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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> The Dos & Don'ts Of Power Washing A Car
Post Info TOPIC: The Dos & Don'ts Of Power Washing A Car
Pontiacanada


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The Dos & Don'ts Of Power Washing A Car
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Just wondering if anyone has used a power washer on their car before. Mainly the engine compartment and underside.
First of all would it be advisable to use one?
Besides the obvious places to stay away from (the carb, rad, dist.) is there any other places to watch out for if I use one? ... e.g. tranny/rear end/oil pan/power steering seals?
Thanks.

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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

427carl


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what you said   you have it correct...

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eeluddy


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I use the one at the car wash a lot for under hood grime removal. It can shorten the life of electrical stuff so I put a plastic bag over the alternator and ignition parts and make sure you dry it off by running the engine, using an air blow gun and leave the hood up and let the sun do it's work

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73SC


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Blew the paint off the plastic fender of my almost new Bonneville with one. Never got one near my cars again. Man that Bonneville was a POS for the first two years, 28 under warranty jobs.

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455gto


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Watch what tip you use.......you can peel the paint off

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cdnpont


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I think I would avoid using it on the underside even.
My thinking is it would just drive water into all the seams in the pan and braces.

Good underhood with some caution.

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455gto


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Use engine cleaner first.....then hit it with the power washer

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69-Tin Indian


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Used to take our cars up to the car wash all the time to do the engine compartments and flush the heater cores. A buddy of mine bought a brand new Cordoba, we loaded to chicks up in the back seat, went through the automatic car wash and then opened the windows just as we got to the dryer. They're hairstyles took on a whole new appearance that they weren't too happy about.
Ahh....the good old days!

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1969 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible
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1985 Chevy Blazer (plow truck)
seventy2plus2


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I'd be somewhat apprehensive with a power washer, but the wand at the local car wash is perfectly fine.   I use them all the time, and a couple time a year I do under the hood.  If air cleaner on I spray everything and try to avoid the distributor.  If air cleaner off, I plug the choke throat with paper towels, and try not to spray the secondaries or distributor.  I use paper towels to sop up the pooled water in places on the intake, etc.

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lotsatas


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455gto wrote:

Use engine cleaner first.....then hit it with the power washer


This is the method I use, except I use a blow gun after power washing to dry everything out completely right away

 



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