Had a god damn m.net moment today...
#1
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Location: Charlotte, NC
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So after driving my car like 700mi over x-mas break, I decided the 3/4" of dirt colored paint needed to go. No problem..wash the car. Well, There was a good bit of dust under the hood too. Once again, no biggie, just open the hood with the car running and give a light spray with the hose on the low-pressure "shower" setting. But this time I didn't leave the car running. Well get everything all cleaned up, discover that my paint actually has a nice metallic texture to it, wash the brown wheels off and go out for some beers.
Well everything went fine until I went into boost and power went flat and the exhaust went to the sound of a busted Subaru. I figured it had to be water in the plugs eventhough i've never actually accomplished such a feat. Upon pulling plug #1 and finding it decently wet, the problem was obvious. Out came all of the plugs and in went a rag and long screw driver and out came the water.
D'oh.
Well everything went fine until I went into boost and power went flat and the exhaust went to the sound of a busted Subaru. I figured it had to be water in the plugs eventhough i've never actually accomplished such a feat. Upon pulling plug #1 and finding it decently wet, the problem was obvious. Out came all of the plugs and in went a rag and long screw driver and out came the water.
D'oh.
#7
I identify as a bear.
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My daily driver:
![](http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/12/29/thraddax/f_enginem_6418bd8.jpg)
The guy who sold it to me had it detailed, which was about five years ago. I've never really "washed" it per se, but whenever I'm working on a particular area and have some parts off, I do tend to wipe said region with a rag. Last time that happened was ~6 months ago.
Most grimy engines I see are that way because of oil (or other oil-based fluid) leakage. Keep that under control, and you have no worries.
![](http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/12/29/thraddax/f_enginem_6418bd8.jpg)
The guy who sold it to me had it detailed, which was about five years ago. I've never really "washed" it per se, but whenever I'm working on a particular area and have some parts off, I do tend to wipe said region with a rag. Last time that happened was ~6 months ago.
Most grimy engines I see are that way because of oil (or other oil-based fluid) leakage. Keep that under control, and you have no worries.
#8
Tour de Franzia
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My sister has this fucked up OCD cleaning disorder. He car is painfully clean...I'm not embellishing when I say its possibly cleaner than when she bought it from the dealer. Basically I just bribe her into cleaning mine.
I had a slight leak on the 1.6:
![](http://i38.tinypic.com/2djp93o.jpg)
![](http://i34.tinypic.com/2hdr685.jpg)
I painted my bock silver so I could see leaks:
![](http://i36.tinypic.com/34xkdjb.jpg)
I was tempted to paint everything under the hood white to see leaks, but tasteful restraint overcame utility.
I had a slight leak on the 1.6:
![](http://i38.tinypic.com/2djp93o.jpg)
![](http://i34.tinypic.com/2hdr685.jpg)
I painted my bock silver so I could see leaks:
![](http://i36.tinypic.com/34xkdjb.jpg)
I was tempted to paint everything under the hood white to see leaks, but tasteful restraint overcame utility.
#9
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My engine bay is awful. Absolutely horrible. It was dirty when I got it and driving it in the snow and slush all winter makes it worse. I've hosed it out a couple times, but that doesn't seem to help much. Any suggestions for making it shiny again?
#14
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You guys with the clean and pretty engine bays don't DD you cars where it rains 200 days a year! Without the undertray and wheel well liners mine gets pretty filthy. I've gotta find another set of wheel liners and fab up a tray/splitter combo.
I learned years ago with my DSM that cleaning an engine bay = electrical gremlins. Like Joe I just towel things off when I can. Water is not a friend of your engines electrical connections, switches, selenoids and circuits.
I learned years ago with my DSM that cleaning an engine bay = electrical gremlins. Like Joe I just towel things off when I can. Water is not a friend of your engines electrical connections, switches, selenoids and circuits.