Keeping the engine compartment clean

[axekick]

Is it safe to spray wash the engine and engine compartment? I'd like to keep it nice and clean, but if it's not safe then I'd rather not hurt anything.

 

[Eagle]

yes.
two caveats
what isn;t ok is STEAM CLEANING... because steam will get into the electrical connectors and condense and cause corrosion.
and don't go loco with full pressure on the electrical connections, alternator, coilpacks, etc.

 

[blueflamed03]

Simple Green and garden hose IMHO is enough.

 

[diffrnt]

Watch out for the knock sensors. Water can get to them and cause corrosion, which would make your truck run like crap.

 

[axekick]

Good deal. Thanks for the heads up. Where is the knock sensor? It was on the side of the blockin my old Toyota. I'm just now familiarizing myself with this truck. I love my Tahoe.

 

[rigo_jones]

Watch out for the knock sensors. Water can get to them and cause corrosion, which would make your truck run like crap.

u beat me to it. yes watch out or you'll end up removing your entire intake manifold to replace the knock sensors.

 

[Grebbler]

My sensors went out within a few days of using a garden hose around the engine. My new solution is to never open the hood again. If I can't see the dirt - it won't bother me.

 

[DarkTahoe00]

Simple Green a towel and your hands! Not worth the risk of messing up the knock senors IMO.

 

[jomulk56]

Simple Green a towel and your hands! Not worth the risk of messing up the knock senors IMO.

+1. You cold also dilute some simple green in a bucket of water, just don't go hog wild slopping water everywhere, and go that route. I usually do that, or just spray it down with a good APC. Also, I've seen DarkTahoe's engine bay in person and it's damn clean!

 

[gtbigup01]

I just washed mine today. I took the 3 plastic engine covers off, simple greened, it and and sprayed with a water hose and a little brush that came with my wheel cleaning kit. You'll be amazed about what's under those covers hiding. I may have actually gained about 5HP by doing that also

 

[Eagle]

THREE???

so there is a cover for each valve cover than I'm missing? That would make sense.

 

[NathanJax]

THREE???

so there is a cover for each valve cover than I'm missing? That would make sense.

Denali's and Escaldes have 3 covers over the engine...

They fit on Yukons and Tahoes as well...

 

[Eagle]

that does look a lot nicer!

I was expecting the tahoe to have some sort of Coil pack cover, especially since there are unused bosses on the valvecover.

 

[PoloGreen]

Just cleaned my engine and engine compartment this weekend with simply green. It made a big difference. Simply green, water hose, then let the engine run for a moment. Simply Green good stuff

 

[syndicatesteve]

Living in Arizona, your engine will get dirty on a daily basis. All I do to clean mine is wipe everything down with a high quality quick detail spray. If its real dusty. I use my air compressor and spray the engine bay down, then attack the motor with a detail brush and a few microfiber towel. as you can see in the picture it is a little dusty... but with the motor in that condition, I can have the eniter engine bay show ready in less then 30 minutes... as for what others have mentioned???? harsh solvents like simple green can damage seals, electrical componants. just remember....nothing is better then a little elbow grease... the time you put into it will make you love it more!!

 

[gtbigup01]

Living in Arizona, your engine will get dirty on a daily basis. All I do to clean mine is wipe everything down with a high quality quick detail spray. If its real dusty. I use my air compressor and spray the engine bay down, then attack the motor with a detail brush and a few microfiber towel. as you can see in the picture it is a little dusty... but with the motor in that condition, I can have the eniter engine bay show ready in less then 30 minutes... as for what others have mentioned???? harsh solvents like simple green can damage seals, electrical componants. just remember....nothing is better then a little elbow grease... the time you put into it will make you love it more!!

Damaging seals is an urban myth. People say these things as if cars these days are made out of paper or something. Whatever floats your boat. I will however submit that simple green does however cause corrosion if left on metal. As an Army Helicopter mechanic we always used to use simple green to clean the hydraulic deck for the ultimate clean until the DOD put out a message against using simple green for washes. Unlike a car engine bay that is always hot, not the same for a hydraulic deck especially if you're not going flying right after an aircraft wash.

 

[Eagle]

SyndicateSteve: Harsh solvents like simple green?

OMG then dont spray GUNK in your engine bay or spill lemonade, it will dissolve your ENGINE BLOCK!!! </sarcasm>



I'm guessing GTBigup01 that people were being morons and spraying straight Simple Green on the hydraulic deck and not rinsing it or mixing it with water or not drying them after... big no no.


SImple green is Citric acid, like an orange or any 'soda pop'. When mixed with 3-4 parts water to 1 part simple green, it actually works BETTER and is less damaging than anything else i;ve ever used.

AS far as damaging anything electrical due to its corrosivity, when you have a window switch with cola spilled on it, do you know how to clean it easily? Spray it with 20/80 simple green mix and work it into the switch, then rinse with clean water and a little alcohol.
IE it isn;t corrosive.
Now CLR is corrosive as hell, I've used it to de-plate nuts n bolts overnight.

 

[Modded]

I just use water and a slightly high pressure wand.
But now theat I know about knock sensors, I may just use a rag and water.

 

[OmarR]

On our V8's, the knock sensors are underneath the intake manifold.

You are not going to get them wet unless you are using your pressure washer to break your intake manifold gaskets on purpose.

 

[Modded]

Oh, well NVM then I shall continue