LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Engine Wash

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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 06:23 PM
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Default Engine Wash

Power washed engine, will not start? Options?
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 06:27 PM
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Default opti

the optispark is prone to malfunction/failure due to moisture when you wash the LT1 engine. Maybe it'll dry out and work or you can get a used one cheap off craigslist. Good luck.
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 06:27 PM
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umm.. did you cover the optispark lol?
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 06:30 PM
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Killed opti
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by curtb
Power washed engine, will not start? Options?
Slap your self
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 08:17 PM
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bye bye opti
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 10:02 PM
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What most people around here are too stupid to comprehend is that ALL distributors act up if they get wet internally. They also work again once they dry especially when it is just water that got inside.

A properly assembled/installed opti is NOT that prone to moisture problems. They do seem to be highly prone to being owned by idiots though.
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
A properly assembled/installed opti is NOT that prone to moisture problems. They do seem to be highly prone to being owned by idiots though.
BAHAHAHAHA!!!! what a great line

but your also right. every distributor acts up when theirs moisture involved.

but to the OP you most likely killed your optispark...
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Old Jun 17, 2010 | 10:06 PM
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new opti time
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 12:04 AM
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how do most people "cover" opti's up when they wash an engine?
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 01:03 AM
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Another one of these...can we make a sticky titled "DO NOT POWER WASH YOUR ENGINE BAY." I haven't seen one of these turn out good at all yet.

I use a light bristle wire brush on any oxidized parts and a toothbrush with car wash soap on body parts, plastic parts, etc. Rag and none soapy toothbrush to clean up any soapy residue. Takes time but end result is near showroom condition.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 06:28 AM
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I made the mistake once of power washing the first LT1 that I owned but it wasn't the opti that I smoked, it was the pcm. Those things are just as sensitive to moisture.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 06:46 AM
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What year is your car? If it's a 93-94 you might have killed your opti.

If it's a 95-97 bullshit, unless the opti was on its way out already. I've sprayed mine many times with a pressure washer, hose, spilled on it from water pump installs etc and my OEM one was still going (even OEM cap&rotor at 113k).
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 07:01 AM
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Just washed the bird last weekend and same thing happened to me. I do have the Delteq so no Hi volt is going thru the opti just the optical pickup. It would start after the clean/wash but ran pretty rough and was missing. I parked her in the garage and laid a box fan ontop of the motor and let it run on high facing down to the engine for over a day. Started it up the next evening and she ran like butter. Dry it out and see what happens as no matter what people say here the opti is prone and sensitive to moisture no matter what year - vented or not.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 07:09 AM
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Let it dry out before you go ripping **** out and replacing it like half this forum seems to be suggesting. If it still doesn't start after giving it time then go from there.

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
What most people around here are too stupid to comprehend is that ALL distributors act up if they get wet internally. They also work again once they dry especially when it is just water that got inside.

A properly assembled/installed opti is NOT that prone to moisture problems. They do seem to be highly prone to being owned by idiots though.
THANK YOU SIR for stating what nobody seems to get. Dude, this seems to be the reaction of a good 3/4 of the LT1 community any time something acts up.....

1. Change opti
2.?????
3.PROFIT!

Last edited by nighthawk15; Jun 18, 2010 at 07:15 AM.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 08:12 AM
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1. Change opti
2.?????
3.PROFIT!
Ha! Comedy gold
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 10:20 AM
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Waaaahhhh!!! Opti-crap! Waaahhhh! Christ people.. I am with 96capricemgr on this one.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 10:30 AM
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I almost thought this post was a joke when I first read it. Jesus couldn't power wash an LT1 with a naked opti without killing it...

Then I saw the guy only had 2 posts. Guess he just got the car, decided to clean it up and learned one of the hardest lessons ever for the LT1.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 10:58 AM
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I soaked my engine bay with simple green and then powerwashed it...mine works fine because i sealed it with black rtv. Just let it dry. like stated above it wont work with moisture inside, the opti is good, where it was put is bad. If all else fails, buy a msd cap and rotor and rtv the thing together. Mine is still the stock unit and now has 118k on it. It was stock cap and rotor untill 85k when i bought the car and i only did the cap and rotor because i had it off when i had the motor out.
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Old Jun 18, 2010 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 1badzee
I am with 96capricemgr on this one.
Me too
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