Thread: Can the TDV6 handle a hose down (wash)?

Try using a blower on it first. That might remove much of the dust. Or vacuum it.

One would think that a vehicle such as a land rover would be immune to water, but it is sneaky stuff, and will find its way into electrical connections to provide hours of amusement trying to track the cause of strange problems. Best not to tempt fate.

It's not so much as water being an issue but the pressure its delivered at. It can dislodge connectors, force its way into electronic items and seals.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

It's not so much as water being an issue but the pressure its delivered at. It can dislodge connectors, force its way into electronic items and seals.

Agree, all problems stem from using high pressure. Big no no.

By using the CT18 mix sprayed on first you don’t need pressure only a dribble of water to wash it off.

I don’t care how dusty it is under the cover so long as engine bay is clean.

It’s funny, as I don’t care how dirty the outside of the engine is, as long as it’s clean on the inside.

Originally Posted by Judo

It’s funny, as I don’t care how dirty the outside of the engine is, as long as it’s clean on the inside.

The vehicle was heading off to have RWC and I have a theory that the better the presentation the less they look past the key mandated areas...

Like Justinc I learnt not to wash down the engine bay of an all electronic singing and dancing automobile. My Falcon ute was absolutely filthy under the bonnet when I returned from a few thousand k's around Winton and the Channel Country. I did what I had been doing for over 40 years. A spray and brush down with kerosene and then hosed it off. Engine started and ran for a couple of seconds and just stopped. Water in the connector where the module plugs in. Module fritzed. Got one from the parts shop at Galloways Hill for a third what the Ford dealer quoted. Told local repair guy who said never do that. He doesn't wash engine bays on new cars just blows them down with an air nozzle. The electronic bits don't like water.

In another life as a manager in the vehicle engineering division in a vehicle manufacuring company (what are they this country now asks) part of my role and responsibility was vehicle durability testing. The vehicles would go out on long daily drives and as part of the testing the technician was required to open the bonnet and pressure wash the engine for 10 minutes. This happened every day for the 3 odd months of the test. It failed if it did not start, and guess what, a 700mm wading depth was never in the vehicle profle.
Seems to me we accept poor design all too readily and are ever ready with excuses for it and the marque. I looked at my car when I first bought it and was appaled at what is known as "piping and wiring" on my D4. Electrical connectors, especially those outside the passenger compartment can be and are designed and manufactured to withstand this type of activity, just not on Discovery's apparantly.

But to answer the OP, I go with the CT18 and low pressure water approach, with covers on, not had any problems so far, may be with my new found insight into how fragile these things seemingly are I may tone it down a bit.