Random question about cleaning under the hood

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BetterBaGT

New Member

Jun 8, 2010

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Phoenix, AZ (unfortunately)

Jun 25, 2010

#1

• Jun 25, 2010

• #1

I just got done cleaning under the hood with water. Wrapped the battery and fuse box with a garbage bag and turned on the engine. Sprayed (more of a mist) with water, brushed, then sprayed again. Here's the issue, right after, it started to smell really funky (gassy/oil smell). Is that normal? It's a little concerning because it's the first time I started the car since replacing the intake and valve gaskets. I'm thinking it's just all the crap that came off but I'm not sure...

 

helty

some Ukrainian's enjoying a handjob via my credit

Mar 30, 2005

1,461

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39

Baltimore, MD

Jun 25, 2010

#2

• Jun 25, 2010

• #2

BetterBaGT said:

I'm thinking it's just all the crap that came off but I'm not sure...

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Let's go with that.

If the car runs fine and nothings on fire, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

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BetterBaGT

New Member

Jun 8, 2010

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Phoenix, AZ (unfortunately)

Jun 25, 2010

#3

• Jun 25, 2010

• #3

Nope, no fires Still worried though...

 

D

Deleted member 38176

Jun 25, 2010

#4

• Jun 25, 2010

• #4

Hope you didn't get too much water in the plug wells......

 

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BetterBaGT

New Member

Jun 8, 2010

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Phoenix, AZ (unfortunately)

Jun 25, 2010

#5

• Jun 25, 2010

• #5

Nightfire said:

Hope you didn't get too much water in the plug wells......

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I did a real light spray on everything and then I rand the engine until most evaporated.

 

N8Dogg98

15 Year Member

Apr 4, 2005

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MN

Jun 26, 2010

#6

• Jun 26, 2010

• #6

Yeah, it's probably grease on the manifolds. How did it turn out? Let's see some pics!!

 

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BetterBaGT

New Member

Jun 8, 2010

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Phoenix, AZ (unfortunately)

Jun 26, 2010

#7

• Jun 26, 2010

• #7

N8Dogg98 said:

Yeah, it's probably grease on the manifolds. How did it turn out? Let's see some pics!!

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Well I ended up stopping short because the smell worried me so much. I'll have to redo it and post some pics.

 

Flghtmstr1

Member

Mar 31, 2005

572

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Springfield, PA

Jun 26, 2010

#8

• Jun 26, 2010

• #8

I've had problems with cleaning the engine bay every single time I've tried. Most of the time, it would develop a bit of a miss under load, but it always went away by the next morning after everything had dried out.

However, even though I never damaged anything, it scared me enough for me to stop trying. Now I just use a wet rag and get as much as I can.

 

cklittle99GT

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May 19, 2010

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Houston

Jun 27, 2010

#9

• Jun 27, 2010

• #9

hopefully you didnt spray the air filter...

 

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BetterBaGT

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Jun 8, 2010

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Phoenix, AZ (unfortunately)

Jun 27, 2010

#10

• Jun 27, 2010

• #10

Please stop with these "hopefully you didn't..." remarks! Scaring me...

 

bradfier

Member

Mar 2, 2010

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Jun 27, 2010

#11

• Jun 27, 2010

• #11

I’ve been professionally detailing, reckoning, and selling cars since I was 16, and no one likes a dirty engine bay! Since I can remember we have used “Super Soap” its in a purple bottle, Soak down the engine bay in whatever grease cutter your wish, focus on the top of the motor, around the manifolds, and any other heavy grease build up areas they will be different on every car. I know its not rocket science but obviously you don’t want to spray directly in the air box or any electrical connectors or components. Turn on the high pressure and watch it melt away! Remember and kind of soap that cuts grease WILL eat your paint, so wash it off the paint immediately! I recommend doing it in a car wash, you don’t want all the junk to end up on your driveway! Wipe it down and leave the hood up for a little while you dry off the rest of the car, funny smells, misses, ticking, belt squeals, all that is normal. Smells are usually grease or soap on the manifolds and will go away, everything else should clear up after everything dries out.

 

C

cronin49

Banned

Aug 12, 2003

432

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SC

Jun 27, 2010

#12

• Jun 27, 2010

• #12

Flghtmstr1 said:

I've had problems with cleaning the engine bay every single time I've tried. Most of the time, it would develop a bit of a miss under load, but it always went away by the next morning after everything had dried out.

However, even though I never damaged anything, it scared me enough for me to stop trying. Now I just use a wet rag and get as much as I can.

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Yeah me too, now I just use a rag moistened with some type of cleaner and I wear a pair of gloves, that way I can get into it aggressively, all the nooks and crannies, and not skin up my knuckles.

 

G

GettinThere

Member

Jul 29, 2005

553

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Central Texas

Jun 28, 2010

#13

• Jun 28, 2010

• #13

bradfier said:

Turn on the high pressure...

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I wouldn't. I think the main reason people have running issues with their car after washing the engine bay is high pressure water getting into places it shouldn't go, like electrical connectors.

 

stprorolla49

Active Member

Oct 9, 2004

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Fairfield, CT/North Jersey

Jun 28, 2010

#14

• Jun 28, 2010

• #14

The best thing I've learned is once you have sprayed the motor with the degreaser of your choice, and scrubbed what you need to, spray it down with a light mist 'til everything is gone, turn the car on and let it run and build up some heat, and get the leaf blower out and just blow all the water out of any cavities of any electrical connections.

 

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GettinThere

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Jul 29, 2005

553

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Central Texas

Jun 28, 2010

#15

• Jun 28, 2010

• #15

^ exactly