Going to the do it yourself car wash and using the pressurized hose to clean under the hood?

I wouldn't. I have no problem using a hose (after taking off or covering my air filter), but I wouldn't use pressure.

Use a degreaser and garden hose. Repeat for as long as it takes. She'll come clean.

thank! doing that right now.

Those DIY car washes are pretty powerful.

I have used a pressure washer to clean out my engine, but I used a very mild stream of water, so it wouldn't blow away anything.

Don't those car washes have a special mode for the engine.

One arond my city has a button that says "Engine Wax".

That won't do any good on a dirty engine. You need strong degreasers.

I take the good stuff I buy at the Parts store.....Like the Foamy engine brite. Get 4 cans of the that stuff and go to town with about 20 bux and start pumping quarters until I'm happy with how clean she is......There'* a low pressure setting at the DIY car wash.....I just don't remember what the setting is if I'm not looking at it.

I've used the DIY to spray out the engine bay. I sprayed some Simple Green around and let it work for a bit. Most car washes should have a setting for cleaning engine bays, it'* low pressure with some foamy stuff. Cover up at least the intake and alternator.

When cleaning the engine, is it good to have the motor on or off?

off