Washed My Engine Saturday--DAM!!#*/"$#$$$!

[Donne Trav]

And I know to be careful! I've washed it several times in the past over
the years, no problem. With the engine running, and GUNKED, and moving the spray nozzle over the entire engine several times. I was proceeding in my normal way when the engine just stopped. I knew exactly what had occurred. I pushed the car out of the bay and to the side, hoping if I let it sit for a while, it might "dry up" and start. What was I thinking--no chance. Eventually, I called the tow truck. Oh well, until next time. I'm blaming the freegin' squirrels and other varmints for seeking shelter each winter on the top of my engine, eating ang crapping everywhere.

 

[XLR8]

Yikes! Sorry to hear you got bit Donne. I've seen others mention that when they wash their Corvette engine bay, they NEVER use a high pressure wash nor even the spray nozzle. They remove the nozzle and use the normal stream of water.

Hope the fix is easy.
Jane Ann

 

[1963SS]

Hopefully you weren't spraying anywhere near the opti when you did the cleaning, were you? There isn't much more on an LT1 that will kill the engine like that. A little drip from the weep hole of a water pump will kill one so I'm pretty sure a MILLION PSI from a spray nozzle will do it no good. As always, just my opinion. Good luck with the drying out or the repairs.

 

[thford89]

I would never do this, just use a rag and spend the time to wipe down the motor. I ran though some water that was about a inch deep and it killed my car for about two days.. now i will never drive it in the rain or get it near water under the hood.

 

[Tuna]

One thing to keep handy with washing the engine in an LT1/4 equipped C4 is a hair drier or hot air gun. Just tape the trigger down and point it at the Opti for 30 minutes to an hour before trying to start it.

If you do try to start it and it coughs and bucks, stop. Put the hot air to the Opti as above and wait. I picked this trick up from Gordon Killibrew and it saved my Opti once.

 

[aboatguy]

Sorry to read about your problems....I wash my vented opti LT1's often with no issues.

Mike

 

[Mark Watkins]

I would never wash a running and/or warm engine. I start mine cold, move it to the end of the drive, spray on cleaner, wait 5 minutes and hose off with garden hose. I then start it and let it idle with the hood up to dry. I don't let the vette get dirty enough to use the hose. NEVER WASH A HOT ENGINE.

Mark.

 

[Sunstroked]

Do yourself a favor and modify the opti spark unit. A great tutorial is in the corvette fever technical pages.
Opti-Spark Options

A can of WD 40 and compressed air with a blower nozzle probably would have dried things out rather quickly had they been available to you. I made that mistake 1 time. When I bought my car the previous owner was not a do it yourself type of guy. The engine compartment was very dirty. I took it to a place where they steam cleaned the whole underside of the car and engine. When all was done it would'nt fire. I asked the guy for an air nozzle, and 5 minutes late I was happily driving my clean car home. I have since modded my opti, 4 yrs & 35K miles later, still not one other issue.