Washing Engine
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Washing Engine
Hello new guy here.
Just bought an ol' beat up F150 1991 302 with 4wd.
I'm thinking I will be on here a lot. The truck is pretty rough.
First question I have is, is it safe to wash under the hood?
The engine is under about an inch of mud and I can't tell whats going on in there.
I know this may sound like a dumb question, but I used to wash all the engines after I bought a vehicle until I shorted out a throttle position sensor on a Jeep Cherokee
. Which I found out later happens to almost every new owner!
Thanks
Just bought an ol' beat up F150 1991 302 with 4wd.
I'm thinking I will be on here a lot. The truck is pretty rough.
First question I have is, is it safe to wash under the hood?
The engine is under about an inch of mud and I can't tell whats going on in there.
I know this may sound like a dumb question, but I used to wash all the engines after I bought a vehicle until I shorted out a throttle position sensor on a Jeep Cherokee
. Which I found out later happens to almost every new owner!Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: stinkin lincoln, maine
I just thought of this.....when my girlfriends father's 96 F-150 was just barely a year old, he let me and his nephew take it hunting ( i.e. mudding
) Anyway, we went to the carwash and did underneath everything so there was no grass hanging of the axles or anything, and thought we were in the clear. About 2 weeks later the father went to check his oil and I had to explain how the engine got covered in so much mud.....oops
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,031
Likes: 1,521
From: Maine, Virginia
Hello new guy here.
Just bought an ol' beat up F150 1991 302 with 4wd.
I'm thinking I will be on here a lot. The truck is pretty rough.
First question I have is, is it safe to wash under the hood?
The engine is under about an inch of mud and I can't tell whats going on in there.
I know this may sound like a dumb question, but I used to wash all the engines after I bought a vehicle until I shorted out a throttle position sensor on a Jeep Cherokee. Which I found out later happens to almost every new owner!
Thanks
Just bought an ol' beat up F150 1991 302 with 4wd.
I'm thinking I will be on here a lot. The truck is pretty rough.
First question I have is, is it safe to wash under the hood?
The engine is under about an inch of mud and I can't tell whats going on in there.
I know this may sound like a dumb question, but I used to wash all the engines after I bought a vehicle until I shorted out a throttle position sensor on a Jeep Cherokee
. Which I found out later happens to almost every new owner!Thanks
Tim
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
Be very careful and use a low velocity nozzle.
The last time I blasted away on my '88, I shorted out a number of things such as those tiny thin injector wires that are hard as hell to access from under the intake. Ultimately I ended up replacing the processor as it got shorted out.
Tim
The last time I blasted away on my '88, I shorted out a number of things such as those tiny thin injector wires that are hard as hell to access from under the intake. Ultimately I ended up replacing the processor as it got shorted out.
Tim
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 3
From: Nebraska
I've powerwashed the engine in every vehicle I own with absolutely no problems other than having to dry out the distributor cap. I don't spray anything "fragile" or electrical directly, and watch the belt and hoses.
If you're nervous or don't want to risk it, lots of people here have used a good degreaser and a garden hose with good results.
We did have an 87-91 come into the shop where I work that wouldn't start after the owner powerwashed the engine. It took a long time to find, but moisture had gotten in one of the main engine connectors on the driver's side. I personally think some of the people who have these types of problems get a little carried away or too direct with the powerwasher.
If you're nervous or don't want to risk it, lots of people here have used a good degreaser and a garden hose with good results.
We did have an 87-91 come into the shop where I work that wouldn't start after the owner powerwashed the engine. It took a long time to find, but moisture had gotten in one of the main engine connectors on the driver's side. I personally think some of the people who have these types of problems get a little carried away or too direct with the powerwasher.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Worth, Texas
I would first use some dilectric grease on the dist. cap and rotor. Then I would cover the Dist. Cap in a plastic bag like a shopping bag.
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