question for anyone who knows regarding the 3.1L V6

[tblake]

Hi all. I know this is gonna make me sound like a neat freak, but i just changed the oil in my 2001 Chevy Lumina sedan, and I noticed that the engine compartment was kinda getting dirty. I was wondering if I am able to just spray it out with water at the car wash, or is this going to hurt it at all? (rust) (electrical) (plugs & wires) Its just basically built up dirt and dust. Any ideas? Considerations? Thanks.

[jeffcoslacker]

I do. I don't make any effort to protect anything, just don't blast the alternator or coil packs point-blank. Everything else is fair game. Never had any troble. Make sure you drive a good long ways after, so there is no standing water left.

[tblake]

k, thank you. I just needed some input. Tomorrows the day. Thanks

[djmoore85]

Something you might try that I did when I bought mine was spray everything cept the above mentioned electrical components with SIMPLE GREEN and let ti sit for a couple minutes and then just take a garden hose and run the water over the engine. Worked awesome for me.

[tblake]

good idea. thanks

[jeffcoslacker]

I will sometimes spray the DIS and wiring with WD-40 before wetting it, a habit from the old distributor days. That would keep water out of the cap and wire boots, but I stopped doing it on this car, and it doesn't seem to care. It starts right up and runs perfect.

Simple Green is good. The best I've used is a product called "STEAM", I think they have it at AZ. It's a big black can with silver lettering. On a warm engine, it really melts the crud. Stinks for about a week after, though.