So there are situations where pressure washing a car engine and bay area is about making it function better and last longer compared to just making it look better.
See full version: How To Pressure Wash Your Car; s Engine Bay
So there are situations where pressure washing a car engine and bay area is about making it function better and last longer compared to just making it look better.
Regardless how often you open the hood to check the levels or look at your car engine, you have to admit it looks damn good clean.
Pressure washing your car engine can be safe, for sure, but should you even bother?
Any of our 7 best pressure washers recommendation will do the job quick-smart. A heavy-duty or light-duty machine can be used.
We get it. The thought of diving into your car’s engine is enough to make your skin crawl. Butdepending on the environment in which you live, your car engine may be crying for you to do so.
Most vehicle detailing companies offer this service as an added extra on top of exterior washes. At an additional fee they will power wash under the hood with a high pressure hose and use degreasing fluids. more
We believe these benefits far outweigh the time and effort it takes to give what’s under the hood a good scrub. Since the car really doesn’t care if it’s clean or not; in the long run it’s only you who reap the rewards. here
The pressure washer sitting next to me is an electric AR Blue Clean with blue plastic enclosure. It says it has IPX5 rating. The ‘X’ says it is not rated for dust protection (as its not critical to function) and the ‘5’ says it is protected against water jets. Other IP ratings with regards to water are:
And a clean engine looks great…
If you buy the Simple Green concentrate pictured right you can dilute it with water to create a solution of varying potency.
If you can, check the IP rating of electric enclosures in your car engine area. If you can’t then just assume they are less than IP5 and cover them with plastic bags.
There are two situations you may encounter, each will require a different chemical cleaning solutions
Once time is up for the degreaser, you have to hose it off. It is best not to use a high-pressure nozzle, as it may damage electrical connections even if you covered them. A regular garden hose with an adjustable nozzle set at “stream” will work well.
The heat from your engine helps it dry quickly. Never let your engine air dry as it spots. Instead, after a few minutes of letting the engine dry itself, wipe it down with a clean microfiber towel.
If your car engine is clean, let the degreaser soak in for about three minutes. Very dirty engines need five minutes for the degreaser to loosen everything. For moderate to light buildup, there is no need to use a hand brush. For heavy deposits, use a parts brush (it is long-handled) so you can easily reach all parts of the engine. When using the brush, use a little car wash solution so that the brush’s agitation has a little help in removing heavy soil before you hose down the engine.
Make sure you buy a water or citrus-based cleaner. Petroleum-based products work fast, but are also harsh and degrade rubber hoses and seals. Apply the degreaser from the bottom up so that while you are working on cleaning the engine, the degreaser won’t drip down on you. Also, keep in mind that if you overspray the degreaser it will remove the wax from your fenders. Cover them or spray very carefully so you don’t have to deal with re-waxing chores. After you apply the degreaser, hose off your fenders if they were not protected. Other areas that need hosing off include the hood and grille.
Talk about an effortless step! Start your car and let it run 5-10 minutes. This loosens the accumulated grease and oil and other stuff stuck on the engine. In addition, a warm engine works well with degreaser products.
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