Having problems cleaning engines?

A

AutoNova

New member
Over the past week I have 2 Lexus engines go bad on me after detailing them. They had to replace the plugs in both. When I detail the engine I am pretty careful, I use Meg''s Super Degreaser and pressure wash the engine. I do warm it up before and after pressure washing. The only thing I have changed was buying a 2 gallon dispenser with a foam tip.



I am thinking of not doing engines any longer as part of the detail package, it is not worth the risk. I could get customers to sign a waiver but do I want the hassle?



What do you all think?
 
u should deffinitly consider covering the plugs and distributer/alternator. I just wrap those things i mentioned and any open electrical wires in aluminum foil. yes it make take 10 extra minutes but you have a much better chance of not screwin up the car in the end. even when they covered try not to hit them directly with water. hope that helps
 
Some plugs are not visible as they are covered by the engine cap and many times the alternator can be very difficult to get to. Most newer cars have engine caps on them but may have vents that water can seep into like the Lexus. The guy I do cars for at the Lexus repair shop said that I should leave the engine running and he sees about 1 in 10 cars that are detailed come back with engine issues.
 
I've been wanting to detail my Maxima's engine for awhile already but I've read people having problems with the MAF sensor and other things. I'll try to find someone else who knows this car like the back of their hand to show me how.
 
It is a double edge sword, I have had very few problems in relation to the amount of cars I have done. I notice the problem more on cars that are 98 and below, it seems the engine is more exposed. Pressure washing supposedly uses less water than a hose.
 
AutoNova said:
Pressure washing supposedly uses less water than a hose.
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It maybe use less water, but there is much more pressure that push the water into place it shouldnt go. I usually just mist the engine with the hose instead to blow it the engine. And cover the plug. Water and electricity = OUCH.



But I'm quite new to all that detailing stuff. So what do I know :p
 
Odin Mz3 said:
It maybe use less water, but there is much more pressure that push the water into place it shouldn't go. I usually just mist the engine with the hose instead to blow it the engine. And cover the plug. Water and electricity = OUCH.
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I'll second that for sure. No pressure washing. If necessary repeated cleaning with a good APC or degreaser, 303's cleaner comes to mind, used on an engine carefully masked off with plastic baggies.



I hope you have insurance because even if in fact your detail caused no problem, there's always the possibility of an unscrupulous customer taking advantage of you to put you in a jam claiming you messed something up with their engine.
 
I tend to use much more aggressive chemicals and much less water pressure than most guys. I use Gunk or at the very lightest, Castrol Super Clean. Agitate it a bit, and I've never needed to use anything more aggressive than a hose without a nozzle. I've never had an engine go bad on me permenantly, either. I have a pressure washer, but I fear to use it on an engine.
 
Bill D said:
I'll second that for sure. No pressure washing. If necessary repeated cleaning with a good APC or degreaser, 303's cleaner comes to mind, used on an engine carefully masked off with plastic baggies.



I hope you have insurance because even if in fact your detail caused no problem, there's always the possibility of an unscrupulous customer taking advantage of you to put you in a jam claiming you messed something up with their engine.
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Thankfully I do have insurance.



Are cleaning engines a normal part of your detail packages? In paticular what parts of the engine do you bag?
 
Anything electronic, sensors, wires, battery connect, things like that. I'd try to cover the spark plug area if not avoid spraying water there entirely.
 
There's a reason I detail engines by hand. I prefer not to use water under any pressure. IMO there is little to no risk at all when detailing engines by hand.
 
Instead of bags I used old towels and aluminum foil to cover up the sensitive stuff. I've actually gone to self serve car washes with wands and used their bay for the really gunky cars.
 
I'm too uncomfortable with aluminum foil. Probably nothing electrically foul will occur but I'm just over cautious.
 
I just still wonder if it is worth offering to clean the engine bays as part of the packages I sell? Maybe better to sell it as an add on instead. I don't know if it really needs to be part of the detail process?
 
I tried covering all my electrical stuff to prevent any sort of negative side effects from doing an engine detail but I soon realized that every part that I covered, it still became wet. In conclusion, I can detail my engine without having to worry about covering anything up. I guess I have to put into consideration that I have a 2000 Integra. :up
 
A lot of parts can tolerate some water getting on them. They can't tolerate being flushed with water. I'd still cover everything up. Ten minutes of time covering things up vs. countless hours and dollars replacing parts that you destroyed.





At the very least cover up the intake. An engine that experiences hydrolock is rarely salvagable.
 
I detailed my 4Runners's engine this weekend with no issues at all. I covered the alternator and most of the electrical components with plastic baggies.



I used CD2's Engine Cleaner and a small scrub brush. I set the hose on a very small trickle and then followed up with some old towels to get up as much as the water as I could. I keep running the car as much as possible to ensure that everything was dry.



I followed up dressing all of the rubber, plastics, etc with AA Detailer Advantage Foam...:xyxthumbs
 
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