There is a lot of debate about cleaning the engine. Some say that this is a must, and do several times a year (I have a friend that summer, with his own hands, washes almost every month). Others are against it, say — that after washing, many things can damage, contacts are oxidized, and the car is normal not running. And where is the truth? What should they do? I will try to Express my opinion (it is my personal and does not claim to scientific papers). If you become interested, read the article + as usual the video version at the end.
THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE:
- Why not wash the engine?
- Why wash a car engine
- How to wash a car engine?
In principle there are strong arguments the two opposing camps, some I wrote FOR it, others AGAINST. HOWEVER, personally I still recommend to wash the engine, but not as often as many others do.
Why not wash the engine?
There are only three reasons that you often hear on the Internet:
"Gun" high pressure, just all tear "nafig" under the hood of your car! There is, I also do not recommend doing this. BUT! Who makes you to wash it under high pressure? And how easy the hose? Or are there other devices about which I will tell below.
Water or chemicals, you will get on the contacts will oxidize (or destroy) them, the car will run poorly. Constantly will get the error. There is some truth to that, but there is a grain full of nonsense. You always need to do all with mind. Listen – don't give (as I wrote above) high blood pressure, it can indeed destroy plastic and wires, clamps, crush sleeve, etc. don't have to use the regular foam for the car body. She can be very active, which can really badly affect the insulation of the contacts and so on. BUT! With high pressure we figured out chemistry and now there is a special, aggressive, designed for underhood space.
Clean not sell. This is the version from "hardened outbid" if they come to inspect the car and under the bonnet all shiny (like a cat one place), is just an excuse to think about! Why? YES, because usually wash the engine after repair and overhaul, or want to hide streaks of oil or other liquids. All of this should be alerted. However, if you would be a knowledgeable person to diagnose the engine (it's job and redness) is easy and simple. But the net SERVICEABLE power unit, accurately add a lot of profit when selling.
So these arguments are, to say the least, not consistent. Although I do not miss the possibility that there are complex a car (say an elite class), which have a lot of electronics, and wash them with my hands don't always make sense. Go to specialized companies.
Why wash a car engine?
Consider the other side of the coin — indeed, why? And what happens if you don't wash?
- The current leak. The reason is probable, but very rare. The engine just needs to be covered with oil and mud crust and then really can be leakage current, as from electrical connections or attachments (starter, alternator, etc) and the battery. BUT HYPOTHETICALLY — if the leak when slightly dirty motor possible, it is better all this dirt to wash off
- Violation of heat transfer. There's truth to it. When the motor covered with dirt, even a small layer — then it starts worse than cool. It happens that the temperature increases by +5, +10 (very severe). And in the summer Oh how it need the motor and how it works with high temperatures, but there is also be triggered by overheating
- The loss of power. Again from overheating. Now, almost all vehicle systems are controlled by the ECU. So, if the temperature is rising — then the ECU automatically, may slightly understate the power that the heating was not that high
- Increased consumption of gasoline. Again, due to overheating, you need more to press the gas pedal, so at low power to move at the right speed
In fairness, such problems occur in the heavily contaminated power unit (not wash 5 — 7 years or crawled in the dirt in the field). If you do not wash, say 2 or 3 years and the motor is slightly dusty, the harmful effects will be almost imperceptible. HOWEVER, to keep clean the motor is DESIRABLE. And now not to ruin your powertrain improper cleaning, I offer you my manual, which is used for several years on different cars.
Continued in the Part II...