steam cleaning will remove corrosion inhibitor applied at the factory. click on my photobucket album and scroll down to one of the pictures of my old lump. that motor was only 4 years old and i only powerwashed it 3 or 4 times. now i never use anything other than cool water with a hose and no attachments. in the winter i usually rinse all my vehicles with cool water, warm water will dilute the salt and get it in places you dont want it in. make sure the engine is cool before rinsing it, otherwise you run the risk of cooling down the metal too fast and could crack an exhaust manifold. just be careful to avoid the alternator,ignition electric components, and make sure you are in an enviroment where the water wont freeze after you rinse it. if the vehicle doesnt start after you rinse it, you just have to wait awhile until the water evaporates and the ignition dries out.
