I have a 94 and 96 camaro, now I hear all the horror stories of the opti, I believe thay say 94 are vented and are the worse design and they gotr better after that. my question is it ok to go to quarter wash and wash the engine bay or degrease if needed. seems like you should be able to but thought Ide better ask. thank you, Allen

 

You will get a few people telling you they power wash their LT1 engine every week... and never had a problem. But for each person who says that, there will be 10 who will tell you that the Opti died after washing the engine, going through a deep puddle, or even going through a car wash. I would strongly recommend against washing it.

93-94 are unvented. 95-97 are vented. While the vent may help remove moisture, that is not the purpose. The vent was added to remove ozone generated by the high voltage discharge.

I've had my 94 Formula for 14 years, and the engine has never been washed. However, it is also spotless.

 

My waterpump spewed coolant all over my opti for a good 20, 000 miles before I replaced the waterpump. That poor opti even went through several water floods in los angeles, where I thought the car would stall out. People told me to replace it for good measure when I installed a cam, and I didn't and it lasted well over 100, 000 before car was totalled. I may have just been lucky, but it never failed me. I washed my engine but I was very careful about getting water on it.

 

I would just do the towels, cleaner solution, "elbow grease" method. As Injuneer noted, there have been people who have gotten away with it, but others haven't been so lucky.

 

I find it amazing gm made a car you cant wash the engine compartment, maybe I should rethink these camaros, that is completly rediculous

 

As Injuneer noted, it gets better... People have taken out their optis by leaking water pumps and going through deep levels of water.

 

If it bothers you that much, bail out now.

 

I have had other camaros, I just find it amazing that it is that sensative, I just sold my mustang for another camaro because I am a big camaro fan, think they missed the boat on the lt1, I like the car but you should be able to clean your engine compartment. but I wont be bailing as you put it, thats why I asked the question so I didnt do it. if I didnt care I wouldnt ask. thank you

 

I keep my engine clean, but I don't have to take it to a spray car wash to do it. But to be on the cautious side, I wouldn't.
I can use a water hose on it, being careful what I do.

 

Well when that distributor came out it was a new design and with all new things sometimes the only way to see if something will last is when it goes through production. I'm sure all car manufactures must revise parts and such from time to time on the next year model because they didn't get something right the first time.

I think they should've gone with distributorless ignition, but I guess they really liked it.
On my LS1 I'm not to thrilled that the alternator sits under the power steering pump and is close to the road so everything wet can get up in there to harm it. Some stuff does seem like common sense, but maybe thats the only place that worked best in the compartment.

 

I don't think anyone said you can't clean your engine bay, the jest was some are lucky, others are not. I've sprayed water and cleaner all over my engine several times and have not had any problems. When I'm done, I'll start the engine and let it run. You just need to use good judgement and be careful is all.

On another note, I thought the point Injuneer made about the Opti being vented was to discharge the ozone created by the spark. I'm like how in the heck did he know that? lol

 

Use some windex or brake cleaner. Clean it once a month and it will look brand new

 

Here is my 97 Camaro with 150,000 miles It took a lot of brillo pads and wet sand paper to achieve this and brake cleaner. Still looks good after 3 years! Click on image.

 

I dont believe I am whining and comments like that usually cause problems, I am asking advice not for a smartass comment isnt that what these forums are for. heres a pic of my compartment without windex and brillo pads at 75,000 miles I would just like to keep it this way

 

But looks like you used a brillo pad on the sides of the intake manifold or some wet sand. Looks good though.