Don't pressure wash your engine bay (unless you do this) 🏁
Whether or not it's safe to pressure wash your engine bay has been a highly debated topic in the auto industry.
Certain mechanics will tell you it'll cause certain damage (I'm looking at you, Scotty.)
And if you do it incorrectly, he's totally right.
But the truth is, it's perfectly safe to pressure wash a modern car's engine bay, as long as you follow a few important rules.
Spray the surrounding area with water first
Let's face it - you're going to be using some strong cleaners or degreasers on your engine bay.
That's kind of the point here.
But those same chemicals can wreak havoc on your paint.
Allowing a degreaser to dry on your paint can stain or etch the clear coat.
So before you begin, spray the fenders and bumper with water.
You'll probably be washing the rest of the car anyway, so this doesn't add any extra work.
Make sure to keep them wet the whole time you're working on the engine bay so the chemicals don't dry on the surface.
The water also dilutes the cleaners, making them weaker - so there's less of a chance of your wax being stripped off.
Then rinse well before moving on.
Hold the pressure washer at least 2 feet away at all times
This is important.
A typical electric pressure washer that most people would use to detail their car isn't going to make much more than 1,000psi.
I can hold my hand in front of the stream, and while it might not feel great, it doesn't hurt me.
So as long as you keep it at a safe distance (and you've got a wide spray pattern rather than a sniper nozzle), it's not going to push past any weather proof seals.
Side note: Yes, the electrical connectors in your engine bay are weather resistant - manufacturers know that rain's gonna get in there.
Don't aim directly at electronics
For added safety, it's a good idea to avoid spraying directly at any sensitive electronic components like the alternator, wiring harnesses, and battery.
A quick spray over them is totally fine, just don't sit there for a long time aiming directly at them.
Dry it thoroughly when you're done
Making sure it dries properly is a good idea, too.
There are so many places for water to pool, and if an electronic component happens to be there, it's kinda like submerging it.
Drying it thoroughly also helps to avoid corrosion or rust on things like the heads of bolts etc.
I like to blow it dry with a leaf blower, followed by starting the engine and letting it idle until it's at operating temp.
The heat obviously helps it dry faster and the vibrations from the engine will shake any standing water free.
