Jet Washing The Engine!

[Turbo Joe]

I want to jet wash my engine, looks abit grubby. Any special precautions needed and what should be covered over? Thanks in advance guys!

[DavidT]

I want to jet wash my engine, looks abit grubby. Any special precautions needed and what should be covered over? Thanks in advance guys!

Don't do it unless you want to risk some electrical issues.

Just cleaning it with a rag and something like brake cleaner.

[shineydave]

i jet mine about once a month with no issues. only car i've had probs with was a '90 Celica that gathered water in the plug holes. Audi have had enough foresight to ensure everything is well protected against water ingress in my opinion

[tartan_rob]

shineydave...agreed. jetwash it frequently, grat idea in order to ensure you have no oil leaks etc.

[SteveH]

Surely your not serious!?

[shineydave]

why not? the engine is designed to live outdoors in harsh conditions. i'll bet they're treated to high pressure water at the testing facilities to ensure reliability in monsoon conditions.

[SteveH]

Fair point, call me paranoid, but after an engine has done 60,000 miles or so the seals are not quite what they used to be. Also, if the grease & oils have been blasted off is there a risk of components/brackets rusting?

[Turbo Joe]

Thanks guys, your all magic!

[tartan_rob]

Nope. The jetwash will not remove an almost invisible layer of grease. Try it and see....?

If you believe a jetwasher removes everything, get an old bit of metal, smear used engine oil over it, jetwash it off and I dare you to lick the surface of the metal...it should be clean right....?

[GrahamS4]

I visited the AMG factory a few years back when I had my Mercedes (any excuse to go to Germany). Of course they are dealing with customers who are ordering anything from a "standard" AMG to pretty much whatever they want to pay for. Engines built by the same engineer from start to finsh, with the builders name on a plaque on top etc etc. You can of course visit and see your engine blah blah.

The guide told us a story of how once and one of the few occassions they can remember, one of the engines failed a pressure test (I'm sketchy a this point not being mechanically minded). They had the engine immersed ina tank of water to identify the cause, when of all luck the customer should arrive wanting to see his engine. So the story is told, in response to asking why his engine was in a large tank of water he was told "we are just washing it for you sir".

Tickled me.

[MarkB]

Nope. The jetwash will not remove an almost invisible layer of grease. Try it and see....?

If you believe a jetwasher removes everything, get an old bit of metal, smear used engine oil over it, jetwash it off and I dare you to lick the surface of the metal...it should be clean right....?

Yum! steam cleaner... now thats differnent!

[david7m]

I wouldn't even contemplate it, once its mis-firing you'll be sorry/skint!

Handwash with degreaser and a cloth, maybe rinse with a hosepipe and take out for a drive straight after (never leave it standing after)....

Dave

[shineydave]

i've been doing it for the last 15 years and only ever had issues with the celica. that's an '88 coupe quattro, '93 audi 80, '90 coupe quattro 20v, '91 S2, '00 1.8 passat and of course the S4

[rolskii]

I agree - can of gunk .. blast it with a jet wash/steam wash - if you get a misfire ....
good reason to take the engine out and stick bigger turbos in -

[shineydave]

good reason to take the engine out and stick bigger turbos in

Since when did you need an excuse?