Engine Cleaned on L400 Diesel - Now Chirping Sound

[CREGAN]

Hey all, I want to clean my engine as it looks like it has not been done in a very long time. With every other vehicle I have owned I have just taken it to the carwash and pressure washed it. I have never owned a deisel before though and I am worried that I may get water where I don't want it. Any suggestions on the process and cleaners which might be used would be appreciated. Thanks

Craig

[nxski]

A power washer will most likely splash your interior quite a bit. Try using Simple Green and a hose. Spray everywhere and wash. It works better than de-greaser IMO...

[Fishtank]

Try using Simple Green and a hose. Spray everywhere and wash. It works better than de-greaser IMO...

I agree, Simple Green is a good cleaner. If not to your satisfaction, GUNK makes a good de-greaser too.

A power washer will most likely splash your interior quite a bit.

I doubt this will be a problem, the title says "L400".

[nxski]

Whoops, power wash away! My eyes deceived me and I thought I saw a 300 in the display pic (these darn iPhones)!

[CREGAN]

Sounds good then! I want to get it all spiffed up because I got my sweet set of stainless intercooler pipes to put on (when/if my TPS gets here ).

Craig

[jessef]

buy a tube of die electric grease and smear it on all the electrical connections before you hose down the engine bay.

[CREGAN]

Hey, another quick question - can I still drive my van if I take the plastic cover off the intercooler? I want to do some work on it, but I also want to drive!

Craig

[Fishtank]

Yup, might as well wash your intercooler too. Just go easy on the fins, a pressure washer will destroy them, wash it by hand.

[CREGAN]

buy a tube of die electric grease and smear it on all the electrical connections before you hose down the engine bay.

Which elecritcal connections do you mean Jesse? Every one I can see, including the battery terminals?

Craig

[CREGAN]

So I gave her a good washing today and she looks amazing - you could eat off the engine now (although not recommended). Now I have a strange noise like a belt squeeling, or screeching (kind of a chirping sound). The sound kind of reminds me of when the water pump was going on my westy - but the water pump was supposed to have been replaced when I bought it, and it does look new. It only makes the noise when sitting idleing. When I speed up to drive away from a stop it goes away. I did notice this noise a little while back but it definately wasn't as loud and continuous as it is now. Could it just be a side effect from water on the belts or do you guys think there could be a potential problem about to surface (again )?

Craig

[Fishtank]

Get some belt dressing, they're probably a bit slick since your washing job.

[tonydca]

Get some belt dressing, they're probably a bit slick since your washing job.

X2, or to be really cheap, mug some little kid for a piece of sidewalk chalk, and use a knife to scrape off some chalk dust onto the belts.

[mararmeisto]

Drive a few kilometers down a dusty dirt road - saves you from having to traumatize some sidewalk artist.

[nxski]

Drive a few kilometers down a dusty dirt road - saves you from having to traumatize some sidewalk artist.

True, but then you have to clean the engine again...

[FalcoColumbarius]

buy a tube of die electric grease and smear it on all the electrical connections before you hose down the engine bay.

Which elecritcal connections do you mean Jesse? Every one I can see, including the battery terminals?

Craig

I'm not so sure that dielectric grease is such a good idea. The reason I say so is because dielectric grease is an insulator and being in liquid form ~ should the contacts get hot enough and thin the viscosity of the grease, or water pushing the grease for that matter, it could slide into the connexion and isolate the connecting points from each other. It also can create a polarization in the charge. I think petroleum jelly would be a better choice, or even plastic bags. Generally I just avoid electrical connexions to start with.

Falco.