Are engine covers needed?
Lexus Champion
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It also doesn't matter at all on my Audis as they have sealed alternators with liquid cooling
Pit Crew
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From: VT
It’s possible the engine covers, esp. the central one, DO have something important to do — but not necessarily the way you think. The covers may augment and control the flow of air through the radiator(s).
Lexus Champion
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Intermediate
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From: California
Unless you are an idiot you can just spray the whole engine bay down with foam etc, I don't have a picture of the LS460s bay foamed down but I spray it every other wash to make sure it remains clean.
I've done it to all my cars so that I know instantly if there are leaks and so that there is no dust, pull the plastic covers off and just stay about 1 foot away from most stuff. Don't go after the fuse boxes or anything like that and it's fine
Best way to avoid heat soak is to just open the hood when you get home, I also have both my Audis sets to after run their main fans and electric cooling pumps so they don't sit hot when I'm out and about.
I've done it to all my cars so that I know instantly if there are leaks and so that there is no dust, pull the plastic covers off and just stay about 1 foot away from most stuff. Don't go after the fuse boxes or anything like that and it's fine
Best way to avoid heat soak is to just open the hood when you get home, I also have both my Audis sets to after run their main fans and electric cooling pumps so they don't sit hot when I'm out and about.
You are right about almost all of this - but I still cover the alternator with a (new) 13 gallon trash bag and avoid spraying very near it - better to just leave it dirty than risk spraying water inside the alternator. I prefer to use either "spot free rinse" if at the car wash or else just the hose at home. I like to let the chemicals do the cleaning, anything is better than blasting everything including electrical connections with high pressure water. Having cleaned engines that would not restart right away after a cleaning, in my experience a high pressure rinse is asking for trouble.
Last edited by Marc780; May 27, 2024 at 01:14 AM.
Lexus Champion
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From: Ohio
Sincere question - what do you accomplish by opening the hood and running the fans after a hot run in the car?
You are right about almost all of this - but I still cover the alternator with a (new) 13 gallon trash bag and avoid spraying very near it - better to just leave it dirty than risk spraying water inside the alternator. I prefer to use either "spot free rinse" if at the car wash or else just the hose at home. I like to let the chemicals do the cleaning, anything is better than blasting everything including electrical connections with high pressure water. Having cleaned engines that would not restart right away after a cleaning, in my experience a high pressure rinse is asking for trouble.
You are right about almost all of this - but I still cover the alternator with a (new) 13 gallon trash bag and avoid spraying very near it - better to just leave it dirty than risk spraying water inside the alternator. I prefer to use either "spot free rinse" if at the car wash or else just the hose at home. I like to let the chemicals do the cleaning, anything is better than blasting everything including electrical connections with high pressure water. Having cleaned engines that would not restart right away after a cleaning, in my experience a high pressure rinse is asking for trouble.
Hood open lets the afterrun finish more quickly, the Audis have electric water pumps in addition to their main pumps that allow them to run after shutdown until a spec temp to prevent heat soak. I have them set to 180 bay temp and hood open cuts about 4-7 min off after run time. I have to open the hoods anyway to get them on tenders so it makes no difference time or steps wise. I'm not talking about the HVAC fans, I'm referring to the radiator/condenser fans
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Oct 27, 2007 07:45 PM