Engine Cleaning
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Engine Cleaning
This may be a crazy question, but here goes. This morning, I went down to the car wash to clean up the 302. I wrapped plastic around the distributor to keep it from getting wet. Soon as I got spraying the block, the truck cut-off. I'm sure that the problem was I got water in there some how. I'm pressure washed my other cars several times with no problem. How can I give it a good cleaning without worrying about the water and is there a trick to drying it out, if I do get water down in there? I have a little gunk and grime all over the intake and under the carb.
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From: fort bragg, North Carolin
Well did you actually wash the truck with the motor running? Is that safe? I don't know if I would drive that without flushing out the oil now. I heard steam cleaning these old engines is a better way to go
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Maryland
That is one of the first things i did when i got mine. As well as the covering the distributer, cover ALL ignition parts-module, coil...as well as remove the air filter and slip a bag or something over the entire carb and tape it down good or slip a rubber band on it. Other than that, it should be good to go
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
Any particular reason you washing it with the engine running? My guess is that the water temporarily shorted the ignition system and shut it down. For example, a coil won't work while immersed in water... the terminals that is. Or some water got into an electrical connector that needed a clean signal.
In bulletproofing the electrical system, I used dialectric grease in all the electrical plugs and light bulb sockets -- all the ones I could reach easily that is.
In bulletproofing the electrical system, I used dialectric grease in all the electrical plugs and light bulb sockets -- all the ones I could reach easily that is.
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Every vehicle I've ever owned, when I cleaned the engine, I left it running. I guess I've been lucky all these years. I guess I will try letting it run to get warmed up, tape everything up really good, spray it down with degreaser and spray it off with a regular garden hose.
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From: fort bragg, North Carolin
Im gonna try to clean my engine this weekend, never tried it, but got some good info from this thread, thanks
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
use WD40 to spray in the cap and rotor then wipe dry . you can seal up the cap with some silicone then you need to run a vent hose from it
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From: Maryland
And the reason you want to clean the engine while it is warm is because warm grease and grime is easyer to clean off. The engine degreaser just helps break down the really dirty stuff. And if you can, find a car wash that has heated water, but a garden hose will work, just not as well.
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I think you've got another problem. The truck was meant to drive in all weather conditions. Hate to think it would cut out every time it rained!
Unless you blasted the water stream right into the carb, distributor or buzz box I don't see why it would cut out. I've always left my engine running and blast away from critical parts. In other words, put the nozzle near the carb and point it outwards to direct water away from the carb.
I'd check your connections and use a dielectric grease on all of them to help seal out water. Change the dist. cap and you could use a little silicone or RTV on the lip but you shouldn't have to. I suspect the moisture condensed inside the bag and then the cap and shorted you out.
Unless you blasted the water stream right into the carb, distributor or buzz box I don't see why it would cut out. I've always left my engine running and blast away from critical parts. In other words, put the nozzle near the carb and point it outwards to direct water away from the carb.
I'd check your connections and use a dielectric grease on all of them to help seal out water. Change the dist. cap and you could use a little silicone or RTV on the lip but you shouldn't have to. I suspect the moisture condensed inside the bag and then the cap and shorted you out.
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From: Maryland
But at the same time, even though you drive in the rain, the engine is not ment to have massive amounts of water being thrown on it while running-otherwise why have a hood? Ever take the hood off and drive during a downpour rain or thunderstorm? HAHA
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It should be able to withstand a good mist of water as might be expected while driving in heavy rain or through standing water.
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Well as far as the all weather conditions thing, I wouldn't take that too far. In Ford's infinite wisdom they put the distributor right up front where the fan will catch and blow large amounts of water right onto it. If enough water gets inside you'll short out the points and such. I have heard it said that Ford should have included a 12v hairdryer with which to dry out the distributor with. WD40 also works because it displaces the moisture.
All weather, therefore, means RAIN, not driving submerged, or pressure washing your engine. I have used a pressure washer under my hood but I was extremely careful not to point anywhere near any gaskets, intakes, or electrical connections. Mainly I was just getting grease off of the power steering lines and frame. There is no point in having it running while washing. If a couple of thousand PSI isn't gonna knock the crud loose, neither is the heat from the engine.
All weather, therefore, means RAIN, not driving submerged, or pressure washing your engine. I have used a pressure washer under my hood but I was extremely careful not to point anywhere near any gaskets, intakes, or electrical connections. Mainly I was just getting grease off of the power steering lines and frame. There is no point in having it running while washing. If a couple of thousand PSI isn't gonna knock the crud loose, neither is the heat from the engine.
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