gardening
Gardening Gifts FAQ:


Does the engine have to be running? If so, why?

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

eliot_ross 07.04.08 at 5:46 pm

yes you can spray it. it will be very messy when its running. Best not to do it when the engine is really hot.

adam coon 07.07.08 at 7:27 am

only when the engine is cold

extex_cop 07.10.08 at 2:40 am

As long as your engine is not too hot…you shouldn’t have any problems. Keeping the engine running was an old thing we did with cars before they had electronic ignition. When we sprayed the engine to clean it…if it started to sputter…we stopped…that way it would continue to run and we knew our distributor didn’t get too wet. If it did….we had to take off the cap…spray it with WD40 ( after it came out ) then dry it with towels…replace cap and hope it started. As long as you don’t spray directly into alternator or fuse box…you’ll be OK. Battery cleaning is OK. In fact… keeping the battery top clean will help it last longer.

triple.a 07.15.08 at 4:19 pm

It should be no problem. Just be sure to cover all the electricals like the battery, alternator and fuses. I clean the engine compartment in my truck all the time with no problems. Just don’t use a pressure washer, it puts water where it’s not supposed to go. Make sure to start the engine right after the rinse to evaporate some of the water once the engine warms up.

dodge man 07.18.08 at 12:50 am

no it don’t have to be running,just try and not get to much water around the distributor and the alternator ,if the distributor gets wet on i ,sometimes they wont start back,then you have to remove the cap and dry it out,other wise its safe to use a garden hose on it,id use some kind of a degreaser on it also,that will help clean it,and do it when the engine is cold not hot,good luck with it.

baldie 07.19.08 at 11:05 pm

yea sure you can, but you dont have to have it running. just make sure you dont get too much water on the dist. and other electrical parts, but yes you can do it yourself, just as you would at a car wash.

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