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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Pressure Washers!
        
(Message started by: dart on May 26^th, 2005, 7:47pm)

Title: Pressure Washers!
Post by dart on May 26^th, 2005, 7:47pm

In veiw of the forthcoming harewood house meet,I'd like to get the rest of the car looking half as decent as the outside of it!
Using a pressure washer under the bonnet!!
Is this good, bad,a yes yes or a no no? is there anything in there suseptable to water invasion?or should I just have it steam cleaned? Don't forget I'm talking years of accumulated muck and oil and stuff!
I really do need your help ???
(Has anyone tried the old Karcher on the engine?)

Hopefully
dart

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Dave on May 26^th, 2005, 8:20pm

I would personally say no way, not on a car like the Scorpio. I jetwashed a couple of old cars years ago, left the engines running on both, one conked out and took a good deal of effort to get going again, the other was a Nissan Micra, that thing would have kept going if you bombed it ;D

In short, there are too many electrics under t'bonnet. Get under there with trim wax and polish etc and it will look like new! Don't take the risk mate :o

Have a look at this:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/karcher.htm

Cheers

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by dart on May 26^th, 2005, 8:40pm

Cripes! I get your point :o

I'll keep me bonnet closed! :-/

Cheers Dave

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Paul B on May 26^th, 2005, 8:55pm

on 05/26/05 at 19:47:07, dart wrote:

Using a pressure washer under the bonnet!!
Is this good, bad,a yes yes or a no no?

(Has anyone tried the old Karcher on the engine?)

You're joking, right? :o

I thought it was common knowledge that this is a "no no" as far as the Scorpio is concerned. {}

As Dave says, there's too many electrics to be affected under there, so don't do it.

Good job you asked first! :o

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by scorpio_man on May 26^th, 2005, 9:08pm

hi there

i must be lucky then! ;D
done mine, what, 3 or 4 times now.
just keep the pressure down and away
from alternator and engine (spark plugs)
cover.

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by dart on May 27^th, 2005, 7:03pm

Thanks for moving the topic Snoops! was'nt sure what to post it under!.
Well,that is what this site is all about,to ask,and learn ;D. I'm learnin, an am lovin it!
Scorpio-man,whom I respect very much,says he's done it,but the majority say no ???I'm perplexed!
Fair enough,I'm not going to go fireing a karcher around under the bonnet if I've been warned not to,So how is it done in a professional valet?

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Snoopy on May 27^th, 2005, 7:42pm

The best way to clean your engine is to get yourself a cut down stiff paint brush and gallon or so of ordinary paraffin. Remove the under tray put ;loads of old newspapers underneath and a big plactic tray and slowly wash the grim off with the parrafin. If you then save the dirty stuff and leave it to seltle you can reuse it time and time again. loads of old rags and a lot of time and patience.

Its well worth it , as there are engine bays out there to die for. But once its clean it only takes a couple of mins with a rag and some parrafin to keep it in tip top condition.

My personal advice is never put water near the engine bay if all possible. Just keep at it.
Parrafin is good because it is by nature 'oily' and does not completely degrease as other products might.

these observations are of course my personal ones and everyone has their own method.

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by scorpio_man on May 27^th, 2005, 7:49pm

hi there

snoopy is completely correct in the way he states. no question. [] me, well i'm always pressed for time...... ;D }{

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Baz on May 27^th, 2005, 9:50pm

I've jetwashed both engines in my 24vs and never had any problems. Just a matter of aiming away from the electrical stuff like Andrew says!

Baz

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by dart on May 28^th, 2005, 2:38pm

Cheers guys.
Being as I have no pressure adjustment on my Karcher,I think it better not to take the risk and try the old parafin Idea instead!
Not heard of using parafin before but people have mentioned Gunk,but as Snoopy says maybe because it does,nt totaly degrease,where as Gunk does :)
Anyway
cheers chaps ;)

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by nic on Jun 21^st, 2005, 12:13pm

I steam cleaned the 24v befor harewood, lost 1 cyliner but it cam back, oh and the O/D light flashed for bout an hour, but its all fine now.

and shiney

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Baz on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 12:13am

I did mine with a degreaser this time that is just wiped off. It was pretty effective. Too much so in fact, as I appear to have removed lubrication from a bearing somewhere and I now get a bloody awful whine when the engine isn't under load!!

Baz

Title: Re: Pressure Washers!
Post by Boblavens on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 2:19pm

A local car sales company near my home pressure washes the underbonnet engine bay on all their cars for sale as a pre sales prep, Alfas, BMWs, Mercs all fairly new and they reckon that it doens't hurt them!

I'll wait the Author of the Karchered Page to calm his blood pressure.

But I think is probably not a good idea anyway. "
Elbow Grease" and a small brush parrafin is best.

Bob