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General Information => General => Topic started by: Diesel Fumes on December 27, 2007, 06:35:49 pm

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Diesel Fumes on December 27, 2007, 06:35:49 pm

Sorry, I did a quick search but never seen anything.  My engine is very oily and I suspect a valve cover leak.  Before I start ripping the engine apart I want it clean.  Any special procedures or precautions I should be taking?

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: burn_your_money on December 27, 2007, 07:33:31 pm

Give her hell with a pressure washer. Try not to get too much water in the alternator and don't spray into the intake. That's about it. I hear biodiesel is the best cleaner but I usually just use water

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Diesel Fumes on December 27, 2007, 07:42:14 pm

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

Give her hell with a pressure washer. Try not to get too much water in the alternator and don't spray into the intake. That's about it. I hear biodiesel is the best cleaner but I usually just use water

Its caked on pretty thick on my engine.  Would you advise against a solvent like Varsol?  Maybe I will just try the "engine wash" feature on the selector knob at the car wash  :lol:

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: burn_your_money on December 27, 2007, 07:49:12 pm

You can't go to the drive thru car washes, go to the DIY ones, much more fun.

It'll cut through that stuff no problem. Varsol is just more money that you don't need to spend. Try just the pressure washer and if you feel varsol is needed have at it. I'm not sure but I think it may dry out seals.

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Diesel Fumes on December 27, 2007, 09:04:47 pm

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

You can't go to the drive thru car washes, go to the DIY ones, much more fun.

It'll cut through that stuff no problem. Varsol is just more money that you don't need to spend. Try just the pressure washer and if you feel varsol is needed have at it. I'm not sure but I think it may dry out seals.

DIY is what I meant. I will check this out tomorrow.  I will let you know how it goes.  

I have an unlimited free supply of Varsol.  But like you said, yea, it can dry stuff out.  Some car washes have that foam cleaner that sprays onto the engine.  Wheel and engine cleaner or something.  I will check that out.

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Baselyne on December 28, 2007, 07:12:19 am

I took my car to the drive ni wash once.... There goes my antenna and radio....

I ushally just soak in degreaser and go look for rubber gloves and scraper/chizel/rags/wire brush
 Once I finally found all that stuff I think most of the oil would just drip off

Then you gotta get down to the grime an scrub that sucka clean
I spent 2 days nearly off and on coming out to the garage and wiping alittle here and there///

I made the backside of my motor mint when installing my gasser exhaust mani on the N/A and first trip down the road it was a dirt ball again!

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Diesel Fumes on December 28, 2007, 12:28:37 pm

spray the engine lightly with degreaser, then rinsed it off.  Cold engine of course.  I tried to avoid spraying on the turbo and alternator.   :D

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Vanagoner on December 28, 2007, 01:47:11 pm

Don't hose down your glow plug relay- it doesn't do well with that.

Title: Washing your engine?
Post by: Op-Ivy on January 03, 2008, 07:22:25 am

I just go to the car wash and spray it down a bit. Better to do when the engine is cooler rather than warm.

Oh, and try not to get any water on your distributer cap. Oh wait....  :lol: