by hand with a cloth & pleant of TLC

 

Cleaning the engine with a regular hose isn't exposing it to anything that the weather doesn't throw at it, if you drive it in less than beautiful weather. Use a general purpose cleaner and go at it. I worry more about the cleaner getting on the paint more than water on anything else..Just start it when your done and let her dry out.

 

spray bottles of water work as well

 

Don't wash the engine. You will short out the COP coils.

 

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=69

meguiars online has a whole section of their forum dedicated to engine cleaning, it's not much of a problem, just be careful and use some common sense

 

Our modular engines are different. The COP coils fail if you look at them wrong or even mention "water" next to them.

 

No they don't, mine haven't. And I've washed my engine with degreaser and a garden hose twice a year since 2005. And a couple times with foaming tire cleaner.

 

Oh poop on you....they are incased in epoxy. I have also hosed my engine with no issues. How are our engines different and how many times have you washed your engine that has created this condition? My guess is never!!!

 

On the Crown Vic forums, many of us have replaced numerous COP coils that have failed due to washing the engine, getting anti-freeze in the spark plug hole, or getting moisture in that general area. The inductive assembly is encased in epoxy, but the COPs can and will short out if you get anything in the spark plug wells... like anti-freeze or water from washing or steam cleaning an engine. How many times have you sprayed water directly into the spark plug wells on your S197 GT? 32,000 volts will jump very easily if it finds a path of least resistance.

 

Never been on a Crown Vic forum in my life. We are on a S197 forum. I also never stuck the hose down inside a spark plug boot. That would be just plain stupid. Just use common sense is all that is called for here and not to be fatalistic. Use low pressure water it will and does work fine.

 

If you haven't realized it by now, the Crown Vic shares the 4.6L 2V V8 used in 96-04 Mustang GT's and has the same Visteon COP coil design as those used in the 5.4L/4.6L 3V and 4V V8 modular engines. Anyone reading this thread should AVOID WASHING THEIR ENGINES unless they enjoy diagnosing misfires. A tiny drop of water that makes its way into the spark plug well will cause a short in the coil, resulting in a misfire.

 

I not going to argue with you anymore on this Metroplex. I will say one more time. Wash your engine with low pressure and you will be fine as most in this thread will prove out. Just use common sense guys.

 

+1 for common sense. As I've said above I used a garden hose to rinse the degreaser from my engine many times.