Baby Blue has seen a few hundred hours of engine time and I would like to get the engine cleaned up. Nothing major, but a thin film of dust and residue. I would also like to get the bilge area cleaned out and remove the dirt film in the bilge.

I have never power washed the motor or the bilge. The concerns are that I could cause harm to the motor doing something I shouldn't or that I might cause harm in the bilge using the power washer.

Our power washer is a good DeWalt unit that is supposed to create close to 3000 lbs of pressure.

I know I should use a wide angle tip to dissipate some of the presure and hold it away a little.

I figured I would throw a tarp or plastic over the interior to catch any dirty spray that might deflect from the engine or bilge area.

Is pressure washing the motor a bad idea? I know car lots do it all the time, but perhaps they use a low pressure setting.

Is pressure washing the bilge OK? Do I need to watch out for things.

What other precautions should I take to ensure I don't mess something up.

Other tips or hints?

A good read for you

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-engine.html

Yes, 3000lbs of pressure is WAY more than you need. I don't think pressure washing is necessary at all. A hose, soft bristled brush, and some good soap ought to do the trick.

I bought an engine detailer at Home Depot. It is basically a siphon gun that connects to your air compressor, costs like $11. It works like a mini pressure washer. Mix a light batch of degreaser and spray the engine down with it, then rinse. I think you will be surprise at how well that little thing works.

As a side note, it is one of the handiest tools I have purchased. A lot of textured plastic that is difficult to clean comes out very well with this little thing. And you don't soak everything around like you would with a pressure washer.

EDIT: And that 90PSI max rating, I think that's more a guideline than actual requirement.

Well, there you go! (Marge Schott impression from Bob & Tom Show)

WaterMutt- do you have a link to that tool from Home Depot? I couldn't find it.

i couldn't either. it is in the air tool section at the store. Well worth the cost, IMO.

Maybe it will give me an excuse to buy a new air compressor as well? :-)

Sounds like I can leave the powerwasher put away and use some simple green or catrol superclean to degrease along with a soft bristled brush.

I'm guessing the bilge will be best served by the same method.

I've got a tool just like that. Bought it at Harbor Freight. Works very well.

This is the one I have.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3953

Mine looks amazingly the same, except black. Hmmmm, think the Ch.I.Na company makes them for more than one person??

i'm sure you can use other things for the bilge itself, but boating stores do sell bilge cleaner. if you're going to clean it in a slip, you may want to check to engine the stuff can be pumped into you local water system.

Good linky!!

Think that mini sprayer would tolerate a muriatic acid solution?

I have bilge cleaner already, but I have a feeling it needs to be scrubbed as part of the cleaning.