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How to wash engine compartment?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by web1b, Apr 15, 2011.

  1. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Pressure washers can force water through the seals on connectors. It's also bad to use on brake calipers.
    Both Pearl and Pearl S have been cleaned with a garden hose. Then by hand using a mitt (there are a lot of sharp edges under the hood). Then rinse with the garden hose. If there are any areas that oil or grease has stained, a paint brush with varsol cleans that up just fine, followed by the garden hose.
    I do not try to avoid any areas with the garden hose. Remember, underhood can get very wet when driving in heavy rain. It's all "water resistant" (whatever that means).

    I wash under the hood in summer, on my backyard lawn. The "contaminants" have so far not harmed the grass or weeds. In 40+ years. ;)
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    All I see on ours is dust, so I "dust" it, very occasionally. Use a paint brush or two, a "boa" style duster pushed through gaps between components, a wet/dry vacuum to vacuum what I can, and a leaf blower to really get in the corners.

    It pretty much looks like new.

    image.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

    #42 Mendel Leisk, Aug 22, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
  3. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    The electrical connections are sealed. I don't use a high pressure spray, which could force water in or knock things loose. Just a soak.

    And never pour water on a hot engine.

    Another thing -- the silver-colored plastic piece over the oil cap comes right off for cleaning. Just life it straight up. Not towards you, but straight up. It just snaps on and off. So you can scrub it really well, although there's a sticker or two that you want to be careful with.
     
    #43 Rebound, Aug 22, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
  4. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    I washed mine with a high pressure hose from the coin-op wash and I never had any problem except the engine was so clean. Just make sure you don't over-wash it and just do it really quick. And give it time to dry or wipe it down. When I washed my engine, it was a 95 degree day so the engine dried just a few minutes after the wash.
     
  5. rhythm0699

    rhythm0699 New Member

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    Is there any problem if i clean the engine bay daily using a blower only ? in my area the environment is so dusty.

    SM-G935F ?
     
  6. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    I don’t see a problem with that. Here’s how we cleaned ours
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    No problem. I've used a few brushes coupled with a leaf blower, and/or the blow side of my wet/dry vacuum. Our area's not very dust though.
     
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  8. Kingsway

    Kingsway Active Member

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    Amongst the many, many You Tube videos on this subject - I quite like this one where he uses aluminium foil to protect certain areas from water...

     
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  9. tacopyro

    tacopyro Member

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    just to add, a more specific video of the above.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Meh, asking for trouble.
     
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  11. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I’ve used that approach many times, except I always remove the silver plastic “Hybrid Synergy Drive” cover. I also remove this before oil changes.