Hi All,

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right forum, so moderators feel free to move it.

I've managed to get a brand new Karcher pressure washer at a great price which I plan to use on the Octavia (more during winter time as the salt on the roads up here is atrocious).

Anyway, I was speaking to my father telling him I planned to give the engine bay a quick once over with it and he looked alarmed (you know the look Dad's give their son's when they think they are being a complete idiot) and said it would cause the electrics to fail!I think I've read on previous forums that it is quite safe to do this so I am really here to ask you all if you have tried cleaning the engine bay like this and if it went OK without any problems etc.

Thanks for any info/advice in advance.........

Cheers

Hugh

I think it was Mark the Wax Wizard said that he normally uses a jet wash under the bonnet, but NOT a steam cleaner. He is a pro so I'd tend to believe him.

Personally I'd be extremely cautious if I was DIY

I've used one on mine, no problems so far.

usual discalimers apply

I think its quiet safe as long you do the following

Cover Battery in plastic

Protect Alternator

Dont spray water directly, kind of let the mist blow across the engine.

Yep, sounds about right. Be careful on the chrome on the outside, too -I managed to bubble the chrome on the radiator grille on my L&K by getting too close.

I got it changed under warranty after I played innocent, though! :angel:

Phil

Mark (the Wax Wizzard of Swissol fame) uses a pressure washer under the bonnet. It has been slightly modified to have not so much oomph as standard, but apart from that it did no harm when he did Howards (fen_l&k) cars and mine with it. He did say that steam cleaners are a big no-no.

Q.

Steam cleaners and air conditioning components don't mix! I have a Karcher 702MX and wouldn't dream of using it under the bonnet since it is powerful enough to do serious damage to a car. I bought the gutter cleaning (and car underbody) lance for it last week. Used the lance on the conservatory gutter and it literally blasted the gutter contents all over the place. The gutter is now spotless - and so is the surrounding area including conservatory roof since I had to clean them too. :(

PS I wouldn't recommend anyone with a Milltek exhaust using the Karcher underbody lance to clean the underside of their car - it will probably take the exhaust off!

I use my pressure washer on the underside of the bonnet and round the slam panel, etc., but I turn the motor on it off, so it's higher pressure than a hose but lower than I use for the bodywork.

Never caused me problems so far (except dazzling people when I lift my bonnet... :p )

Rob.

I used my new (Wickes) pressure washer on the Porker engine bay last weekend with some trepidation, but it started up first time afterwards. It idled a little lumpily for a while (I guess the HT leads needed to dry out) but after a drive round the block was fine again. I left it idling with the bonnet shut for a while to get nice and warm and dry out. Been fine since. Still not spotless so will probably be getting another go soon. Some things (like throttle linkages etc.) may need re-lubricating afterwards.

I don't believe this thread! Soon we will be having members telling us to pressure wash our MAFs and DVs, and claiming that doing it cures that annoying ticking noise from the rear of the engine bay too.....

Time to go and wash my PC with the Karcher.....

Denis, if you do, make sure the PC is switched on to allow it to dry faster

Steam cleaners are a no-no, although pressure washers seem to be okay, as I found out on my old Focus ...... a bit of misfiring for a couple of weeks after a steam clean !

Denis, is it ok to use the Karcher on my dash, steering wheel and seats?

...Is mahogany affected by water ?

It floats?

Originally posted by SilveRS in this post

Denis, is it ok to use the Karcher on my dash, steering wheel and seats?

If it's a vRS - it should be quite OK.

(PS Non-vRS owners please ignore the above advice)

Originally posted by SilveRS in this post

Denis, is it ok to use the Karcher on my dash, steering wheel and seats?

Originally posted by DGW in this post

If it's a vRS - it should be quite OK.

(PS Non-vRS owners please ignore the above advice)

Denis - you've forgotten rule 23.2.1.2 - Karcher pressure washers are yellow, so are disqualified.

:D