My procedure, FWIW: turn off engine; spray with degreaser (Castrol
purple stuff for me); wait 5 - 10 minutes; respray nasty parts; wait a
minute; high pressure wash.  I don't disconnect the battery and I kinda
avoid completely dousing the distributor.

Karl Wolz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf Of
> Matt Sutton
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 8:16 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?
>
> Hi folks,
>     With a bunch of jobs coming up (water pump, engine hoses, coolant
swap,
> tranny fluid swap, CV re grease...) I was thinking now would be a good
time
> to clean/ degrease the engine bay and tranny. Been to the archives,
comments
> are mixed- "no water!" "don't do it!" "Hi-pressure water" " compressed
air"
> etc.
>     I have some constraints: city dweller, no driveway, no access to
> curbside running water. If I go to a coin-op wash, I figure I'll be
> disconnecting the battery, and bagging the alternator, distributor,
and
> ignition coil. I'll bring some WD-40 to dry out connectors afterwards.
>     Any angles on smart procedures and products would be much
welcomed,
> along with warnings, admonitions, etc.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matt Sutton
> 88 GL 170k
> Brooklyn NY