patrickkc

I'm bringing my car over to my friend to have it detailed next week.. since it's gonna be raining for the rest of the week here in Toronto . He works at Toyota so I get the "gold" package + hes gonna claybar my car too... but he said something about having my engine washed as well... just wondering is it safe to do so? I know you can wash the engine but I thought that some sensors have to be covered or something so water doesn't get into them or something. Its a good deal.. paying $20 to get a $200+ car detailing but still not sure about the engine wash part... also.. anybody know how well the toyota detailing is?

AkaSigFreak

Do not wash the engine. A forum member posted a while back stating all the problems after washing the engine. Have them wipe whats accessible and leave the rest alone.

patrickkc

damn.. does make me scared now.. have to remind him not to wash my engine... he said my engine will smell like orange peels after he used the engine wash on it or something haha

C300Sport

be afraid...be very, very afraid...

TB5...

damn so only a spray bottle and wipe it down?

... no power wash or hose wash?

edit: 20$ DETAILING! hook it up...

tanktube67

It's SAFE to do it, this has been discussed before, go to search.

tanktube67

Here is the link.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...highlight=wash

patrickkc

ahh.. thanks i was just searching for it..and was about to ask what the key words were besides "engine & wash" lmao...

TB5...

that thread didn't help at all!! ahahahahah

some say wash and are so sure you can...and some say don't and are so sure you can't...

i guess ill just be careful when i wash it.

patrickkc

yea... some peopel keep saying yes but some say no... If I was doing it myself I would just leave it.. but bringing it out to detail. If i were to bring it to MB for detail thn I wouldn't worry at all.. but Toyota i'm a bit skeptical. Like my friend said,,, the nicest car they ever got in there was a IS300... so it's a risk to bring my car into the toyota.. but the deal is too good to pass up! haha so I think i'm gonna tell him to keep outta my engine. I have a friend that works at bmw and I was gonna ask if I can bring my car to bmw instead.. but turns out they have 2 differnt groups of people. Washing and Waxing.. so if i took it to bmw i'd have to pay for the full $300 package.

tanktube67

Yes could wash the engine all the electronics are mostly water proof do it with the engine warm with a low pressure water flow be selective as to where you spray things. To clean the radiator is recommended to blow it out with compressed air from the inside out.

patrickkc

I'm gonna tell the toyota guys to stay outta my engine to be on the safe side..

patrickkc

only if you promise to come to some of the w204 meets!

eminnet

At least will smell like "orange peel".

patrickkc

Engines with no warning lights on > engine that smells like orange peels... ahhaha

TB5...

@ the stipulation!

Moto_Guzzi

I am with those who say no. The problem comes after time resulting in complicated faults related to couplings, so a Merc mechanic told me.Must say my engine bay still clean.

patrickkc

ahhaha

Glyn M Ruck

Don't wash the engine. The electronics are far from waterproof.

Azn_C300

I just give it a good damp towel wipe down, but I've seen a few MB dealerships who hose down the engine bay.

Norm01

I have washed the engine on every car I own every six months for over 20 years and have never had a problem. I warm up the engine, use a foaming engine degreaser and then spray down with a hose. I would not use a high pressure sprayer though, looking for trouble with that.

München

Made me laugh.

C300Sport

I agree, just because your engine starts up and runs fine does not mean you are free and clear. Many of those connectors are not designed to be waterproof and you are only asking for trouble. I gave up engine washing after a couple "careful and gentle" washes ended up costing me lots of time and effort long after the fact.

RLE

Well, I see the usual suspects are posting their usual opinions so I may as well jump in and do the same. Since I am in favor of knowledgeable engine cleaning, here is one example. Just this month I took my 25.5 year old Porsche to the coin op car wash and cleaned the engine compartment just as I have done since it was new. Since it is so elderly, there are a few visible plugs which I disconnect and blow out with compressed air as a precaution.

And sure enough, it again won first in it's class in the latest PCA Concours. The judges never find any schmutz under the hood.

I'll be taking the C300 to the same place to clean it's engine compartment since the MB Club's clean car show is coming up soon.

Norm01

I agree high pressure is good if used with common sense. The reason I don't recommend it is that a hose and degreaser work fine, you don't even need to scrub. I've seen too many people buy a $200 high pressure washer, use a pencil tip spray pattern and end up ripping off all their stickers.