Help me not pressure wash the engine

[JavaG66]

So I just got this 2000 4x4 Ranger with 198k miles on it. I don’t think it’s ever, never been washed and it’s bugging me. Orange mud on top of the black plastic manifold & black soot on top of that. How involved is it to remove the wiring harnesses and re-install them without taking the time to label it all (yes, I’m lazy). And besides wires and brittle vacuum lines, what are other reasons I shouldn’t do this?

 

[Curious Hound]

I would not remove the wiring harness. You may end up forcing dirt and contaminants into open connectors. Then you end up with bad connections.

I would disconnect the battery. Cover anything you don't want getting wet. Then use an engine degreaser. Follow the directions. Use rags and small brushes to clean nooks and crannies. And rinse with a regular garden hose. Blow excess water out with compressed air or leaf blower. I personally think it's too easy to damage something in there with the pressure washer.

 

[JavaG66]

That sounds tedious, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s probably less involved than stripping the engine of anything that I don’t want to get water into.
Good counsel.

 

[sgtsandman]

You can use a garden hose with a nozzle for the wetting and rinsing so you can get a bit more force but don’t go whole hog. Even full stream with a garden hose can cause problems. Yes, it will be tedious.

The benefit of a clean engine is better cooling and better ability to see any leaks that might be there.

Not to mention working on a oil, grease, and dirt coated engine is not fun in anyone’s book.

 

[JavaG66]

Not to mention working on a oil, grease, and dirt coated engine is not fun in anyone’s book.

Agreed. Even though I like fixing things, that & one mosquito will cause me to indefinitely postpone the work.

 

[sgtsandman]

Agreed. Even though I like fixing things, that & one mosquito will cause me to indefinitely postpone the work.

The mosquito will wait until you are covered in grim before they show up. It is the order of things.

 

[19Walt93]

Use a cleaner called either Pink Stuff, Awesome Pink, or Incredible Pink-depending where I buy it- that I buy in a gallon jug and dump into a spray bottle. I spray it on everything grimy and rinse it off with my hose, then blow the bulk of the water off with compressed air, close the hood and wash the rest of the vehicle because the Pink will lift the wax off the paint. Then I run the engine till it's warm to evaporate the rest of it. Pink works great on white letter tires, too. The fumes are pretty strong so I only use it outside.

 

[Shran]

I pressure wash under the hood all the time. Other than getting a distributor cap wet and causing a no start I have had zero issues and I certainly wouldn't be worried about a 2000... engine bay waterproofing has come a long ways since the carburetor era. I'd probably try to stay away from the fuse box but otherwise go to town.

Degreaser spray is nice, I like to buy a gallon of citrus degreaser and cut it 50/50 with water and apply with a pesticide sprayer. It's cheaper and I think it works better than the aerosol degreaser spray.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I typically power wash under the hood too. I'm just careful around stuff I should be.