Getting Really MAD

[FOSHO94]

jthomas68:

svtman:
If you saw my engine you'd understand. I only spent about an hour drying it out when I would have spent about 4 hours trying to clean every nook and cranny - not to mention the cleaners I would have needed, etc. Still would not have been as good as a pressure wash either IMO. I don't think the engine was ever washed - it was that dirty. And curing the misfire was easy.

ok, so how do I "do it right", if the hose is not the way to go
Dave

Do it right or don`t do it at all.You may still have problems down the road.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

yamahaSHO:
I have never had a problem either. Although, I would not use a pressure washer. If you are getting water in your plug wells, then you did not have a good seal to start with. Plus, you should spray directly on top of the boots. Oh well... I will continue to wash like I always have.

When I was learning to fly a few years ago, one thing I was told countless times is that there are two types of pilots:

1. Those who have had a gear-up landing
2. Those who will

(for those who don't know, a gear up landing is one where the pilot fails to lower the landing gear and ends up doing something akin to a $20000 belly-flop on the runway).

In over 1500 hours of flying I've yet to do it, and try to never let myself stray from my pre-landing checklists and procedures, but despite that I still suspect that despite my best efforts, one day in the very distant future, I will.

As I've said in similar threads, I think that this whole engine washing debate really comes down to the same concept. To me, it just seems like too much of an unnecessary risk given the potential consequences. We spend so much time and effort on these cars, that to short-cut under-hood cleaning with a spray-on product and running water seems illogical when a rag, cleaner, and a little elbow grease will work just as well.

It's alot like the drunk drivers who don't **** someone on their first, second, or even 100th time driving drunk. Just because it hasn't happened yet, is it worth continuing to take the chance???

 

[FAST4DR]

Uh, I have owned 5 sho's and I have soaked down the engine on every single one of them, several times, but I have never used a pressure washer on them, just the hose at the house. If your sho is in good condition and has never had any wiring problems, it should be no problem. All of the wiring plugs are sealed. I lightly mist Castrol Super Clean over the engine and then hose it with water. Occasionally if you concentrate too much water in the area of the plug wells then of course some can go down the plug tubes. I have only gotten water in the plug wells one time. Just use some common sense. If you don't have any common sense then don't soak your engine down with water.

I think the key thing to do after hosing the motor down is to take it for a 20-30 min drive. That way the air and engine heat will dry everthing out.

 

[sdpatt]

FordSHO90:
Not to give you bad news but my step-brother washed his engine down too. It immediately started misfiring from all the water that went into the motor. It was all over the plugs when we pulled them out. We got new plugs and it seemed to run fine for a while. About two weeks later he was driving home from school when smoke started coming out of the motor. It completely gernaded the motor. shrug Everything had to be fixed and the block was scored really bad. It was overbored almost to the maximum. We learned a lesson from this...Never Wash A Motor With Water Ever!! No matter how bad it looks if you want to wash it spend some time with a damp rag and wash it by hand. thumbs_u

Bryan

You pulled the plugs and let the water and grit enter the cylinders didn't you? Fatal mistake.

 

[Leon]

I only use Black Magic Tirewet foam! That`s right,i spray it everywhere on the engine and in the engine bay,leave it for 10 minutes and voila,everything is clean and the silicone in it shines (and protects)everything under the hood,even your wires!

 

[Mark W]

I had to post a little something to this one. I've been washing my motor for years with a garden hose, with no ill effects. I make it a point, though, not to concentrate on any electrical parts. I also try to do it with the motor warm, NOT hot, so the water will dry off quickly.

The salt trucks here throw down a blanket of salt when it snows 1/4", and I'm not exaggerating. You have to get that out from under your hood, or it acts like battery acid on the sheet metal. I have to sweep the salt out of my garage at the end of each winter, and can taste the salt in the air after I do so. And I've got a Gen 1.

 

[DavidT]

svtman,
Don't let some of these responses turn you away...some people around here don't know how to be nice. Just let it go... and enjoy the wonderful world of the SHOFORUM thumbs_u As for your clean engine bay... whatever makes you happy... go for it. Who cares what other people think.

 

[BigDogShotime]

I did the same thing to my engine, My car started running like shit and puffing white smoke. Finally loked under the hood and 4 plugs were popped off the plugs. About 500 bucks later i got new plugs and wires. Now she runs strong. Fackin sucks tho.

 

[Off Road SHO]

Originally posted by SHOooo:
QUOTE]When I was learning to fly a few years ago, one thing I was told countless times is that there are two types of pilots:

1. Those who have had a gear-up landing
2. Those who will

(for those who don't know, a gear up landing is one where the pilot fails to lower the landing gear and ends up doing something akin to a $20000 belly-flop on the runway).

(Joe Pesci voice on)

Okay Okay Okay How do you KNOW when you've made a wheels up landing???

It takes more power that usual to taxi back to the hangar. Badda Boom!

(Joe Pesci Voice off)

Just a little levity to try and lighten up the battle here.

To who ever said that all the connections are sealed anyway...You're mostly right. However, the o-ring seal at the connector mating area is not usually the seal that lets in the water, it's the seal around the wires entering the back of the connector. The wire is not a molded into the connector type, because that is way more expensive that the just insert and crimp-on type that we have. Over time ALL plastics let go of some of their chemicals that made them pliable in the first place. This causes the connector to wire insulation bond to loosen up a little.

I've been in the "connecting of wire business" for 32 years now, I must have started when I was seven years old.

Tom