Water + Engine

[Kilgore Trout]

Well, I washed my engine Thursday... When I very first started it there was a loping and hesitation and I am not sure what caused that.

The way I wash my engine is as follows:
-make sure my COP boots are clean and lubed with silicone spray so that I get no water in plug wells
-cover alternator and under hood fusebox with shop towels to prevent water spray
-when I am washing the car I just wash everything down under the hood with car wash soap using my oldest wash mitt, including the underside leading edge of the hood where the bug guts accumulate
-after I finish washing and drying the car I towel dry the engine and under hood parts as much as possible with a towel
-sometimes I lightly mist the whole under hood area with 303 Aerospace Protectant, this looks like crap until you wash it again a day or two later and then it looks awesome. if you just mist the 303 on it penetrates everywhere while it sits a couple days and after the next wash you get a nice even coating

Anyways, I think I know what caused my loping and hesitation. I have IAS deleted and I think water pooled in the bottom of the airbox and then was sucked in when I started the car. With the IAS delete water can easily get into the airbox from above... Could this have happened and how bad is it for the engine? It lasted about 30 seconds and it ran fine after that.

 

[SigmaPride]

I think you are fine man. A little water through the intake shouldn't hurt. I also think some water can get past those boots pretty easily, too, but doesn't sound like you over did it around there. I don't wash my engine for reasons such as this, but you should be good.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

I steam clean my engine. Then you dont have to worry about things like this. I just make sure I cover up the wires to keep away corrsion.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yeah, I want to get a steam cleaner some day. I hear they work really well on cars.

http://www.bullittarchive.com/5002.htm

 

[DropTopPony]

you can pick up one of those on ebay for as little as $15 for a cheap one...or alittle more for used nice ones that people never really use...i ****** the one from the house when my girl is working

edit; haha i didn't think s n a t c h would be blocked

 

[hotmustang331]

^Yea glad you cleared that up...that didnt sound right LOL.

Hmm so ******ed is blocked? WHY!?!?!

 

[Skidzz]

Engines can burn up a lot more than some people think. A little water isn't going to hurt. The engine will burn it up quick and be fine. My dad even got a small piece of plastic in the engine of his F-150 once and it ran a little rough for a while, but the engine eventually burned it up and it went out the exhaust. I've heard engines can even take in and burn up small pieces of aluminum and still be ok.

 

[fastangboi]

Yeah, I want to get a steam cleaner some day. I hear they work really well on cars.

http://www.bullittarchive.com/5002.htm

Yeah i work at a Ford dealership and we have a pressure washer that heats the water till it turns to steam. Its intended use is to get gas and oil off of the motor but sometimes before i go home i spray my motor down and it ends up looking like i spent 2 hours cleaning it.

 

[GettinThere]

...I think water pooled in the bottom of the airbox and then was sucked in when I started the car. With the IAS delete water can easily get into the airbox from above... Could this have happened and how bad is it for the engine? It lasted about 30 seconds and it ran fine after that.

Drill a couple of small holes there (as well as in some areas of the battery tray) to facilitate drainage. Sounds like your car is fine, good to go.

I wash the engine bay by gently spraying the warm (but not hot) engine with water, then misting Simple Green all over it, then gently rinsing off, then using the leaf blower to dry it, then starting it up and running it for a few minutes. I have done this 4 times since I bought the car with no problems (I have taken no precautions around the alternator, fuse box or cops, but I don't recommend this).

I wouldn't use high-pressure water to clean the engine bay.

 

[DTNODYA]

What you are describing happens damn near everytime I wash my engine ... I cover all tha goods as well. Once it heats up, water evaporates and all is well. I'm thinking it's water seeping through the spark plug boots or maybe just electrical crap being wet ... Don't worry about it. We know you didn't go buckwild with pressurized H-twenty.