Hot Water Pressure Washer for Engine Bay?

LeMarque

LeMarque

New member
My first year in business and the Winter slow down has me considering wholesale (dealer) business.

I've lurked so many threads about not using water (read pressure washer) on engines and while I agree to some extent, I've had no problems thus far taking precautions to duct tape off most electrical connectors and protecting the alternator with plastic bags; although it is time consuming.

My research tells me the dealers want the engines to look like new and as an aside, Ive been thinking about a Hot Water Pressure washer to help remove brake dust from the barrels of wheels.

Wondering if anyone uses one and would be willing to share their experience.

TIA -

Lance
 
Good luck getting Dealer business to work for you.

I have always pressure washed engines using just water from the hose bibb, and never had issues. I never tape anything up or put bags on anything either except on Ferrari's which have some connectors that cant get wet or they will cause problems until they are dried out.
Since cars in the Northwest are usually full of mold, etc., growing everywhere, I usually pressure wash them with plain water first, to help loosen and blow out as much of this crap as possible.

Then, I like to spray a good Meguairs degreaser or APC on everything, let it dwell, and then rinse it all down with the pressure washer.

All of my engines, including the underhood pad, and all the rest of the underhood, etc., is cleaned out great with my pressure washer, and then blown dry, and treated with something to condition all the plastics and rubber hoses.

Clients are blown away at how great their engines and compartments look.

Hot water will always clean better than cold, but there are also great chemicals made specifically for cleaning out brake dust and stuff out of wheels too.

I only use hot water in the dead of winter, because Im outside and it helps keep my hands from getting too frostbitten.

Good luck with your research !
Dan F
 
Thanks for the reply Dan.

I'm thinking about those cars that have or had say a valve cover gasket leak or the like and sometime wheel wells don't really get cleaned up all that well even using a degreaser and a brush.

As for the wheels themselves, scrubbing the barrels can be a real pain unless you pull them or jack the car up to get behind them.

I am considering searching for a high power steamer, but I've got a VX5000 and a [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DF0RB/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00]Amazon.com: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner: Home & Kitchen[/ame] so I think a hot water pressure washer would make more sense.
 
LeMarque said:
Thanks for the reply Dan.

I'm thinking about those cars that have or had say a valve cover gasket leak or the like and sometime wheel wells don't really get cleaned up all that well even using a degreaser and a brush.

As for the wheels themselves, scrubbing the barrels can be a real pain unless you pull them or jack the car up to get behind them.

I am considering searching for a high power steamer, but I've got a VX5000 and a Amazon.com: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner: Home & Kitchen so I think a hot water pressure washer would make more sense.
Click to expand...
Wheel cleaner and a speed master brush works great for cleaning barrels and behind the spokes.
 
Lance,

I have had great success with Sonax wheel cleaner for most wheels, Meguiars Wheel Brightener D140 for dirtier, and this for the worst wheels [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Malco-BRAKE-OFF-WHEEL-CLEANER/dp/B002QCM512/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2VT1YKJ8BB78D&coliid=I9JLDHH39329D]BRAKE OFF WHEEL CLEANER : Amazon.com : Automotive[/ame]

Good luck with your research.
DanF
 
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