Should i really wash the car engine?

Should I wash my engine????

A jet of soapy water, the foam brush and a quick rinse all get the engine clean – but you could end up with a glistening engine that won’t start, or worse.

“The engine compartment’s not designed for a lot of water – you could be getting water into areas where it shouldn’t be and it can cause corrosion, “Sure, you’ll have people saying they do it all the time and have no problems, but you really have to be careful.”

This are some few pitfalls of pressure washing: Spraying high-pressured warm or cool water on a hot engine could cool things too fast, stressing the metal and, potentially, causing cracks. Water could get into the alternator or the engine sensors, causing damage. It can also push dirt and guck onto belts – causing squeaks.

“If you’re really unfortunate, water could get into your engine through the induction system, from around the air cleaner,” “It’s unlikely, but you could force water into the cylinders and cause huge damage.”

While a modern electrical system should be able to keep out moisture – jets of water could cause trouble................



This was a true test........

Then should you be cleaning the engine at all?

An engine that’s clean enough to eat off will impress anyone who looks under your hood – but, unless you have a mess from a leak, that’s probably the only benefit, “If you have an oil leak, that attracts dirt so, yeah, you’ll want to clean it,” “But, in my opinion, if everything is working well – no oil or coolant leaks – cleaning the engine is strictly for cosmetic purposes.”

If you do want to clean under the hood, I recommend skipping the car wash and using a rag and a toothbrush. A water-soluble engine degreaser is fine, if you follow the directions on the label. Don’t use solvent based cleaners – they’ll just attract more dirt to the engine,

If you really want to use a hose, use it under low pressure, and not when the engine’s hot. Also avoid getting water into the alternator, the engine computer and the air filter – if you can find them.

Covering the alternator with a plastic bag or plastic wrap is a great idea; it might be tough to know what to avoid getting wet or what to cover unless you’re familiar with the engine.”

N: B anything that gets wet should be dried, ideally with compressed air, and then by running the engine until everything dries out