Hey i got a 95 vette LT-1 and i want to clean out the engine and engine bay. Its all stock and i want to konw if its ok to wash with a hose(covering the battery) and clean up. Also what is a good cleaning agent for the engine. Thanks

 

The battery isn't usually a worry when washing under the hood. The main reason to be careful with the battery is to make sure that you don't splash any of the battery acid or battery corrosion onto your paint job and let it sit.

The front half of the engine compartment can normally be cleaned without worry using any type of degreaser and a hose. I usually let the engine warm up, then spray it down with degreaser, then start it up and let it run while I hose it off. By letting it run, I know if I'm starting to get water where it's affecting the performance of the engine (and it's also handy for detecting vacuum leaks). The place where you have to be the most careful is around all of the electrical harnesses near the firewall. Normally, the worst that'll happen is that you'll blow a fuse, have to unplug/dry out the harness, di-electric grease it, and replace the fuse. I'm in the habit of cleaning and greasing my harnesses each winter anyway, so I rarely run into problems. After everything's clean and dry, I take a spray bottle of ArmorAll (or any type of rubber protectant) and spray down the areas of the compartment that have hoses/wires. This helps to keep hoses, wires, and vacuum lines from cracking.

 

Thanks man, So it is better to clean it while the engine is warm?

 

That is what is says on the instructions of most engine degreasers. I've always heard that you should try to avoid hitting the exhause manifolds directly with cold water, but I've never had a problem.

 

What about the optis, i heard they cause a lot of problem if wet!!!