Had a god damn m.net moment today...
#1
Elite Member
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Location: Charlotte, NC
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Had a god damn m.net moment today...
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
Boost Pope
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Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
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My daily driver:
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.
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:
I painted my bock silver so I could see leaks:
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:
I painted my bock silver so I could see leaks:
I was tempted to paint everything under the hood white to see leaks, but tasteful restraint overcame utility.
#9
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Location: Outside Portland Maine
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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
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.