Hosed...Literally! & expensive hyd Hoses

[Dave Glubrecht]

First, compressed air is easily and cheaply available, has MANY uses and if
you don't have a compressor (or two) go buy one, you will be glad you did.
Biggest problem is you could become a supply for neighbors that don't.
I will also admit to needing to diagnose a difficult problem due to water
getting into a relay for someone who pressure washed their car on a very
regular basis.
I have pressure washed my urQ twice this week and my 4kq once although
neither has been washed in 6 mo. prior.
4kq is getting a NF and easier to pull a clean engine.
urQ had a leak that after cleaning was easy to diagnose as the pressure hose
to the brake power unit.
I didn't check to see if the dealer could get the hose or how much (afraid)
but instead went to a local hyd hose shop and dropped it off at 11:00 am and
at 1:00 pm and $25 later I had a new hose.  Nice work.
After install, washed again to clean the ATF from where it had
sprayed/dripped and all is well.
All in all having pressure washed  many engine compartments the biggest
problem is water in the dist cap which I get occasionaly.
While I have no evidence, there seemed to be a relation between cars that
were kept clean and repairs needed.  This extended to interiors.  Things
work better in a clean enviroment.
  Dave G


> Ok, I keep hearing about compressed air.  I don't have
> access to compressed air and never have.
>
> Most people don't.  That makes drying out the engine
> bay and connectors a rather large task.
>
> Just because the car runs like crap after a thorough
> dousing of the engine bay does NOT mean that there's a
> problem with the car!!! Other than it's dripping wet
> in the engine bay where it's not supposed to be.
>
> Older cars, particularly in New England, don't like
> having the engine power washed.
>
> I was very careful when I cleaned the bay of my '90
> Jetta 16v and used a low pressure garden hose and had
> idle and starting issues for a week afterwards, even
> though I dried every connection.
>
> I stand by my claim, a dirty engine is a happy one.
> As back up, go ahead and call Dick Shine at Shine
> Racing Service...
>
> -josh
>
>
> --- Ben Swann <bswann at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> > Definately agree with Huw here.  I always clean the
> > engine bay as a matter
> > of course when I obtain a car.
> >
> > If you find the car does not run right after a good
> > powerwash followed by
> > compressed air drying, then be thankful you
> > uncovered a problem that would
> > undoubtedly occur sometime in the near future when
> > conditions are not ideal
> > for checking under the hood to see what is wrong.
> >
> > Ben
> >
> > [> You've just learned a valuable lesson about old
> > German
> > > cars.  Leave the engine bay dirty!!!
> >
> > I must respectfully disagree here... a clean engine
> > bay is much easier
> > to work in, to see leaks, and lets everything work
> > properly.
> >
> > A grunged up engine may develop some "issues" upon
> > the first major
> > cleaning, but everything you have to fix should be
> > done anyway - undoing
> > all connectors, cleaning them, and reassembling with
> > some dielectric gel
> > (one at a time!).
> >
> > You'd be surprised what you can actually see under
> > there after the 1/4"
> > layer of grrit, grease, and grime has been
> > removed...
> > Huw Powell]
> >
>
>
> =====
> Josh Wyte
> Momentum Motorsports
> 508-833-3024 After 5 pm EST
>
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