I have always washed the motor at car wash on all my vehicles, can I wash the Jag motor same way?

Thank you.

 

I do NOT reccomend it! I wash everything fom my TR-6, Triumph Bonneville and my Lincoln LS BUT not my XJS's V-12...I use lots of rags, cleaner and elbow grease. Too many bullet connectors, micro switches, old style relays etc for me.

 

Agree with JTsmks. I've never understood the need to jet wash car engines..... it's just inviting trouble. When I first got my XJS I spent an hour here and an hour there cleaning little bits of the engine bay by hand. Before I knew it I was finished and had a nice shiney motor, without it getting wet. During this hands on process I noticed a lot of things (hose connectors loose, wiring not correct, etc, etc). All told it was a rewarding exercise

 

Add my "No way!" to the list :-)

Lots of rags, brushes, mild solvent, Simple Green, etc

A hand-trigger spray bottle, used carfully, is fine. But you don't want to do the garden hose or pressure wash routine.

You can get a lot done with job patience and elbos grease. Here's a pic of mine from back in the day

Cheers
DD

 

+1 on the no pressure wash. I'm amazed that the OP has never had problems.

 

That is Beautifuuuuuuuuuul.

 

I have never had a problem on my 98 Chevy P/u been washing it since new.
Also wash engine of my 2007 chevy p/u since new,never had a problem but then I never had any electrical problems either.LOL

 

Thanx for the replies. No way was I going to wash till I got advise.

I'll roll up the sleeves and pull out the simple green.
My Valkyrie I/S has never been in rain or had a water hose on it. Clean with simple green and rags,will do same with Jag motor.

 

Cats don't like water! Lol!

 

big stuff with degreaser, most stuff with simple green, upkeep with windex. Plastic and metals with plastX.

I havent had the time to do this but know to do so. When i replaced my water pump i cleaned the whole front of the engine. Beware of heavy degreasers like purple power. They are very strong and hard to get off. The tend to leave a residue.

 

Sealed connectors....a concept foreign to Jaguar until a few years after yours was built :-)


Cheers
DD

 

when i got on here i thought this was an update to a thread i had read a while back about a member getting his XJS stuck at the car wash after pressure washing his V12.

that should speak for itself.

 

I would not wash ANY vehicle's engine. Most manufacturers have a policy that their dealers NEVER wash any engine. That being said if I had one that was really dirty then maybe I would pressure wash it one time. The one time being when I decided I was going to start with that as part of a major cleaning when I then followed the pressure wash with a disassembly and hand cleaning, distributor overhaul, spark plug replacement, etc. as others mention. I would never do it as a routine.

 

Just weak water hose pressure, and elbow grease...

 

Jeez guys, do you actually drive your cars?
Mine looks like a pigsty.

 

Yes, I drive mine like I stole it...but I live in the South (US) where cars will last forever if you take reasonable care of them. No snow, no salt, no rust!

Dave
Atlanta

 

When I had mine is was mostly a weekend car so it didn't accumulate dirt all that quickly. Still, though, a detailed engine bay takes a certain amount of devotion that isn't easy to sustain over the long haul :-)

Cheers
DD

 

This is the result of about 30 minutes with a toothbrush, some de-greaser and a rag. While it is tedious, the reward is nice and shiny, with no concern about where water may have accumulated from a pressure wash.

It's a cross between dental work (tight spaces) and an archaeological dig. The second photo shows something stamped into the block. This would be at the extreme from of the engine, just below where the a/c compressor was mounted. Anyone know what it signifies?

Thanks,

John

 

THanks Steve M!
THat's what mine looks like!! Now I feel shame!! Just had the exterior newly painted, new lattice wheels and al new interior wood but the engine!! YIKES!!
I have order a new bonnet liner!! Does that count??

 

Every little bit helps!
To be fair I haven't had a chance to attack the engine yet as I'm still trying to sort out the overheating problem (replacement radiator on the way).
I will print off those gleaming shrines to engineering excellence and stick them on the garage wall to provide some inspiration!
The 4.0 litre one is in much finer fettle though.