I'm new to the site and was hoping that someone might be able to answer my question. I was wondering if there is anything I need to watch out for while washing my diesel engine? I used to wash my old truck (gas engine) all the time. I just covered up the distributor cap with some aluminum foil, then sprayed the whole engine with Simple Green, let is soak and wash it off. I know with the gas engine I had to watch out for the distributor cap, but since I'm pretty new to the diesel engine world, is there anything I need to be careful of with it?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Erich <><

 

Ive my 95 and 93 many times. I use a citrisolve type product. Just watch the electrics on the fender wells and dont use high pressure. If you get a good degreaser the gunk will rinse off with much effort. After your done youll probably have the water in fuel light come on. Both mine did this until you blow dry the connector.

 

Probably be a good idea to run the truck a few miles after the wash to dry up everything real good. (engine heat/wind).

 

I wash the engine/driveline/undercarriage every time I wash my truck. The only issue Ive come across is getting water in the plug for the "Water in fuel" sensor.

Rich.

 

By washing frequently enough, I keep mine pretty clean with just a garden hose and occasionally some simple green...

I've always been told not to spray water on a mechanical fuel injection pump when it is hot. There's probably nothing to it, but I prefer to hose mine off when it is cold...

Also, I see this is your first post. Welcome. Take a moment to fill in your signature so people will know what kind of truck you have...

 

No problem washing gents... the fleets and dealers routinely steam 'em clean before working on them... all the wiring connections are weatherproof... just use a little common sense around the alternator swishing the hose around or by it quickly... getting it wet won't hurt, 'tho its never a good idea to directly fill its openings with H2O... Always a good idea to pre-warm it first, then drive 'er about 10 miles to dry-out the underhood compartment...

 

As a routine I always clean my engine, transmission and things that show. What I use is usually simple green, I have it in a heavy duty sprayer and I spray it on the engine at full strength on a warm engine. I let is set for about 10 minuets and then I hose it off with a high pressure nozzle.
About every few months I use my steam cleaner or high pressure depending on how bad it is. I have a Karcher steam/ 3000 PSI diesel fueled cleaner.
I only use the steam on parts that are really bad because he pressure will peel the paint right off and I have accidently peeled the insulation off some wires
I use the simple green on the wire harnesses, batteries and connectors. Good thing that I have a 1st. generation and there are little electronics to short out.
After I am all wet and the engine is clean, I blow off all the water with compressed air till it is dry and then I will start the engine and let it dry out.
I have read about why you should NOT clean the engines, I thing it was something concerning thermal shock to the turbo and warping something,
But I would have to find the article and besides unless you did something stupid, like well hose off your engine with a glowing red turbo I dont feel you would have any problems to worry about.
I have known people personally who would hose off their HOT engine with the garden hose and when I would ask them what they were doing, they would say "I am cooling off my engine"

I would be carefull with the later 2nd. and 3rd. gen trucks because of the electronics involved because just 1 wet connector can drive you crazy trying to figure out what is wrong with the thing .
On these I would use the simple green or whatever you choose and spray it off with just a garden hose and maybe your thumb over the end. and not try to hose down the connectors.
Also get a tube if diaelectric grease and keep all of your connectors serviced. (this is a good time to check for bad connections).
If you use live steam on the engine or suspension parts, after they are dry you need to get some paint back on them or else spray them down with WD-40 let it set a bit and then wipe it down with a rag to leave a film.
After you use live steam on a metal part, you can watch it rust in about 30min.

BTW when you spray your cleaner, simple green or whatever, be careful with the overspray because it will strip off your wax job and leave spots.

AND I know people that have recomended Easy-Off and other oven cleaners, DON'T DO IT...
It is very corrosive and will attack the aluminum parts and ruin them.
This is just what I do. Jim

 

Yes, most oven cleaners are very strong, and very corrosive to anything other than steel or ceramic.