Hosing off the engine?

[mathews xt 600]

Can't find any info about this. I have been moving a bunch of fill and 2b stone and my engine is extremely dusty. I want to keep it clean so what's the best way to do that. To many nooks and crannies to use a rag so can I just hose it off with the rest of the tractor. I know to never do it when the engine is hot. Thanks

 

[85Hokie]

Can't find any info about this. I have been moving a bunch of fill and 2b stone and my engine is extremely dusty. I want to keep it clean so what's the best way to do that. To many nooks and crannies to use a rag so can I just hose it off with the rest of the tractor. I know to never do it when the engine is hot. Thanks

this has been brought a couple of times.......wash with most anything you like, but if you have an alternator, place a plastic bag over it , most of the other areas are fine to get wet.

try not to hit those places where electrical connectors are - they will "rust" quicker than under normal conditions.

I good wipe down after to get most to the water up would not be a bad idea either. Then I would fire her up to heat the rest of the areas dry that you cannot get to with your hand.

certain detergents will take some paint off - little dab of car wash would be fine!

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Car wash soap is a great cleaner. If you need to get a pre-wash on oily goo, GUNK works well with a long paint brush to break the goo loose.

To protect engine and rear end parts after a wash, I use WD40 and that helps with corrosion. It attracts a little dust if you don't wipe it off but it washes clean next wash no problem. WD helps get the zerk spooge out of your FEL hinges too. Best to do them after a zerking because the grease attracts dust and turns into a nasty booger that is hard to clean up after a month. WD breaks it down when its new and clean and makes for a nicer looking machine.

The WD really helps the rear end around the PTO from getting all nasty too.

Good luck!

 

[CJN8]

I like to use my pressure with a wide fan spray to knock the dust off. Then I hit it with a leaf blower to blow the water out of all the nooks and crannies. Works great.

 

[100 td]

Spray on your preferred detergent (degreaser for me) and pressure wash, then leaf blower, then WD40 or similar on bare metal parts. While WD40 attracts dust, it protects and comes off easily next time. It depends if you are pedantic about it looking like a showroom all the time, or just nice and clean after a wash.
Alternator is fine to get wet, but pressure cleaning may push water past vents etc, a light spray is generally OK. I am an industrial electrician so if mine dies I can fix, however I haven't had one fail because of water ingress in 35+ years. Degreased and blasted mine a few days ago, but I need to pull it because there was so much crap in it from previously being in a poultry operation, the dust(excrement) is corrosive and is in everything and attacking everything.

 

[tcrote5516]

Same here, I pressure wash and have never had any problems with the charging system.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Me either. Bought my first pressure washer 30 years ago.

Avoid direct blasting of alternator mostly to avoid getting the bearings super drenched. Same with idler pulleys, etc.

The weedie blower is a nice idea. I use compressed air after washing the bikes because it gets the water out of crannies and keeps from leaving water spots on the windshield.

 

[davesl708]

Leaf blower works great for dust and leaves.

 

[tc11]

No problem hosing off or pressure washing. The biggest and I mean biggest danger is don't get water in your air filter. I made that mistake once on my new Holland...well there is no extra room in a diesel cylinder, so that little bit of water had nowhere to go and bent a connecting rod. So I had to rebuild the engine. So wash all you want just watch that air filter.

 

[skeets]

Good Lord Sounds like washing the Harley,,lol,,, Use simple green it is safe and cheap mix 50/50 spray it on a cold motor let it sit for a few then wash it off with the hose,,, NOW if you have any of that black crinkle paint any place on the motor that is looking yucky, my engein case and cylinders are that black crinkle paint and they look nasty after a while,, yeppers WD40 makes it look new again,, cept for the smoke as it cooks off,,yeah that's nasty