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YOUR RESEARCHWashing engine
Leading reported evidence
Use diluted degreasing solution
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Leading evidence: 'Use diluted degreasing solution' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean anyways' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
Clean the bottom side while on car is on stands or lift.
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Replace starter, oil cooler o-rings or aos, you know this
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Suggestion
If you've been in there, say replacing the starter, oil cooler o-rings or AOS, you know this to be true and that area collects a lot of crap, so it will collect a large pool of water.
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I have done this with good results. Take a plastic bag and tape it over the air intake. Hose down the engine bay. I have used a diluted degreasing solution. Simple Green or the purple stuff to spray it all over. Let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes and get the power washer out and blast away at a low setting but enough to blow the grime off.
Washing the engine is just asking for trouble. There isn't much to clean anyways. Blow the dust off with a compressor and wipe down the plastic/rubber parts with some WD40
First, I would never take a hose or pressure washer to the engine bay! Simply put, there are just too many things that can go wrong. Think of all the sensors and electrical connections on your engine, coils, throttle body, alternator, and so on. Plus the fact that the engine configuration (flat) means there is a large flat area between the cylinder heads. If you've been in there, say replacing the starter, oil cooler o-rings or AOS, you know this to be true and that area collects a lot of crap, so it will collect a large pool of water. Better method is wash car, open engine bay, take your leaf blower and blow it out, then use compressed air to really give it a blast, and finally use a bunch of shop towels to clean it up as far as you can reach. Patience will get you a very clean engine bay.
If you do proceed with hosing down the engine, you better make sure the engine is stone cold. I would even go so far as disconnecting the battery, covering everything electrical, sensors, alternator, starter motor, power steering pump, AC compressor, SAI pump, removing the air filter box and serpentine belt, and probably more than I am thinking of at the moment. I give up, go back and just blow it out with some compressed air...way better and safer.
I really don't see what the big deal is. For us who daily drive and most likely have driven thru the rain and at times a torrential down pour the motor gets plenty wet. The motor is after all exposed from the deck lid (my car is a Aerokit and clear vent holes) and from the underside. I would agree that we should not intentionally soak electrical connection. Once done take the car for a good hour drive to dry it all up.
While it is true the engine may get wet from sitting in the rain or from washing the car -- at least this is the case with my 996 Turbo (the serpentine belt slips upon engine start as the pulleys/belt dry out) -- washing the engine subjects the engine and engine harness and engine compartment to a lot more water.
The only time I washed my Boxster's engine within a week the spoiler acted up. It has never done this before nor since. Thankfully the spoiler recovered but I have never washed the engine again. And I have never ever washed the engine in my Turbo.
My advice is unless you need to clean the engine prior to working on it don't. Leave it be.
I think KK would disagree with you.
As for electrical connections, most of the electrical connections have the weather proof connectors that are double or triple ribbed grommet around them. There shouldn't be any issues with water getting in those kinds.
I've washed plenty of engines including this one and most just required the alternator and intake areas to be sealed off. YMMV...
I'll save him the effort:
1. Jack up car
2. Remove wheels
3. Drain all fluids from the car
4. Replace fluids
5. Put wheels back on car
6. Take care for a gentle drive to get engine up to operating temperature
7. Immediately return home
8. Jack up car
9. Remove wheels
10. Drain all fluids from the car
11. Remove engine from car
12. Replace anything bolted to engine whether it is worn or not
13. Clean engine with an OCD-level of attention
14. Reinstall engine
15. Replace fluids again
16. Put wheels back on car
17. Start car to make sure it runs
18. Park car in garage
19. Make thread on Rennlist about what an unreliable time bomb your car is
Here is the problem with power washing any engine. Most power washer run at 1200psi or more, this is a heck of a lot more pressure than driving through a huge storm. Yes the connector are weather proof but if you hit them with the power washer at the right way, it will push water passed the seals and they you have a connector with water it it that can never dry out. If you are cautious, and keep the nozzle far enough away and the connector seals are still in good shape, nothing will happen. BUT given the chance that people will do strange things and older harnesses will have faulty connector seals, washing them is asking for trouble. Best is not to wash them, period.
I got to admit that was very funny. Some of you guys are indeed hilarious.
I would only pressure wash the engine if it was removed from the vehicle for repairs and properly sealed. I still dont think it would be needed. I only use a squirt bottle of some type of degreaser or pressurized can type if needed, brush away grime, follow with squirt bottle of water to rinse, then dry.
You can remove the air cleaner and SAI to create a lot of room for cleaning the topside and front (rear) of engine. Clean the bottom side while on car is on stands or lift.
If you have to drop engine or trans for repairs, thats your chance to thoroughly clean everything. I also agree with you that I cant stand looking at or working on a dirty engine.
I never implied pressure washing as I tend to agree on that part. If you do pressure wash, def hold it a bit away or turn down the pressure if there is a regulator.
I tend to let the degreasing agents do their job and just run a hose afterwards.
I've been meaning to try the steam devices one of these days.
I like to just back the car down a boat launch far enough to submerge the engine and give it a bath. Leave it running though, that way the belt and rotating parts can splash the water around in the compartment.
I wouldn't touch mine at all. If the next owner wants to clean the engine then let him. I aint running the risk of spraying water or degreaser in places it wasn't meant to be sprayed. Some may say I am an idle bastard. I like to think I am a WISE idle bastard lol. End of story.
LOL Yeh added to the 2 x 4 holding open the engine lid, I like to wear a yellow plastic rain mac and sou'wester hat with the convertible top down when I drive through the car wash. That way I get the dust from the seats and floor carpets as well. The hard part is getting out of the car afterwards to empty my yellow wellington boots before I can drive home hahaha. I just read the boat ramp method and can't see now for tears in my eyes hahaha.
