Engine Cleaning

Nine years and 152,000 miles later, after giving this engine the Purple Power/Armor All treatment every six months or so…

 

Yes, of course you must rinse off the Purple Power! The engine is aluminum and PP will corrode and eat into the aluminum if soaked in the stuff for hours. But spritz on, wait 15 minutes, hose off? No problem. And no problem if small traces remain.

Beyond that? For sure, several times I’ve scrubbed the engine with a brush (which you can’t really see in this photo). I’ve taken the whole air box out a few times and completely cleaned it. I’ve taken the windshield wiper motor tray out and totally cleaned all of that to the firewall — I want the cabin air intake to be breathable air, not moldy tree sap and bird poop. But those kinds of cleanings have been a few times in the car’s nine year life, not annually. The wiper tray cleanings were done with maintenance, not on their own.

 

FINE!! I give up, ok? I quit!

I’ve had those wires exposed for nine years, and every time I show off my clean engine, it’s the same thing: “Hey, you ought to cover those wires.”

It’s Official: I ordered the thing.

Now I have to decide if I want to pull my air box out. Maybe after I buy a can of compressed air, since I don’t have the machine here.

 

Of course it will start. I don’t spray water into the air intake, so why wouldn’t it start? The electrical connections are all sealed. I’ve done this many times without any trouble. Maybe if your engine is in bad shape and the fuse box cover is cracked? But I’ve never had any problems doing this.

Not to be a dick, but… you understand these cars depend on airflow to cool the radiator and engine, so when it’s raining, water enters the engine bay. The engine is sealed against that, as long as water isn’t sucked into the air intake. But the resonator on a Prius is designed to let water fall right out before getting sucked into the engine. And the apron below the engine is not water-right and doesn’t need to be.

 

[mention]Mendel Leisk [/mention] Exactly! I’m being persecuted. The part was $12 with shipping; chip in! I accept PayPal and Molson. Mostly Molson.

 

Come one, the GoFundMe is getting started, I only need you to kick in 83 cents.

 

I live in Oregon. I promise you, that engine gets wet.

 

I have corrected my misdeed of naked inverter wiring. As you can see, I replaced the inverter coolant while I was at it.

 

They are completely different.

It’s like this:
The Inverter Cover adds a touch of luxury and class.

The Coolant Cover adds a touch of “I’m a pimp.” Which is ok; I’m not judging anybody who’s into that profession, although, I’m not sure Prius is the chosen vehicles of those in the business.

In all seriousness, the inverter has aluminum parts which oxidize. It’s impossible to keep it looking like new, unless maybe you powder coat it. On the other hand, the coolant cover simply covers a piece of plastic with another piece of plastic. Worse yet, it makes it harder to check the coolant level. So I’m not a fan.