Is it harmful to wash a hot engine once?
2 Answers
Occasionally doing it once won't cause harm. However, frequent washing like this can lead to thermal contraction from the temperature difference, potentially shortening the engine's lifespan. Here's relevant information: Overview: The car engine is the device that provides power to the vehicle, determining its performance, fuel efficiency, stability, and environmental friendliness. Depending on the power source, car engines can be classified into diesel engines, gasoline engines, electric vehicle motors, and hybrids, among others. Others: Common gasoline and diesel engines belong to reciprocating piston internal combustion engines, capable of converting the chemical energy of fuel into mechanical energy for piston movement and outputting power. Gasoline engines have high rotational speeds, are lightweight, produce less noise, are easy to start, and have lower manufacturing costs. Diesel engines have higher compression ratios, greater thermal efficiency, and better fuel economy and emission performance compared to gasoline engines.
As someone who frequently maintains my own car, I can tell you that washing a hot engine does pose risks. When the engine is running, internal metal components reach extremely high temperatures. Spraying cold water causes rapid cooling, generating thermal stress that may lead to micro-cracks in the cylinder head, engine block, or manifold. Electrical connections could also short-circuit or degrade due to temperature differentials. Hot oil residue mixing with water tends to form hard deposits that can clog cooling channels, potentially shortening engine lifespan over time. Just last week, a friend's car developed severe engine vibrations from this issue, costing over 500 yuan to repair sensors. I recommend waiting at least half an hour for cooling before using low-pressure water for cleaning, and never use high-pressure washers on hot components—safety first, otherwise the consequences outweigh the benefits.
