is it safe to wash your engine?
+1...I use just soapy water on a damp rag and that works just fine
The CEL could be your knock sensor? A buddy had his car detailed and I guess they hosed down the engine bay. When he got it back, the CEL was on and idling funny and rough. I took my obdii reader and checked the code. It was the knock sensor. We switched it out for another one and no more cel. Idles fine. I concluded that when the 'detailers' cleaned the engine, water must have reached the knock sensor causing it to malfunction.
i detail cars for a living. i have pressure washed literally 100's if not 1000's of motors with no ill effects. we degrease the motor and engine bay, steam it off, and then we dress the motor (similar to armor all i.e. white water based shining agent). most of the time we steam the motor while its hot but it really makes no difference. the only difference in these cars (mostly stock) and ours is some of the electronics we add such as boost controllers, EDFC's, various engine management components. many of these come with instructions that require them to be mounted where they will not get wet. i would, on my own car, heed their warnings because they are telling you that their products aren't water proof. other than that you should be fine. hope that helps. oh, and the only thing i would be cautious of getting wet while hot are tubular manifolds. i dont have much experience with them at work but they are made thinner that cast pieces (also most cast pieces are seamless) and their welds may not like the sudden temp change. you can still steam them though just make sure that they are cold if you do and dry them off before starting the car to help prevent the metal from getting water stained.
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Evolving Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 274
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From: Brisbane Australia
compressed air, a rag, and some cleaner/degreaser. I dont spray down my engine bay, but when I want to clean up around tight spots like around the steering rack for example, I will spray some degreaser/ cleaner and then get some compressed air to blow it out of the crevices. Safe and effective.
Would degreaser leave any marks or anything as such?
Ive never had any issues with it leaving residue or ruining paint finishes. I use something like some diluted simple green which cleans out the engine bay nicely without the excessive shine a engine degreaser leaves. But if your into that then degreasers do make an engine bay shiny.
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