Engine washed - engine misfiring?

[Glenn Smith]

I would avoid washing an egine bay with a pressure washer, but i would do and have done when neccessary, i spray with Jizer first, let it soak in then jet wash on low pressure keeping the jet away from direct contact with electrical items as much as possible. you may need to unplug and blow out with an airline any related plugs ie injectors, mas, engine temp sender, ecu etc.

 

[grober]

Why oh why do people still do this? The modern automobile is packed with electronics-- sensors, injectors, ECU's ABS controllers etc etc , petrol or diesels they are equally at risk . Why run the risk of damaging these delicate and EXPENSIVE components for purely cosmetic reasons? Believe me you are better off with a slightly grubby DRY engine compartment. Manual cleaning with suitable materials if you must but a pressure washer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

edit:- Its probably time with the proliferation of home pressure washers that car manufacturers start sticking prominent warning notices under the bonnet about this.

 

[Will]

Pressure washing engine bays is lazy and vain. If you desire a sparkling engine bay take the time and do it properly, as Stats has shown.

As Grober rightly mentions, leave it dry and dirty unless you know what you're doing.

The most I have ever used on any car is Gunk and a controlled hose - that's only on older cars and taking many precautions - covering everything sensitive, drying thorougly and dressing/protecting/lubricating everything afterwards. Even that has it's own risks.

Will

 

[television]

And I have to be careful about washing the outside of mine with just a hose pipe

If you must clean the engine as I do, then I spray a little degrease onto selected items and areas, then if safe to do so rinse off with a water jug and slowly work around the engine bay, but never near any electronics

 

[Glenn Smith]

Why oh why do people still do this? The modern automobile is packed with electronics-- sensors, injectors, ECU's ABS controllers etc etc , petrol or diesels they are equally at risk . Why run the risk of damaging these delicate and EXPENSIVE components for purely cosmetic reasons? Believe me you are better off with a slightly grubby DRY engine compartment. Manual cleaning with suitable materials if you must but a pressure washer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

edit:- Its probably time with the proliferation of home pressure washers that car manufacturers start sticking prominent warning notices under the bonnet about this.

well i bought an oldish Jag with a big oil leak, it had been there sometime and built up into an oily mud pile on the subframe, how else are you going to clean it off? so sometimes it's neccessary and can be done without damaging anything provided you are careful, the merc is also starting to get a bit grubby under the bonnet and i will probably be lazy and give a quick rinse with the pressure washer.

 

[c240yaz]

In most cases on a diesel, it not the water that does the damage, it's the sh*t that you disturb, blasting it into the electrical contacts, alternator etc.

Mind you, I have steam blasted many larger diesels, mainly when the whole compartment has had a spraying with engine oil or ATF. Sometimes it's the only way to clean it.

 

[stats007]

There's always dry ice cleaning.

 

[Topkat]

let it idle for a very long time. mine took about 20 mins to get back to normal

I tried again today with no improvement... was yours shaking a lot when idle?

Everyone says leave it for a few days to dry up, I hope the weather improves..... :-(

 

[recycled]

initially yes but only took about 20mins to get back to normal.
petrol it was though i did cover up the vital electronic parts

 

[Topkat]

It was nothing to do with water damage... the injector plug head had come loose some how, i undone it and replugged it in and it runs fiiiine

So it's safe to wash a diesel engine too.... well for short term lol

Thx for all the help!

 

[recycled]

the force could have blown it out.
good on you anyway.

 

[timskemp]

There's always dry ice cleaning.

explain?

 

[IanA2]

Totally agree with Paul having just spent 4 hours on mine :

Funny looking Porsche........