Does The Car Need A Crispy Clean Engine Block?

[Mangele]

On Monday October 19, footage of a carwash attendant busy at work was shared across various social media platforms with Kenyans engaging in a heated debate.

The attendant can be seen pouring buckets of water on the exposed engine block to give it a crispy clean look.

This formed the subject of the engaging debate on whether doing it could ‘kill’ the car’s engine or lead to costly damages.

A motorist narrated his personal experience following a similar incident.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/files/styles/article_inner_mobile/public/images/media/A%20car%20pictured%20at%20a%20carwash..jpg?itok=ZFOfLFE8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7RITitMwbA:5

“Engine cover to key electrical terminations haiko poa. Nilipitia hiyo mateso na Ka Toyota 100. Ilibidi mechanic afanye kazi ya kukausha na tissue paper ndio ipitishe moto (The electrical parts weren’t properly insulated or covered. I went through this with my Toyota 100 and the mechanic had to dry the entire engine block using tissue paper just to get it to start),” he recounted.

According to an expert from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), a jet of soapy water and a quick rinse will get the engine clean – but you could end up with a glistening engine that won’t start, or worse. It was further detailed that the engine compartment is not designed for such – you could be getting water into areas where it shouldn’t be and it can cause corrosion.

Spraying high-pressured warm or cool water on a hot engine could cool things too fast, stressing the metal and, potentially, causing cracks.

The worst case scenario would be water getting into your engine through the induction system, from around the air cleaner.

While a modern electrical system should be able to keep out moisture – jets of water could cause trouble.

If uncertain on what parts to avoid getting wet, getting your engine professionally cleaned is the recommended option.

As the mechanics put it, a greasy and grimy engine that runs properly is much better than a clean engine that doesn’t.

However, if you would still prefer a sparkly clean look under the hood, don’t use high-pressure sprayers like you find in self-serve car washes as they can force water past rubber seals and weather stripping into places it isn’t supposed to go.

The carwash attendant in viral video was using a small plastic container to wash the engine block, which is safer compared to the jet spray but still not recommended as the risks outweigh the benefits. The amount of water he was pouring into the engine block raised alot of eyebrows.

[Teddy_time]

Maneno ya engine wash sifanyangi. Stopped doing it when I chomad some sensors in my car. The most I do is use high pressure air to chomoa most of the dust and to wipe engine plastic cover with a wet cloth

[Touchlyrics]

@Teddy_time

The most I do is use high pressure air to chomoa most of the dust

Hii high air pressure unatoa wapi? ama ni zile za compressor kwa tyre shops?

[Teddy_time]

@Touchlyrics

Hii high air pressure unatoa wapi? ama ni zile za compressor kwa tyre shops?

Kuna petrol stations that have very good ones that blow with force

[Lexix]

kuosha engine ni very risky you will soak a sensor somewhere and the tears will be premium machozi. kuna siku karibu nililie car wash. luckily it was just a wet spark plug. sitawai rudia hio ujinga tena.

[magreb]

As a general rule:-
[ol]
[li]Cover the MAF sensor and the alternator with aluminum foil or cling film then wash away,[/li][li]Don’t use high pressure water jet and spray from a distance,[/li][li]Never ever wash with water any deep socket engines like the Mercedes, Peugeot et al. Utalia mbwata. Use a degreaser in measured portions.[/li][/ol]

[muria.mboco]

@Mangele

On Monday October 19, footage of a carwash attendant busy at work was shared across various social media platforms with Kenyans engaging in a heated debate.

The attendant can be seen pouring buckets of water on the exposed engine block to give it a crispy clean look.

This formed the subject of the engaging debate on whether doing it could ‘kill’ the car’s engine or lead to costly damages.

A motorist narrated his personal experience following a similar incident.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/files/styles/article_inner_mobile/public/images/media/A%20car%20pictured%20at%20a%20carwash..jpg?itok=ZFOfLFE8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7RITitMwbA:5

“Engine cover to key electrical terminations haiko poa. Nilipitia hiyo mateso na Ka Toyota 100. Ilibidi mechanic afanye kazi ya kukausha na tissue paper ndio ipitishe moto (The electrical parts weren’t properly insulated or covered. I went through this with my Toyota 100 and the mechanic had to dry the entire engine block using tissue paper just to get it to start),” he recounted.

According to an expert from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), a jet of soapy water and a quick rinse will get the engine clean – but you could end up with a glistening engine that won’t start, or worse. It was further detailed that the engine compartment is not designed for such – you could be getting water into areas where it shouldn’t be and it can cause corrosion.

Spraying high-pressured warm or cool water on a hot engine could cool things too fast, stressing the metal and, potentially, causing cracks.

The worst case scenario would be water getting into your engine through the induction system, from around the air cleaner.

While a modern electrical system should be able to keep out moisture – jets of water could cause trouble.

If uncertain on what parts to avoid getting wet, getting your engine professionally cleaned is the recommended option.

As the mechanics put it, a greasy and grimy engine that runs properly is much better than a clean engine that doesn’t.

However, if you would still prefer a sparkly clean look under the hood, don’t use high-pressure sprayers like you find in self-serve car washes as they can force water past rubber seals and weather stripping into places it isn’t supposed to go.

The carwash attendant in viral video was using a small plastic container to wash the engine block, which is safer compared to the jet spray but still not recommended as the risks outweigh the benefits. The amount of water he was pouring into the engine block raised alot of eyebrows.

Did that in 2016,then asked my brothers Twende tukakojolee new car… Yaani hata the slope hapo kwa gate ya home kutoka ilikua shida… And my uncle alipitia hapo akaniuliza… Yani umeamua ioge kama kivici?

(wauga ithere ta kivici ee?) didn’t know alikuwa ananicheka

[magreb]

@muria.mboco

Did that in 2016,then asked my brothers Twende tukakojolee new car… Yaani hata the slope hapo kwa gate ya home kutoka ilikua shida… And my uncle alipitia hapo akaniuliza… Yani umeamua ioge kama kivici?

(wauga ithere ta kivici ee?) didn’t know alikuwa ananicheka

What car was it? Have been socking my Subaru engines in water for ages without any issue. Only once did the MAF sensor go out and I experienced a similar occurrence as yours. Comb me.

[Micymas]

manze if a bit of water is going to ruin the engine block, hiyo sio gari. Ni mkebe. Makosa naona hapo labda tu ni hakutoa battery kabla aoshe. A dirty engine bay is worse for the car than a bit of water.