Engine cleaning - hot or cold?

S

superstring

New member
Hi Folks. It's my understanding that the preferred method of cleaning an engine bay is to run the car for awhile (or take it for a drive) to get the engine hot to aid the cleaning process.



I'm wondering what thoughts you guys have about cleaning a hot engine? My feeling is that it's not such a great idea to spray a hot engine with cool/cold water from the hose. Expansion/contraction and all that. :nixweiss
 
Yeah Its NOT good to do it when its really hot. Just let it cool down a bit because I know a guy who cracked his headers because the cold water + hot engine caused the crack.
 
I'm assuming that since you mention taking the car for a drive to get the engine hot, the engine would otherwise be cold when you're ready to start your cleaning process. Instead of taking it for a drive to get it "hot", just let it idle in the driveway for a few minutes to warm it up - that's all you really need to do.
 
A hot engine would clean easier, but would cause many problems. A warm engine is ok if you are watching to make sure it doesn't dry the cleaner. I personally like a cold engine because it gives a 'known' dwell time of cleaner.
 
Cold here to. As in the above post I like the engine cleaners can do there work, plus I really don't like cold water on hot manifolds etc, ( or burnt hands when I am in the nocks and crannies around that area) even when run for a short period of time they soon get warm.
 
Depends entirely on the cleaner. Many flash off rapidly when warm or hot, ending their ability to clean. In those cases, they clean better on a cold engine where they stay around.
 
Yup...



Cold, Cold, Cold!



Anytime you have something hot and then cool it down really fast, you put stress on it. An engine is something you never want too much stress on. I personally cracked my aftermarket header on my car doing this a few years back. I learned my lesson that day.



dentless dave!! :xyxthumbs
 
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