Washing the engine

What I have done is cover up the alternator and starter with plastic garbage bags then hit it with a degreaser. Make sure the engine is cold or the degreaser could catch fire. Then use a low pressure garden hose to rinse it . The degrease will get most of the gunk off without needing high pressure. Also be carefully around your steering colum and pitman arm , drag link etc with the pressure washer as it's easy to blow the grease out of the parts. Be carefull with pressure washers as they can do more damage than good sometimes. Also might want to cover up the ECM and any obvious wiring that could get damaged from high pressure. Low pressure won't do much damage unless you go sticking into things you shouldn't !

 

Just try to stay away from any electrical components. Wash around whatever you can. The main culprits for dirt is usually the engine block and the oil pan anyways. Water isn't the big problem, pressurized water, is the big problem. Your engine bay is soaked with rain, and road chemicals, for days upon days sometimes, and lets not forget winter. However, none of those liquids are under pressure.

Stay away from the ECM, large banks of wiring, the obvious things. Once you have it all nice and clean, it's a good time to check for oil/coolant leaks over the next few days.

 

Like the others said, just stay away from the alternator and main ECM. The connectors for sensors and other harnesses are water "resistant" at best. The pressure from a pressure washer will definitely penetrate the weather pack seals.

 

Have fun polishing those fuel tanks! LOL

 

Just cover alternator and u will be fine.