[ducky84375]

hey, I have an 81' celica, the valve cover gasket leaks and the previous owner didn't do anything about it so my engine is covered with a very stubborn layer of grease, I'm going to replace the gasket in the next couple of weeks.

I want to clean the rest of the engine up afterwards and was wondering if anyone had ever had problems pressure washing an old engine. Old engine = old wiring so I'm worried about blowing stuff apart and having problems with shorts ect. when I reconnect the battery and start it up. Should I be worried at all?

 

[ekpolk]

I've got a 2700 psi pressure washer (oh what a great boy toy), and have used it on my engines, but they are newer ones. I would just proceed with caution, perhaps using an engine degreaser to prep the surfaces, then tape over any plainly vulnerable spots, and then start by working on it from some distance, to minimize surface impact pressure. If you do any forced water cleaning, I'd recommend starting it immediately after and running it for a while to heat it up and drive off any water that may have worked itself into a place where it could gradually start causing trouble. Oh yeah, don't use the narrow stream tip. On my PW, this thing cuts like a laser, and from a distance of two inches easily digs a hole in concrete (at least the cheap kind they make suburban driveways out of). Just be careful.

 

[ducky84375]

Do I have to be real careful with the degreaser, the stuff I have has all of this prep stuf it says to do to the engine before you use it, will it damage anything if I just soak all the metal in the campartment with the stuff and let it sit for like ten minutes to soak in? thanks for the advice.

 

[knuckleduster]

i use Greased Lighthing or Foamy Engine Brite and a pressure washer to clean my engines. i spray the engine down with the degreaser when it is warm (not hot!) and let it sink in for about 10 minutes. then i set the pressure washer to its lowest pressure setting and spray it down. be sure to cover your distributor before you do this!

 

[ducky84375]

the distrubutor already has a cover on it, will it suffice.

 

[5Sfte]

Speaking of pressure washers, I just had an Airmen get injured from one 2 nights ago. The handle broke and released all the pressurized water with no flow control. It sprayed about 3 inches from his leg and cut him up pretty bad. There was blood everywhere. Be careful. I never thought of these as dangerous.

 

[knuckleduster]

the distrubutor already has a cover on it, will it suffice.

I usually put a plastic grocery bag over mine then put a rubber band around the bag and try not to hit it with the pressurised water.:thumbup:

 

[dougone]

I think you'll find that the grease you're talking about is actually wax that Toyota cover the engine with when they export. If your vin number starts with J it is definitely an import. This wax should have been cleaned off by the dealer when the car was new. It is very difficult to get off when on the older side. Good luck!

 

[jhbhatia]

i know we solaraguys HATE using engine degreesers. Some degreesers have faded (whitened, not cleaned) the engines...your basic discoloration. I personally use lavish amounts of simple green and let it soak in and then start my cleaning. From what i've used personally, its less abbrassive...surely, but at least i know i'm not discoloring my engine.

 

[Your Uncle Moe]

Use Simple Green and just use a regular garden hose. That works fine. And put your elbow into it and scrub anything hard to remove.

You'll be fine.

 

[SolaraTRD]

Hmm. I got salt deposits left over from last winter. Wonder if pressure waching will blast the salt away?