[xj] pressure washing engine bay?

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and
finesse as possible. The front timing cover area is really
greasy and the intake manifold area would be a bear to hand
clean. would like to clean it up and replace hoses and do
some maintenance. Am I asking for trouble?
Bill–
'75XJ6C about to be unlumped, '86 XJ6, '67 FHC, '75TR6
moultrie, ga, United States
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Bill,
heresy I know, but I’m not averse to a pressure wash in the engine bay.
Did Fireball ( bay and under) about every 5 years or so, and Roadrunner
(current, 87) is also done every 5 years or so.

I use a small foil wrap on the electical connectors and parts to minimise
water effect. Also, I use my yard blower to force a good air stream
everywhere to hasten the dry-off, and blow puddles away. Have never had a
baywash caused problem in 6-8 washes over 20 plus years…

Ken
87 SIII VdP===================================================
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In reply to a message from slofut sent Thu 26 May 2011:

YES!!!

Water will get into all those leaky electrics and you’ll hAve the
devil of a time dryig them all out. The pressure itself will knock
things out of kilter.

For me, I’ve banished any thougt of water washing any FI equipped
engine bay.

I used to sray them own warma at the car wash and then rinse it out
with the pressure wand and hot water. Only the carb’d cars with
simple distributors. Even then, at tiomes getting them dried out
took a bit. I found the vacum at the car wash very helpful in
getting water out places it didn’t belong.

Nope, no more, though, just wipe or brush with kerosene or the
like. Brake cleaner is fairly good.

The old stuff like Gunk that made an emulsion of grease has been
neutered. Hardly worth the mess.

Oven cleaner is tough stuff, but it eats everything, paint
included!!

My very early cars had clean engine bays. Just gasoline or kerosene
and brushes and rags and elbow grease.

Carl–
The original message included these comments:

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and
finesse as possible. The front timing cover area is really
greasy and the intake manifold area would be a bear to hand
clean. would like to clean it up and replace hoses and do
some maintenance. Am I asking for trouble?


Carl Hutchins 1983 Jaguar XJ6 with LT1 and 1994 Jeep Grand
Walnut Creek, California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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Bill,

The archives of this list as well as many other Jag-Lovers list are

full of posting from those who pressure washed their engine bays with water
and had numerous problems afterwards.

I know that others have done this without problems, however it's not

for me. I do not do pressure wash my engines and I would not
recommend it to others.

When I cleaned up the engine bay of my 1984 XJ6 VdP in 2003 I did it

all by hand with Simple Green and Mineral Spirits. Here’s a link to some
pictures:

http://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1062659674

Regards,

Paul M. Novak

1990 XJ-S Classic Collection convertible
1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas (parts)
1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1969 E-Type FHC
1957 MK VIII Saloon
Ramona, CA
P.M.Novak7@gmail.com-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
slofut
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:19 AM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xj] pressure washing engine bay?

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and
finesse as possible. The front timing cover area is really
greasy and the intake manifold area would be a bear to hand
clean. would like to clean it up and replace hoses and do
some maintenance. Am I asking for trouble?
Bill

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In reply to a message from Paul Novak sent Thu 26 May 2011:

Thanks for the reply Paul,
My engine bay looks about like yours but I wanted it a
little better. …Ha! Not hardly, just kidding!
Your pics are incredible, I’m sure my bay will never look
that good but I just love all the attention to detail on
your car! The polished pipes, man, just too cool. Beautiful job.
Was this (cleaning) precipitated by the valve job? ie, most
of it done with the head out and hood off etc…?
Bill–
The original message included these comments:

The archives of this list as well as many other Jag-Lovers list are
full of posting from those who pressure washed their engine bays with water
and had numerous problems afterwards.
When I cleaned up the engine bay of my 1984 XJ6 VdP in 2003 I did it
all by hand with Simple Green and Mineral Spirits. Here’s a link to some


'75XJ6C about to be unlumped, '86 XJ6, '67 FHC, '75TR6
moultrie, ga, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
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Bill,

Yes.  I didn't originally start out on an engine bay clean up

project. I had a lumpy idle that I was not happy with and once I
determined, through a compression check, that I had a valve problem on the
#1 cylinder I removed the head for a professional rework and started the
engine bay cleanup.

In order to remove the cylinder head I had to remove a lot of stuff

from the engine bay, leaving it quite open for the clean up. Once I got
started, I just kept going. It’s important to point out that this was the
first time I had removed and replaced a cylinder head myself, or done such a
thorough engine bay cleanup (but not the last). Early on I decided that I
was not going to put anything back in unless I had cleaned, polished, or
repainted it. Those pictures show the result. I have never regretted that
decision.

   It took about 6 months from the compression check that revealed the

bad cylinder until the day that I pushed the car out of my garage to start
it up for the first time again (it started the first time). During this time
I used my 1969 E-Type FHC as my daily driver, which was probably the best
thing for that car and me since I put a lot of miles on it in 6 months and I
had to fix everything that came up with it right away because I knew that
the 1984 VdP was months away from running.

I compete my 1984 XJ6 VdP in JCNA Concours d'Elegance Driven

Division competition and it tied for first place in 2010. I entered it
into two concours so far this year with perfect 10.0 scores each time.

Here's a link to some more pictures on Jag-Lovers of my 1984 XJ6

VdP, now with over 186K miles on it.

http://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1186879292&n4=

Regards,

Paul M. Novak

1990 XJ-S Classic Collection convertible
1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas (parts)
1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1969 E-Type FHC
1957 MK VIII Saloon
Ramona, CA
P.M.Novak7@gmail.com-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
slofut
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 11:58 AM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [xj] pressure washing engine bay?

In reply to a message from Paul Novak sent Thu 26 May 2011:

Thanks for the reply Paul,
My engine bay looks about like yours but I wanted it a
little better. …Ha! Not hardly, just kidding!
Your pics are incredible, I’m sure my bay will never look
that good but I just love all the attention to detail on
your car! The polished pipes, man, just too cool. Beautiful job.
Was this (cleaning) precipitated by the valve job? ie, most
of it done with the head out and hood off etc…?
Bill

The original message included these comments:

The archives of this list as well as many other Jag-Lovers list are
full of posting from those who pressure washed their engine bays with
water
and had numerous problems afterwards.
When I cleaned up the engine bay of my 1984 XJ6 VdP in 2003 I did it
all by hand with Simple Green and Mineral Spirits. Here’s a link to some


'75XJ6C about to be unlumped, '86 XJ6, '67 FHC, '75TR6
moultrie, ga, United States

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
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In reply to a message from slofut sent Thu 26 May 2011:

Bill!
See my photo album.
I’ve washed my 78 at engine bays for many years now.
Bottom at steering rack and transmission.
I cover the distributer area with a plastic back, and watch
the pressure gun. Always use the lowest pressure.

                                      walter--

The original message included these comments:

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and


Walter Schuster 78XJ6 FI Ser.II
Albuquerque/New Mexico, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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slofut wrote:

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and
finesse as possible. The front timing cover area is really
greasy and the intake manifold area would be a bear to hand
clean. would like to clean it up and replace hoses and do
some maintenance. Am I asking for trouble?

Yes, Bill - but you may get away with it…:slight_smile:

If all the wiring is up to scratch, and with a bit of care - most
likely. After all; the engine is constantly subjected to rain mist
throug the radiator, and is meant to stand it. Your call, but I would
also, before or after the job, wipe down all high tension leads and
components and spray on some silicon. Which is a good idea anyway…:slight_smile:

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)===================================================
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In reply to a message from slofut sent Thu 26 May 2011:

Do NOT do this. The one time I have been stranded in the
middle of the street is after I took my '92 Series III V12
to a detailing shop. As a ‘‘bonus’’ they pressure washed my
engine bay without asking me first. Within ten blocks the
car simply died mid-block and wouldn’t start, in rush hour
traffic. At least it was detailed… Towed to the
mechanic, diagnosed with water in the distributor cap.

Man up and detailed that engine bay by hand. I did my 6.0L
one section at a time with a tooth brush, scrub brush, box
of rags, simple green and paint thinner.

-Chris–
The original message included these comments:

What’s your opinion on pressure washing the engine and
engine bay? Of course, using as much common sense and
finesse as possible. The front timing cover area is really
greasy and the intake manifold area would be a bear to hand
clean. would like to clean it up and replace hoses and do
some maintenance. Am I asking for trouble?


Chris Los 1973 XJ6, 1996 XJ12
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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Chris is right: water should not go anywhere near the engine, particularly
not at high pressure. In Chris’s case the problem was immediate and
obvious. In other cases the damage will not show up until some time later.
Cloths, a toothbrush, long artist’s brushes, simple paint thinner, some
metal polish, and “elbow grease” - all of these work wonders - safely.

Gregory,
Victoria, Canada-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
thetopdogg
Sent: May-27-11 7:37 PM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xj] pressure washing engine bay?

In reply to a message from slofut sent Thu 26 May 2011:

Do NOT do this. The one time I have been stranded in the
middle of the street is after I took my '92 Series III V12
to a detailing shop. As a ‘‘bonus’’ they pressure washed my
engine bay without asking me first. Within ten blocks the
car simply died mid-block and wouldn’t start, in rush hour
traffic. At least it was detailed… Towed to the
mechanic, diagnosed with water in the distributor cap.

Man up and detailed that engine bay by hand. I did my 6.0L
one section at a time with a tooth brush, scrub brush, box
of rags, simple green and paint thinner

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
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In reply to a message from thetopdogg sent Fri 27 May 2011:

Everybody,
Thanks for all the replies, not sure what I’ll do yet and it
doesn’t have to be done now, maybe this weekend. I may clean up
some electrical connectors and questionable lines and just use some
pressure to get the front timing cover clean. My lift installer has
put me off another week so my main work bay is still full of
unassembled lift. I think I’ll work on getting the timing issue
sorted out first.
I like Chris’ reply… ‘‘man up and detail that eng bay by hand’’ !
I think he heard the dread in my post.
Bill–
The original message included these comments:

mechanic, diagnosed with water in the distributor cap.
Man up and detailed that engine bay by hand. I did my 6.0L
one section at a time with a tooth brush, scrub brush, box
of rags, simple green and paint thinner.


'75XJ6C about to be unlumped, '86 XJ6, '67 FHC, '75TR6
moultrie, ga, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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