 1st time this happened it was a faulty O2 sensor according to the fault code. The 2nd time the light went out before I got to the dealer after (2-3) weeks and about 1000 miles. Has anyone else had problems with getting 02 sensors wet?

Happened to me. I got my engine moderately muddy. Drove on it for a few weeks. Then hosed out the engine, immediately the "check engine light" came on. Waited a few weeks (maybe 1000 miles) and took it to the dealer. Paid $100 for the dianostic. It didn't need a new o2 sensor. The old one just got cleaned out and put back in.

Where is the o2 sensor, so I can not blast it with water next time. anyone know?

[OffroadX]

I think the X has 4, one per side in front of the pre-cats, and one per side in front of the main cats. The pre-cat ones should be the only ones in jeopardy from engine cleaning.

Brent

[kaybeejay]

excuse my ignorance....................

what and WHERE are the pre-cats?

[OffroadX]

They're small catalytic converters that are pretty much right after the exhaust manifolds. You can see one of the O2 sensors on the right side of the engine bay. The other side is harder to see.

Brent