Wash Engine??

[glomonac]

I'm thinking of spraying GUNK degreaser on my 87 Vette and then hosing it off. The engine has no oil or grease on it, I just wanted to brighten it up. I have been hearing that you never wash a vette engine. What's the truth?
Thanks.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I do remember hearing something about this with the distributor or something on the front of the motor.

I never use gunk on a running engine unless its filthy.I always clean up an enginge bay with elbow grease just carefully scrub it down

 

[Mart]

Thats mainly for the optispark vettes, 91-96, otherwise just warm the engine for a few minutes cover the Alternator and other electrical parts. and go for it.

I just use the same cleaner and scrub brush with a gentle hosedown no power sprayer.

My .02 worth

Mart

 

[92ghost]

It's the LT1 engines from 92-96 that had the OptiSpark ignition system. I think your 87 is safe to spray with GUNK or other engine cleaners. It wont hurt to cover the Alternator and Distributor with a plastic bag just to be safe, and don't drown the engine with water. Use an old tooth brush for nooks and crannies.
The LT1 engine with the optispark is very sensitive to moisture. Later models (I think starting in 94) had small vents with hoses designed into the distributor to circulate air. Even with this they are still sensitive.

 

[glomonac]

THANKS ALL!

 

[Skant]

Whoa! The optispark is not the only concern for washing a Corvette engine!

Engine degreaser can also strip the laminate coating off the monoleaf suspension springs! And then your front spring will start breaking up into individual fibreglass strands and the front of your car will get lower and lower and lower... it seems fine when its washed. And then a couple of months later...

Yes, this did happen to me. I didn't wash the engine. The dealer I bought it from used did.

I think a lot of C4 owners use simple green exclusively to clean their engines. It works quite well and is pretty safe.

However, even for this mild substance, there's a gotcha. Don't spray the corvette logos on the fuel rail covers. Simple green will remove the logos (and presumably engine degreaser or any other cleaner will, too). At least on an LT1/LT4 motor. Don't know about the L98.

Hope this helps.

- Skant

 

[oldace84]

If you go to one of those self car washes. Be very careful, as they will etch anything that is alum.
Been there done that.
Good Luck
tony

 

[The Car Whisperer]

Be real careful with the valve covers, they stain very easily. Make sure the engine is cold before you apply the degreaser, and as previously stated by a previous post make sure to cover the alternator and distributor with plastic. Do not rinse off with high pressure, just let the water spray off the degreaser with a soft fine spray and you shouldn't have any problems. When done with the washdown use a rag to wipe off as much of the water that's left and then start up the engine to dry off the rest.
I use Simple Green or Castrol spray degreaser. I only use this stuff on a rare ocasion though. I have spent many hours cleaning and detailing my engine for shows, I mostly use q-tips and rags and just wipe off anything I find. Once you get it clean it's easy to keep it clean.

 

[Michael Malone Smith]

elbow grease is the best:crazy ........water is :nono

 

[jcummings250]

So, Simple Green and some elbow grease? Any rinsing necessary?

 

[Michael Malone Smith]

just the damp rag

 

[hott85]

I used to wash mine, but don't anymore. I mainly used Simple Green, then would rinse it down. The last time I washed it I damaged the MSD box, which is located where the windshield washer reservior bottle used to be.

I always went for a short drive after cleaning the engine. The car ran fine for the first 5-10 minutes. Then all of sudden, "bang! bang! and she quit. At first I thought I'd gotten the ingnition wires too wet.

After the cost of having the MSD replaced I've refrained from washing the engine...

The problem was "operator error"

 

[Baldie88]

If your engine is not really greasy you can try this tip I picked up on a Caprice SS website. With a slightly warm engine spray everything down with Windex and close the hood. Wait 5 minutes then mist everything with water and then spray with Armor All and close the hood again. Wait 5 minutes and then wipe up any excess Armor All. I've used this on all my cars with no problem. Really brightens up all the black plastic trim and hoses.

Don't know if I would try this on the newer C4s because of all the Opti problems but no problems so far with my 88.

Baldie88

 

[Michael Malone Smith]

I know of a fellow Grand Sport person who does the same thing on his GS but I never had the guts to try it. Your now the second one

 

[TALMADGE 1]

I did mine a couple of months ago 1988. The problem I ran into was that it took out my TPS sensor. After cleaning the engine, I and the wife went to dinner and I noticed an Intermitten Idle. Way high and low agian on its own. On the way home the check engine light came on. TPS sensor fried. Had to replace and all is well. Be sure to cover up the TPS sensor to be on the safe side.
I didn't and had to replace.
Just my .02 cents worth.

 

[CFour]

I wrecked a $400 mass air flow sensor doing this.

 

[The Car Whisperer]

I have cleaned and detailed my engine down to the last nut and bolt. If you use water from a hose you can not direct it at any electrical anything period. You have to stay away from those items or cover them up well. Just use the degreaser and hose off using very low water pressure to remove the stuff from the heavy deposit areas, the rest you have to do with a small rag and some grease remover. I have used various solvents to clean around the engine compartment, but what seems to work the best for spot cleaning is simple tar remover on a small rag. just work a small area at a time. If you have anything that leaks that made the mess in the first place then you need to take care of that first. Alittle rubbing with Mother's aluminum polish on any smooth aluminum parts will also add a little sparkle under the hood. Don't use the chrome polish on any rough cast parts though. With a lot of patience and some elbow grease you can really do a great job. I'm still detailing my engine after 8 years and counting!