Pressure Washing The 6.7
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
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From: BA, OK
Pressure Washing The 6.7
Has anyone took a pressure washer to the engine bay? It's dusty this time of year and my engine bay is a mess. My OCD wants it clean, on the other hand I can remember back to the days of distributor caps and rotors at the car wash if it was to get wet the car wouldn't start. There is a bunch more crap under the hood now than back in the good ol days and I'm a little reluctant to give it a try.
I'm sure steam cleaning would be the way to go but I'm looking for a DIY solution and I have a pressure washer handy.
I'm sure steam cleaning would be the way to go but I'm looking for a DIY solution and I have a pressure washer handy.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 2,494
From: West Michigan
I wouldn't recommend pressure washer. There is actually a section in the manual that shows area's to avoid. I've used engine degreaser on it, when the engine is cool, let it soak, and using a standard garden hose sprayer to rinse with no problems.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,693
Likes: 12,817
From: Wyoming
As suggested by djousma, a simple garden hose is good enough. I've seen a lot of guys use Simple Green to clean the engine bay. I've heard that you don't want to leave on for very long without rinsing it off. I've tried the Gunk engine cleaner but that stuff smells so bad I will never use it again. The AMSOil engine cleaner is citrus based and smells really good and seemed to be just as effective as Gunk. But it's also rather expensive. A plain dish soap might be all you need.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 2,494
From: West Michigan
Jim,
Agreed on the GUNK. While it works great, it takes a week or more to get the smell out of the truck. There are plenty of different engine bay degreasers on the shelf at most automotive stores.
Agreed on the GUNK. While it works great, it takes a week or more to get the smell out of the truck. There are plenty of different engine bay degreasers on the shelf at most automotive stores.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
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From: Frederick, MD
I just did mine this last weekend. spray the gunk stuff, let it sit and rinse with gentle water.
Then take it for a drive to get up to temps so it can dry out.
I would never pressure wash.
Then take it for a drive to get up to temps so it can dry out.
I would never pressure wash.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,453
From: Uh oh, CA
Reviving an old thread...
I live in a very dusty area. I popped my hood yesterday and wow, so much dust covering everything! It's raining now, but I was thinking about pulling up at a car wash in a little bit and just spraying the truck off and thought about just popping the hood and giving it a light spray too. No cleaner, just light spray with water. I wouldn't even hold the handle on the pressure washer down. Just stand back a bit and let the light spray hopefully knock most of the dirt off... is this a bad idea without covering things?
I live in a very dusty area. I popped my hood yesterday and wow, so much dust covering everything! It's raining now, but I was thinking about pulling up at a car wash in a little bit and just spraying the truck off and thought about just popping the hood and giving it a light spray too. No cleaner, just light spray with water. I wouldn't even hold the handle on the pressure washer down. Just stand back a bit and let the light spray hopefully knock most of the dirt off... is this a bad idea without covering things?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2022
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From: Dallas Metroplex
Low-pressure spraying should be fine, I would think. Full-pressure is a no-no, it'll penetrate connectors and possibly even break things (some car spray washes have way too much pressure)
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,693
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From: Wyoming
I use my pressure washer with a nozzle that provides a fairly wide spray, so reduced pressure. I don't cram it down into the engine bay, it's held up high to help further reduce the pressure. My electric pressure washer is rated at 1800 PSI, but it's fairly old and I suspect it's lost a few PSI over the years.
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Western NY
Dudes, this is sooo not a thread for me since I have my truck oiled yearly at Carwell Products before winter which includes the terminals, underneath the hood itself and other spots...
My truck is a dirty girl...
My truck is a dirty girl...
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,453
From: Uh oh, CA
Ok, so I just took a water hose to it a while ago. Just put my thumb over it and stood at a distance and gave it a quick rinse then drive it for about 20 miles. I'll see how much dirt it knocked off once things dry out around here...
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,693
Likes: 12,817
From: Wyoming
Colorado is fairly dry and they use MagChloride on the roads, not regular salt. So rust is a lot less likely than if I were in the Rust Belt.