I'm planning on having my car detailed this week and included in the detail is the engine compartment....they said they take a pressure washer to clean out all the dirt and then spray it down with some cleaning detergent. I notice a lot of connectors and wires aren't covered and could this pose a problem if they are hit with water? Or should it be fine. So is it ok to wash the engine compartment when you have a jag with all these "open" electrics?

 

UM, I would take a DEEP breath and say NO to the pressure wash method on any car. It will and can, get water and stuff into places you really dont want water. Then add to that the untrained/stupid hands using the thing, and you are simply asking for trouble, IN MY OPINION.

I wash mine regularly, and simply use a p/pack degreaser, carefully sprayed where I want it, then one of those "pump up" garden spray bottles with water, and wash down sparingly. An old synthetic chamois dampened, wipes down all the cam cover, rad top panel etc very nicely.

My main concern, outside the connections, is that water and stuff will get down the coil holes, and all sorts of codes are going to appear. Then you post count on here will go through the roof, haha.

 

I would suggest you reconsider. I can assure you if you search both the other Jag forum and this one with the words "wash", "engine" and "dead" or "no start" you will find more than a couple posts of individuals who could not get the car started after an engine wash. I know I have read at least of three such incidents on AJ16 engines

 

Ditto
waterblasting is no good for engines and electrics
a rag, maybe a bit of petrol or meths, and most dirt/grease will come off

 

Hi guys,
There are some people advocating the use of pressure washers,
steam cleaners and the like, as long as the electrical connectors are protected. Personally I would say NO.

Ok, my engine bay is only 8 years old but there has never been any water used in the cleaning of it. Plenty of rags, cotton buds, engine cleaner and engine dressing, oh and lots of time and patience.