Do's and Dont's of pressure washing???

[smbundy13]

I am in the middle of rehabbing my '80 CJ7 . it is currently sitting in my shop waiting on my new fuel tank to come in. I am wanting to roll it outside and pressure wash the underside and inside of the jeep.

anything I should look out for? I wont really bear(sp?) down on a specific part.. just trying to knock some of the old dirt off the underside so i can keep it from getting in my face..

what about the inside? can i wash the dash or will that fubar everything? I actually plan on buying a new harness when I get my tax refund back (being a CPA, I already calculated what it will be)

if i spray the engine bay, I will remove the battery, put a bag or something over the distributor.. anything else? I have the factory air cleaner, so I guess I could put a bag and rubber band over the intake of the air cleaner?

thanks very much for your help.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Sounds like you've got all the bases covered. I would suggest you let it sit for a day or two after to make sure everything dried. The inside around the dash is the only area you didn't cover. Putting electric to it before everything is completely dry could cause a problem. Don't be surprise if some paint comes off to underneath.

 

[smbundy13]

Sounds like you've got all the bases covered. I would suggest you let it sit for a day or two after to make sure everything dried. The inside around the dash is the only area you didn't cover. Putting electric to it before everything is completely dry could cause a problem. Don't be surprise if some paint comes off to underneath.

yeah.. i might nix the pressure washer for a a nozzle on my hose..

 

[Hedgehog]

I would (and do) pressure wash the heck out of my CJ. I don't worry about the battery or the dist. and keep the air cleaner on. the engine. There are a few things I do pay attention to though. Gaskets, try to stay away from any joint that has a gasket in it, don't spray directly on electrical parts Like the distributer and the alternator. With that I mean don't hold the nozzle right on the parts trying to get every last piece of dirt or oil off .... oh yeah and the battery fill caps. There isn't anything on the underside of your CJ that hasn't been deluged by water in every decent rains storm it's been driven in. Spray all the dirt off you can, expect to get back sprayed at least a dozen times. Be careful with the dash. That's where most delicate electrical parts live, stay away! That doesn't mean that you can't spray the floors though. I say all of the above is appropriate when using a normal 1,600 or so PSI pressure washer. The BIG BOYS are another story all together. They can strip paint that you don't want stripped. Common sense it the key to about anything CJ related.

Personally I'd stay somewhat away from a garden hose. They spray a whole lot more uncontrolled water (volume V.S. pressure) than a pressure washer. Minor flooding may occur.

 

[JR74CJ5]

just pressure washed the heck out of mine the other day since I could see the oil pan through sides (where fenders sometimes are )

I even pressure washed out the fuse box... (then sprayed it with electrical cleaner / whatever it was my brother did after watching me pressure wash it... lol )

I actually found out the oil pan is still blue on my old CJ!

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I would remove the battery.
When done with the dash, aim a fan at it to help dry everything off. Let that fan run for a good 48 hrs before hook'n the battery back up.
Keep the water away from the steering colume best you can.
Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
LG

 

[smbundy13]

I would remove the battery.
When done with the dash, aim a fan at it to help dry everything off. Let that fan run for a good 48 hrs before hook'n the battery back up.
Keep the water away from the steering colume best you can.
Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
LG

thanks everyone for the ideas.. someone gave me a good idea to get one of those gutter blaster things.. it gets more pressure and makes it so that I can wash up in the wheel wells without getting up under them.. I am going to start with that..

on another note.. new gas tank and sending unit were delivered today!