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car wash, engine cleaner

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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 02:39 PM
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Default car wash, engine cleaner

ok at some car washes they have where you can spray your engine and engine bay off and some cars you cant do that
was wondering if a 2nd generation es 300 could be sprayed off cause i would like to have a cleaner looking engine but was afraid to mess something up in my engine? any suggestions im no car genious but i was at the car wash doing it myself and i was looking at it
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 05:02 PM
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Of course you can.
Just cover the battery and alternator, and anything else you don't want wet.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 06:27 PM
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I guess covering the battery, alternator, distributor, and air filter would be a good bet
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 08:11 PM
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I thought you couldn't do that...but if that's the case then use engine de-greaser and rinse away with a pressure washer... and avoid the rubber parts of course.... or a steam washer.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 08:15 PM
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get the "gunk" orange top from a local autozone and just use it and some towels/rags and just give it some elbow grease, gives the black in the engine bay some nice shine but u might need a toothbrush of somesort to get to the little crevices.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 08:19 PM
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I would not dare to wash my engine with a spray hose.

You might like to try some diluted Simple Green in a spray bottle and some rags and get to wiping. Gunk's not a bad idea either.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 08:22 PM
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Earlier I was fixing the spindle assembly to the toyota van, and I got all greased up and dirty... my uncle had some Kirkland signature laundry detergent and sugested that I use it to clean myself... and it WORKED! It worked better than that orange gojo stuff (and other auto hand cleaners)that I always used.. I don't know why but it washed away clean.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by LXMN
I would not dare to wash my engine with a spray hose.

You might like to try some diluted Simple Green in a spray bottle and some rags and get to wiping. Gunk's not a bad idea either.
I agree. Simple Green for cleaning the greasy stuff, and then put a coating of 303Aerospace protectant on all rubber and plastic parts, like hoses, air filter cover, fuse box, etc.
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Old Oct 18, 2007 | 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Lexucan
I agree. Simple Green for cleaning the greasy stuff, and then put a coating of 303Aerospace protectant on all rubber and plastic parts, like hoses, air filter cover, fuse box, etc.
I used WD-40 once. It turned out quite well. Never doing it again though, just got some 303 recently

Found my old engine thread too. Its not perfect but I didn't have a spare toothbrush at the time haha

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Engine
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Old Oct 19, 2007 | 09:16 PM
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I have been spraying down my engines for years and never had a problem. High-end detail shops use boiling water so it dries when it touches the engine. You can use a pressure washer, but just make sure the engine is warm and the water will dry very quickly. Then drive the car and get the engine compartment up to a high temperature.

Of course something could happen, but in most cases, it will be fine.
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Old Oct 20, 2007 | 10:51 PM
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Yes I've heard about the warm engine thing... but I also heard of the HOT engine, cold water comes into contact with HOT, and heads expanding... then blowing up. Not too sure if it's true.
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Old Oct 21, 2007 | 09:05 AM
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Isnt the engine cleaner at the car wash also "tire/wheel cleaner"? You are definitely better off taking a saturday or sunday morning to spend some time detail cleaning it with purple power or simple green at home. If you have an aftermarket air intake, cover the filter with a plastic bag.
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Old Oct 21, 2007 | 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by 3000
Yes I've heard about the warm engine thing... but I also heard of the HOT engine, cold water comes into contact with HOT, and heads expanding... then blowing up. Not too sure if it's true.
its true scientificly, heat expand and cold visversa. if any object is hot and was to come in contact with an instant of cold substant, the out come is fatal.

depending on the the level of heat and object thats being cool.
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