would it be okay to run the hose water to wash down the engine bay? do i need anything to cover? btw, everything is still stock on the car. so i know if i have a intake i have to cover it so no water get's in it. anything i should worry about? or should i not do it? and just do a wipe down with a cloth?

just go to mirmar airbase if you have a sticker and they have a steamer that you can use for free for what i have heard ay....also i know a place in national city that does it for 45 bucks.....just take to someone that has experience doing it....unless you are a diy person.....then go for it...i have never done it myself ay.....so i dont know....if someone does, please post..... :D :D

i've done it myself on my other car, and it was fine. just had to cover my intake.

just making sure that this may or may not apply to the xb.

I have always washed my engine (stock) ever since I got my xb last December. When I open the hood, it looks like brand new.

i tried washing the engine on a chev s-10 and acura integra with a engine cleaner foam i got from kragen.

S-10 didn't have any problem hosing with water. Acura couldn't be started right away. But did start regularly after a hour or two.

A couple things that I would like to mention, if I may.

It should be fine to use water. Take care not to spray streams of water at wiring connections, intake tube & throttle body. Light spray- okay, Stream- BAAAAD.

Also, I would not recommend spraying down a hot engine with water, especially if it has an aluminum head. Our 1.5 liters do.
Different metals have different cooling rates. If your cyl head is aluminum & your engine block is not, you can possibly cause a problem at the mating surface.

Just a little tip. :wink:

One more thing-

If the vehicle has a distributor cap, which ours obviosly don't, avoid it as well.

I'll shut up now.

well looks like all has been covered good luck! :wink:

youll be fine

so are yuo all saying that i can open the hood up and spray whole thing insite under the hood??????

that would be easy! i can do that :-)
I was under impression that yuo ahve to use special fluids/soaps!

If it's particularly greasy I've had luck with Simple Green. Just spray on, let sit for a couple of seconds, then scrub and rinse. Don't let it sit too long on aluminum though, as I've had some spotting before.

i worked at saab and the only thing that we really had to be careful if we got finished with head job and the underhood was a mess we cleaned it with some degreaser and the only thing we had to cover up was the ABS also we had to be careful around the DI (direct ignition) cause it could ruin it.. but i don't see a problem with xB so you should be fine.

Wash away! Everything is fairly well sealed.

I bought a portable steamer and it works great!

Yes it is okay just stay away from teh elctrical and dont use high pressure

I use Honda Cleaner...and it works GREAT! Just spray it on, and wipe it off. You can usually find this at Motorcycle shops. No Water Needed :)

I use Honda Cleaner...and it works GREAT! Just spray it on, and wipe it off. You can usually find this at Motorcycle shops. No Water Needed :)

:twisted: :twisted: I have some of that stuff. I guess I should try it on my xB.

use spray on degreaser and hose it down. Don't use a pressure washer it tends to force water where it doesn't belong. ie wire harness and seals

i usually just cover my battery with a plastic bag and the spray engine degreaser (from kragen, pep boys, etc.) and then spray the engine bay down withthe dgreaser at thos coin-op car washes and then high pressure wash th ewhole thing and then ending with a spot free rinse for that clean look.

I used the shining monkey car wash, and a tire brush, I misted the engine comparment with water. then grabbed the tire brush and started scrubbing, I cleaned everything under the hood, then sprayed it off. looks better than when it came from the dealership. shing monkey has another use. Bill

dont use degreaser they mess up the plastics under the hood. i have a painted valve cover so..... it's gonna be a bit more careful kinda work

Simple green eats paint!!! I have some pictures some where if you don't believe me. Just use some regular car wash soap and some elbow grease, It will look brand new.

use Foamy Engine Bright

Stay away from all that engine cleaning stuff, if you engine is really dirty, take it to car wash and pressure wash it with hot water, then take your favorite car wash, Shining monkey is mine, turtle wax, mothers, what ever put it in a bucket with hot water, get a soft bristle brush, and scrub, everywhere, take off your valve cover, so you can get into the crannies and scrub, mist it of and dry so you dont have water spots, the car wash soaps have polymers and wax in them and it leaves your engine comparment looking great, I have first place trophies to prove it. Try it you'll like it. Bill

Simple solution: leave the hood down.

Simple solution: leave the hood down.

But when you go to wrench on it later on down the road you will be thankful that you kept it clean. Nothing worse that a dirt caked, greasy engine compartment.

I wash my compartment every week and damn it is a dirt magnet

Simple Green and a brush. i have NEVER seen Simple Green eat paint or discolor ANY fabric. I have used it for over 16 years now, and used it daily for over a year. I swear by the stuff.

Also, a big no no on the pressure washing. It will force water into places that will take days to dry.

Just buy an engine degreaser spray, turn off engine, spray with degreaser first little bit, wet engine down a littel to help degreaser solution cover more areas, spray more engine solution then hose down with high presure hose. This is better recommended at the "do it yourself wash" with high pressure hoses! then let drip for a few moments then turn on engine to start. Note: drive home slowly because dirt sticks to wet engine more then when dry.