Is it safe to wash engine bay

[Trackstand]

The engine bay on My 2010 is getting pretty dirty. as this is my first diesel can I spray it with engine cleaner and hose it down. did it twice a year with My gassers and never had any problems. is it safe?

[Doss]

Take the same precautions as you did with your gasser and there probably won't be a problem. As usual, do not spray electronics or electrical parts (especially the batteries or alternators).

Also, do not spray the engine when hot. I know a lot of engine cleaners say to get up to operating temps, but I don't use those. Too many hot iron pieces that will crack if you cool them too quickly.

Usually, I just spray the engine with some power cleaner/degreaser and wipe it down instead of hosing it. It'd have to be caked in mud before I hosed it.

[Burner5509]

Just don't use high pressure, do it cold, and keep it away from electronic goodies along with that air filter.

[wired1]

I spry simple green and hose it down cold a few times a year and it looks like new.

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[mazsecond]

On my 6.0 I have always just coated everything with ZEP Indistrial Purple Degreeser (Home Depot) and hosed it down. Alternator, batteries, everything. Done it hot and cold and never had any problems.

I am not recommending that you do this but thats just my 0.02

[Rubenk]

To those saying not to wash it down while hot, what do you think happens in a heavy rainstorm?

I leave my truck running while I wash it and have never had an issue with pressure washing but I do take it easy unless I have a mud caked part that needs it.

[drewactual]

I've seen, with my own two eyes, jugs (moto cylinders) pop like corn when hot and hit with a cold hose.. I've never seen it happen when they were running, though.. I guess, (and this is only a guess) the heat displaced is a lot quicker when it's not running..

as far as cleaning an engine bay, I've gone as far as to make a paste of comet and water, 'paint' it all over the engine bay, let it sit until almost dry- and wash it off with low pressure and a brush.. it works like a charm.. it would be a pita to attempt that on these cramped engine bays, though..

avoid electronics like the plague, though.. I usually plastic and duct tape those when I do these things.

[ZMANN]

In a heavy rainstorm if I pull into a fuel station and pop the hood to check oil ETC the motor isn't soaking like I ran a hose on it,,

I personally use a high pressure but stand back so it just power mist the engine ,, that uses a lot less water than a garden hose at 60 PSI,, but mostly I just wipe it down with a cleaner

[mts678]

I put mineral spirits in a hand pump spray bottle, works great


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[Rubenk]

Originally Posted by ZMANN

In a heavy rainstorm if I pull into a fuel station and pop the hood to check oil ETC the motor isn't soaking like I ran a hose on it,,

I personally use a high pressure but stand back so it just power mist the engine ,, that uses a lot less water than a garden hose at 60 PSI,, but mostly I just wipe it down with a cleaner

I agree with that. Im not saying to run a cold water hose over the engine while it is hot. I also just use a power washer from a few feet away so its more of a power mist, still works quite well.