how long does it take to cool an engine before washing it?

[schumionbike]

This is just out of curiosity. I'm in Houston TX right now where it's like 65 degrees today. Went home to from a school 17 miles away, all high way cruising at 60mph. Got home at 3. at 4:15, took the car to the carwash half a mile away. Pop the hood to cover up the stuff and spray engine decreaser. Started spraying the engine at 4:45. You can touch the engine without getting burn but you definitely your face on it. It's that cool enough for engine washing?

[93celicaconv]

How long does it take to cool and engine before washing it? Well, you could rinse it down with a lot of water first - it will cool down quickly then!! Oh, wait; you want the engine to run after cleaning it. Never mind!

It all depends upon what kind of factor of safety you want. If you want none, wash it down right away. If you want a lot, leave it sit overnight in the car wash, then wash it down in the morning.

I know, those aren't usable options. The cooler though, the better. Cold water on a hot exhaust manifold can crack it. Water in other areas of a hot engine will quicly vaporize - and when the engine cools down, will condense out in areas where water typically doesn't get into (like distributor caps or ignition systems, wiring harnesses, etc.). So there isn't one answer that is just right for you.

I like clean engines also, but many people on forums are very much opposed to washing an engine down. What is motivating you to wash down your engine?

Lastly, try to protect your distributor/ignition coils, and your alternator from getting wet, especially from a high pressure sprayer. Those are most vunerable when getting wet - they don't like it - and they make you very sad you got them soaked.

[BamZipPow]

Yes...

[schumionbike]

My engine was dirty as heck, there were piles of dirt everywhere so I just want to clean it up. And yes, I did cover everthing up. I think 2 hours after a nice drive should be enough but I'm just curious as to how long you guys would wait.

[93celicaconv]

You should be good at 1 hour, in my opinion.

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by schumionbike

My engine was dirty as heck, there were piles of dirt everywhere so I just want to clean it up. And yes, I did cover everthing up. I think 2 hours after a nice drive should be enough but I'm just curious as to how long you guys would wait.

I'm sure to get a little flack over this, but here goes. I've got a 2000 Camry LE 6cyl and like to have a clean engine bay. Makes it easier to spot leaks and generally looks nicer. I'm not sure if it runs any better, though.

I usually clean the engine every oil change. No matter how hard I try, I always spill oil when I remove the oil filter and it drips all over the front of the engine. Then the fans blow the oil all over the engine, and it makes a mess.

So off to the Car Wash. I get there, get the rags out, unlock the doors, make sure the windows are closed, open the hood, and spray the entire engine compartment with the green engine de-greaser. Maybe 5 minutes go by from the time I pull in to the time I squirt the entire engine compartment.

The engine de-greaser kinda dribbles out, so there's not too much volume of water. After I soak the engine compartment, and the underside of the car where the oil drips, then I turn it on high pressure soap, hose down the whole car, and then the engine compartment last.

Then the wax and rinse, and a some Armour-All and everything looks nice. I try to keep the high pressure spray away from the coil packs since they tend to leak a bit. I noticed some rust in the spark plug holes when I changed the valve cover gaskets so I'm a bit more careful around the coil packs. I also avoid spraying the Alternator and exhaust manifold directly, although everything gets plenty wet.

Since I do this every oil change, maybe 5 times a year, and I've had the car 8 years, and it's got 214,000 miles on it. So I'd say either I'm the luckiest guy on the planet, or there's not too much to worry about. But your mileage may vary. I did an oil change about 1000 miles ago. Here's what my engine compartment looks like:

[schumionbike]

That engine look so clean and nice !!!! I have 182 K on my 1999 Camry and my engine bay look nothing like that even after washing then engine!!! I'm pretty sure this is the first time that car had its engine wash. I just went to the store, got my engine decreaser, went home, took a nap and then went to the car wash

[haux]

I wash my engine while it's hot and I don't cover up anything. I've never had a problem. If you want to be safe, cover up the battery and alternator.

The only time I've ever had any issues was washing the engine of a car with a carburetor.

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by haux

I wash my engine while it's hot and I don't cover up anything. I've never had a problem. If you want to be safe, cover up the battery and alternator.

The only time I've ever had any issues was washing the engine of a car with a carburetor.

One time I forgot to close the window on the drivers side, and let me tell you how much soapy water gets in your car from one of those high pressure car wash hoses. Boy was I mad. The only good thing...there wasn't anybody around to see me do it.

[skuttduck]

I suggest driving the car around a bit after washing your engine bay to help dry it out. I once took my car out of the garage washed it and the engine bay, then put it back. The next day my Whistler fuzion radar detector errored out. It was because water got into the extension plug.

Had I drove it like I did other times that would have not allowed the water to sit and seap into the wires.

I never directly spray the engine with a full blast of the pressure hose. Usually an engine degreaser, and then lightly rinse off. Anything else I try and get with a junky towel.

You can use the full blast of the pressure hose on the underside of the hood though.

[schumionbike]

yeah, I turned on the engine on at let it idle for a good 15 minute right after washing it. Perhaps next time, I'll let the engine cool down completely before washing just be more comfortable. The only thing is, thre's still a smell of the engine decreaser in my engine and I can smell it in the cabin when I turn the fan on. I though I rinse every thing pretty thoroughly, hopefully the smell will be gone soon enough.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by ajkalian

I'm sure to get a little flack over this, but here goes. I've got a 2000 Camry LE 6cyl and like to have a clean engine bay. Makes it easier to spot leaks and generally looks nicer. I'm not sure if it runs any better, though.

I usually clean the engine every oil change. No matter how hard I try, I always spill oil when I remove the oil filter and it drips all over the front of the engine. Then the fans blow the oil all over the engine, and it makes a mess.

So off to the Car Wash. I get there, get the rags out, unlock the doors, make sure the windows are closed, open the hood, and spray the entire engine compartment with the green engine de-greaser. Maybe 5 minutes go by from the time I pull in to the time I squirt the entire engine compartment.

The engine de-greaser kinda dribbles out, so there's not too much volume of water. After I soak the engine compartment, and the underside of the car where the oil drips, then I turn it on high pressure soap, hose down the whole car, and then the engine compartment last.

I did an oil change about 1000 miles ago. Here's what my engine compartment looks like:

Ditto on taking flack. . . - Maybe once a year do the car wash, i just don't use the degreaser as it could set some furry of corrosion in motion on connectors that can't be seen. Hint, not really sure what the chemical make up of degreaser is, but IF you don't get it all out of "where ever" it gets into it could cause corrorsion issues so I just use hot water.

Note: you guys doing overhauls, don't hesitate to yank the dust covers off the body and undercarriage and blast away. As said, avoid seals, bearings, electronics ect. . . My point; some of those rack and pinion jobs, eeeeK - wouldn't touch em till they got pressure washed!

Once basically clean a garden hose will do the trick.
> Additional advice; don't hit gaskets, seals, RTV as it disrupts the surface bond and can cause leaks. Then again, it must already be leaking if you're blasting it! If its just dust, blow it off with the air compressor!

1995 with more miles but no leaks at 220,000miles!


I wait at least 30 minutes from hot before garden hose action. . .
Once done, I always try to drive them for at least 20 minutes to warm them, get air circulation, and displace the moisture under the hood.

So far so good. . .

EDIT: if something really pukes and makes a mess, solvents and paint brush, followed by houshold spray cleaners and the hose. Again, caustic cleaners can be forced into places via hi-pressure, so careful what you spray on even if its low pressure.

[#2!]

If you can hold your hand against the exhaust manifold for 10+ seconds without pissing yourself, then it is safe.

[schumionbike]

look like I'm going to spray that engine down again. Don't think I got all the decreaser off as I can smell it whenever I turn the engine on. Next time, I'll just use hot water.

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by 73sport

1995 with more miles but no leaks at 220,000miles!
So far so good. . .

Hmmm, let see. You have 220,000 miles on yours. I have 214,000 miles on mine. Do you realize between the two of us, we could have driven our cars to the moon and back?

Maybe we should start a thread, maybe call it Lunar Camrys to see how many TN Camrys have enough mileage on them to get to the moon. Of course they would have to show pics of the engine compartment too.