Pour water into engine compartment?

darinb · 05-08-2008, 09:28 PM

Hello all,

Here's a question--can I pour water all over my engine compartment?

A few months back we had super-heavy rains and I took my FJ through four-foot deep puddles at speed for fun. It was fun and it made a good video.

Problem si my engine compartment, once sparkling clean, has a film of dirt over it from the water--ugly!

A neighbor says I can just garden hose it under normal pressure (i.e. no nozzle) to clean it off. I said, "Hmmmmm."

What do you think?

--Darin

**RoverGGM** · 05-08-2008, 09:30 PM

I prefer to use a high pressure hose myself.

layonnn · 05-08-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

RoverGGM previously said:

I prefer to use a high pressure hose myself.

same here. I would look and see where a lot of the electrical junctions are. I would try and avoid spraying high pressure directly into those areas though.

darinb · 05-08-2008, 09:32 PM

Hey RoverGGM,

I've read your posts and know you know what you are talking about--but let me double check here (since I'm afraid I know cameras but don't know engines...)

High pressure hose = Joke or serious?

--Darin

Update: O.K. now I see layonn's post--I guess a hose it will be!

**ballkillerxxx** · 05-09-2008, 02:17 PM

get some good engine cleaner in a spray can and spray and wipe it off

**TrAiLbUs1** · 05-09-2008, 02:18 PM

High pressure is fine just make sure not to hit vital parts...electrical wires etc.. full blast wipe down what you can...next time clean it up before it gets caked on there!

taltyman · 05-09-2008, 02:24 PM

When I was a lad they taught us to wash the engine with a high pressure hose with the engine running. Otherwise it may not start for a while and it would be so embarrassing. However now that I'm older methinks they just enjoyed seeing us young-nus getting wet when the radiator fan sprayed water everywhere.

**TrAiLbUs1** · 05-09-2008, 02:25 PM

You can drench the engine and it will still start

its an FJ ya know

**RoverGGM** · 05-09-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

TrAiLbUs1 previously said:

High pressure is fine just make sure not to hit vital parts...electrical wires etc.. full blast wipe down what you can...next time clean it up before it gets caked on there!

Quote:

layonnn previously said:

same here. I would look and see where a lot of the electrical junctions are. I would try and avoid spraying high pressure directly into those areas though.

Jake and Layonn said it best,

I've pressure blasted every vehicle I've owned since I got my first '77 CJ-5. I believe it's much better to have a clean engine than a fear of getting it wet. A clean engine will let you notice anything out of the ordinary quicker and will be much more pleasant to work on if necessary.

I've put baggies over the alternator before on the Range Rover and Mercedes, but not on any Toyotas I've owned. Don't be an idiot and try to blow the wiring harness connectors apart using the nozzle and you'll be fine.

I've never had a non-start after a pressure wash.

Let your heart guide you, I cannot vouch for your results......those are mine

mikey · 05-09-2008, 02:53 PM

You can use a pressure washer to clean or hose down the engine, like others have stated keep the wand away from electrical connections or other sensitive bits. This is one task where being a little further away never hurt.

I would say when driving through the aformentioned puddle, the water that was coming into the engine compartment probably had close to the same fore/velocity behind it at points as what is coming of the end of the wash wand.