Should I wash my engine?

When I state foam I mean the greenish-tan foam that on top of the engine block (believe this foam is for noise reduction). Can I get this foam material wet?

Mike

 

That be Ron Barans method from here on out. You won't find me pressure washing my engine compartment. Another thank you to @driverdog on the correct way to clean your engine.

 

I’ve been meaning to do this on my wife’s Sequoia and my daughter’s Tundra for a while now. They’re both pretty dang rough.

I’d intended to use this guide from Detailed Image:

https://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-to-detail-your-engine-bay/

 

Yes

 

Light scrub with degreaser in water with an RV soft brush. Just dab and go without soaking an area too much. The degreaser will do the job. Lightly hose off without spraying into sensitive areas like starter and fuel injector ports. All this done with engine hot in off position.

Turn engine on and take it for a spin.

Park truck in off position then begin wiping down engine with micro fiber. This is the money part of the work.

Every time you check your oil or pop the hood wipe a few areas down and you’ll never need to ‘wash’ your engine again. This is preventative maintenance. Keep a micro fiber folded and tucked in a safe area of engine compartment for easy access.

 

I can agree with @driverdog that it is probably better to not rinse or pressure wash the engine bay, but that being said, I have been pressure washing my engine bays for 20+ years and have never had issues. I only spray the engine block and the frame areas under and around it. I never spray directly (or at least try to ) onto the alternator or other obvious electrical parts. I had my Tacoma for 16 years and the engine looked like new the day when I sold it, and I never had any electrical or other issues. Pressure washed about 5 or times a year. Used clean green, Gunk degreaser or any similar products.
These are pictures from about a year before I sold it, so about 15 year old truck.

 

Agreed on that 100%. So much easier to keep it clean than to try to clean a caked-on engine, (or anything for that matter).
I do the same for the underside. Every once in a while I roll in under the truck and wipe or clean anything that looks like it might be caking on. Here is the same 15-year old Tacoma underside. (which has seen many dirt roads and mud in it's life)

 

@driverdog Gotta hijack the thread, sorry. Let's see your Z! This is mine.

 

Thank you sir! My step dad bought it brand new in 1993. I bought it from him four years ago with 73500 and I just broke 75k original miles. N/A, manual. You sold quick after buying. Did it give you issues?

 

This is my 2001 Tundra before I sold it. 17 Years and looked great. I always took the air filter out and replaced it with a rag, Simple Green and adjustable spray nozzle.

 

Gents,

Thanks for all the advice. I remember washing my Tacoma's engine with no problem but when I saw the greenish-brown foam on parts of the Tundra's engine block, I got a little hesitant.

Will be washing the engine block today for the first time. Will try and keep the Gunk products off the greenish-brown foam. Again thanks for all the insights and everyone's pics are awesome.

 

driverdog - you state that you use the same solution as you use on the paint. do you have a range or ratios that you typically use?

 

I'm nervous to wash my engine. What do you guys think? Is it safe or no? I have a 2018 tundra trd off road. I know you can of course remove the plastic cover, but do you guys think washing the engine at all is a great idea? I don't want to wreck any electrical parts, etc. It'll be my first time. I have some autoglym engine cleaner, and some gunk brand engine shine. Any help will be great.

 

This thread has triggered my OCD....