spraying engines? (just started as a valeter)

[craig1gk]

Started today as a valeter for peter vardy, one thing they do is spray a chemical all over the engine bay, then after a few minutes they hose down the bay.

is this safe to do with the cars electrics? for example on a saxo (older car) am i better covering some exposed parts or will a little water do no harm?

[Malky]

What I was told whilst on my Autoglym course was NEVER to touch a french engine when valeting.

It can cause a whole raft of electrical issues.

[craig1gk]

aw not the answer i wanted :/ haha so its everything by hand then?

[Malky]

I just used TFR, a wheel brush and a low pressure hose to quickly rinse. Then coated the engine in super sheen and let it dry.

The end result was impressive.

But never on a french car. Where I worked, the customer had to sign a consent form explaining the risks of engine washing, which then prevented them claiming for damage caused by water intake.

[crabzy]

as long as everything cover up i don't see why not like all the bare cables .... battery .... alternator .. etc but your best not doing imo :)

[TypeRDavid]

Safe as long as you cover up the right parts, get yourself on Detailing world for a more in depth explanation to some of the questions you are bound to have.

Valeting is a dirty word round these parts btw ;)

[tomsaxo]

Its mainly the plugs on saxos same as rover, and fords. I am a valeter btw.

[johnr32]

Professional valeters should always have adequate imdemnity insurance just incase..

[Gandi699]

There was a thread a while ago on 106moaners where some bloke pressure washed his 'bay with the engine running. Think some conrods my have got bent haha

[logic_guy]

I let the engine get nice and hot, then pressure wash it.

I use Strong Arm Hard Floor cleaner to do the engine. Spray on and wash off.

Car seems fine. Once or twice i got the electrics wet and the car started mis firing and trying to conk out.

If the engine is nice and hot (So the fan is on) the water basically evaporates when you spray it on.

[LSOfreak]

makes me cringe when i see it :S wouldnt have the balls to do it on my car

[craig1gk]

thanks for the answers guys :) i have insurance for other peoples car, but i might just do it by hand on my own haha

[MiniGibbo]

I do mine with the method of

Rinse with hose
Spray in autosmart
Brush that in all over
Leave to soak
Rinse off
Let dry, possabley dry the plastics with a towel if im in a rush
Apply Poor boys natural look to the plastics.
Shut the bonnet.

:A:

First time i done it i covered all the major plugs and airfilter, now i just cover the airfilter if i can even be bothered to do that :homme: ive heard if it ever dosent start you jsut need to let it dry out.

[Petee]

Steam clean mine.

[Quick]

Spraying water on to an engine (as long as its not using a pressure washer at full bore point blank range) should be fine, you drive a car in the rain don't you!

[GoochyBoy]

Spraying water on to an engine (as long as its not using a pressure washer at full bore point blank range) should be fine, you drive a car in the rain don't you!

Not with the bonnet open i would hope!

[lilbenchy9192]

i always jetwash mine wen ever i clean the car, turn the engine on and do it wilst its running so u dont drown the started or somin, mynes surviving :)

[Quick]

Not with the bonnet open i would hope!

The water comes up through the big gaps in the engine bay, whenever you drive in the rain!!!!!!:panic::panic:

[craig1gk]

thought i'd update this thread, washed 100's of engines now including my own saxo, all with engine running and never had any problems. Only thing you get sometimes is a squeak if the belts get wet, lasts a few seconds.

[Gabbastard]

Done loads of engines, never had a problem. As said, just dont have the pressure washer up to full pelt. Ive used Gunk, AG machine cleaner, and paraffin (different times)then the pressure washer and the engines been fine, nice and sparkly lol.

[baker556]

Just bag up the electronics.

Then put some stuff on and use a jug to pour water on certain areas.

[VTRowan]

Get the engine nice and hot then spray some tfr on it blast it off with a pressure washer and then dry the engine with compressor :) like use the airjet thingy and blast the water off!

[jordysaxobby]

iv jet washed plenty of engine bays never any problems :)

[Lewis1600]

Id never hose or jetwash an engine bay.

Im a valeter, I just do everything by hand using brushes & cloths & the right products.

A close friend of mine converted his VTR to S and the first day he got it on the road, drove to the nearest shop about half a mile from his house. jet washes the engine and water fucked up the coil pack/leads cant really remember.

The car was there for 4 days after, how gutted must he had been lol!

[K17NEY]

Engine bays are generally water proof, They're not hidden from rain water after all. I clean bays the way i clean everything else, Including french.

Heres one i did over christmas..

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c289/kitney/013-3.jpg

And that's a very expensive cup car engine, That's how confident i am that it's fine to do.

[MiniGibbo]

That looks well different, is it just missing the engine cover?

What air box is that??

[K17NEY]

That looks well different, is it just missing the engine cover?

What air box is that??

Its cup spec, As in the Clio cup race series, Pretty sure its a megane air box, They use alot of megane parts on the race cars.

[MiniGibbo]

Fair play, that must have some punch lol..

Did the guy say what power it makes by any chance?

[blackie_2k5]

lol @ all the replies, its luck of the draw, you may cause issues, you may not, ive done it plenty and not, seen loads whove done it and had probs

french car electrics tend to rot over time/corrode, causing future probs, but not necessarily straight off

one thing i will say IS: id never wash a car with the engine running,

2 reasons:
A) youve got a good chance of water being drawn in and bending some rods
B) youve got live current running round the bay with engine running(more so then with it off) tiny bit water in the worng place can fry the whole car even causing a fire..or fired ecu or relays etc.. not easy to track either

[K17NEY]

Fair play, that must have some punch lol..

Did the guy say what power it makes by any chance?

It's just over 200 horse with a fully sequential ,full throttle gear change box, it's pretty quick.

[VTRelite]

I've pressure washed my engine bay and engine numerous times, left it running, didn't cover anything up and have had no problems whatsoever

[Tom5190]

Ive jet washed loads of bay's i jet wash mine all the time...... no idea why people do it with the engine running though just asking for trouble!

[saxolover391]

Always nervous doing this, but modern motors can take a lot more than the ones I used to do years ago. I think I would stick with Gunk.