I typically spray down my ICE engines in my other vehicles - but can you spray down your hybrid engine or has anyone tried to? Mine is needs a bath but thought I read somewhere that it's a bad idea!

Thoughts?

 

The user manual states explicitly to avoid getting the engine compartment wet or you may damage the hybrid systems.

 

I've soaped and washed the engine compartment in my '04 HCH more times than can count. I've never had any problems with it.
-Steve

 

the best thing you can do is just wipe it down with simple green... it's a pain but does the trick and avoids any moisture from getting within the wire protectors.

 

I guess I better stop driving in the rain.

 

Yes, the Pacific Northwest has the highest per-capita ownership of hybrids as well as the most rainy days, so I suspect that getting the engine wet isn't a problem!

 

I suspect some splashing from the tires is significantly different from taking a garden hose and blasting around the top of the engine where most of the wiring is.
I've gotten my laptop wet occasionally from a dash between offices where I work on rainy days, but that doesn't mean I'm going to hold it under the faucet when the keys get a bit grimy.

Obviously the wiring under the hood is reasonably well protected from moisture, I should expect it would handle getting blasted with water, but common sense should prevail. If you really want to use your hose, be gentle. Better yet, treat it as you would your computer, not your socks. If you really care, then care. If you don't, then why mess with it

PS Just because blasting it with water didn't hurt it, doesn't make it a good idea.

 

What I said was a bit tongue in cheak.

I know you should not blast the thing with water, but a bit of damp cleaning will not hurt it.

Really a low pressure garden hose should not even hurt it, but that probably won't dislodge any grime either.

Just don't go to the coin op and use the high pressure washer.

 

To clean under the hood I just used a damp rag. It get most of the grime without worrying about excess water getting into sensitive components.

 

exactly... just avoid overdoing it. i can't remember where I read this but avoid using a steam power washer, the idea behind this is that steam has an easier time of gettting underneath the wire sheath and then condense into water.