I did do this the other day! Thanks for your response. It worked great! I like it when thing are clean on the XF. It pays when people respond...."nice car!"

 

That's why we do it!

 

~ head to the diy .25 carwash and select soap then rinse (hot water helps) ...no need for chemicals or degreasers. you do "not" need to cover a thing in the crossfire's engine compartment. i clean all my newer cars engines this way.

 

Andrew, I hate to tell you this, but we no longer have a "stick a quarter in it" wash in this area. $7 for all day, if you like. But it's $7 no matter what.

And I 'll always stick to my advice not to use high pressure under the hood. 60 PSI? Sure. 2200 PSI? Nope. Might peel that neat paint I used!

Just my opinion, ya' know?

 

~ referred to as the... "quarter carwash"... but takes a minimum of 6 quarters to get it to function for one cycle.

as for the pressure... i have used them for 20 years without any issue... ever. they do a great job with little effort and no product needed...

additionally, no issues with water and electronics... i do this at least once a month to my cars.

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i use the same method to clean the underside of the hood insulator.

start at the bottom with the soap and work your way up (do not get too close to the material - 12" away of so)... then the opposite... rinse from the top downward and once you are home... open the hood to allow the water to drain to the bottom of the insulator (perhaps leaving the hood up overnight for through drying). pretty simple with great results!

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and while your at it... don't forget the underside & well wheels... (and yes this car was a daily driver... rain & snow).

 

Wish I could keep my DD that clean! So you literally just blast the inside fully with soap + rinse? Are you getting in there good or just kind of misting over the top? Always been afraid to do some damage with a wand in there.

Thanks!

 

~ start with the soap washing from fire wall foward and then washing from both fender sides to clean the engine throughly... then rinse.

 

first off... you have to find a quality .25 carwash. most of them aren't so good...

you need to find one with: hot water, flexible wand and great pressure.

once located... i never even need to use a sponge (& never use the brush!)...a good coat of wax helps.

i start with the hot soap... washing the inside of the rims... then the wheel well area (one at a time). this gets me through one cycle. then i move the car up 180 degrees to clean the opposite side of the rims (inside too). i then power wash the underside (front, back & sides). then its time for the painted areas...
i start at the bottom & work my way up (this way you are not diluting the dirt with the soap...this allows for the dirt removal w/o a sponge). once complete... i switch to rinse and work for the top to the bottom... including the underside & rims. once a month or so i clean the engine & hood insulator (just soap & rinse). i do a speed run around the block (major water removal) & towel dry with a quick spray of fine detailer on the rear bumper (for any loose debris).
i let the car sit in my garage overnight for all the dripping areas to dry... and then i do a quick detail on the entire car for the true end result.

 

Both cars are quite impressive, looks brand new!

 

I'm so jelous that my engines not as clean as valkrys , Im to scared that if i attempt to clean the engine I won't have everything sealed completely and I won't be able to start it afterwards -_-

 

"...take not counsel of your fears..."

Just do it!

 

Follow Andrews instructions. I took mine to the wash the other day and just blasted it, no problems, nothing covered up etc.

 

Option number 2, or Plan B

Get a small electric power washer. Use your home hot water heater as the water source. Get a leaf blower to get all the water out of the nooks and crannies of the engine and body crevices.