Issues with washing the engine bay...

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:50 am

I washed my engine bay last year, and at the same time, a friend with a ej22 swapped 82 wagon did the same. After starting them up post-detail, they had lots of issues idling, and would even die. We blew out the spark plug sockets really well with some compressed air, and that seemed to fix the problem for the most part. 30 minutes of idling fixed the rest. I've since packed a fair bit of dielectric grease into the spark plug boots.

Has anyone had this problem? I figured it may be a quirky ej22 thing where the angle is an issue, or if we were just morons doing it. Thanks

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:56 am

this is pretty well known of. I've heard of wrx'es having trouble because the hoodscoop let water in.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:58 am

nice to know. thanks!

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Mon May 02, 2005 4:41 am

I wonder if the TPS sensor gets wet and fucks up the idle, since the idle switch is built into the TPS. The hoodscoop is in close proximity to the throttle body.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Mon May 02, 2005 5:18 am

my engine stays dirty for presicely this reason. i had trouble starting up a few cars after engine details and want nothing of it.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:02 am

Mine always runs like hell for a several miles after washing. Never had that problem with the EA81.

Steve

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:09 am

Well, I guess I might as well do a really thorough job of detailing my engine bay when I decide to do it, because I want none of this

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Mon May 02, 2005 2:58 pm

evolutionmovement wrote:Mine always runs like hell for a several miles after washing. Never had that problem with the EA81.

Steve

not even w/the distributor getting wet.

my 85 ea82 was so bad at letting water into the dist. that i carried a spare cap and rotor in the glove box.

it actually died on railroad tracks once.

professor · Post by **professor** » Mon May 02, 2005 4:28 pm

Most of the cars I've had do this to some degree. I wouldn't use pressure washing at all, it'll distort rubber boots and shoot water into places you definitely don't want it.

A few minutes of spirited driving will usually fix it, unless its an old distrubutor car and you've loaded that up

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon May 02, 2005 4:36 pm

Sounds like fun.. just wrun the water out, it's easy enough. I'd do it if I had the time.

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:35 pm

Rather than use a hose to shoot water in my engine bay I use some armor-all wipes. They're like baby wipes for the interior trim. After using one on the interior it still has some moisture left, so on to the engine bay for a loving touch.

rallysam · Post by **rallysam** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:39 pm

FWIW - I driven 90k miles in my Impreza RS with no hood scoop deflector - so the scoop is just wide open to rain - and never had any problems.

But, I have heard of this before, so I have only washed the engine compartment a couple times ever. No problems yet, but still trying to avoid more.

nzKAOSnz · Post by **nzKAOSnz** » Thu May 05, 2005 3:15 am

the biggest problem i encounterd was water getting into the Alarm horn and effectivly silencing it.
Lucky i got recipts. Its happenen twice. Next time the alarm horns going into the wheel arch.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu May 05, 2005 3:49 am

good thing to be careful ov, thanks kaos.

The engine bay is too dirty to just use armorall wipes. Thanks to my semi recent front left cam seal leak, i've got a bit of oil in my bay.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:08 am

Oil protects from rust.

Steve

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:09 am

evolutionmovement wrote:Oil protects from rust.

Steve

I was going to say . . .

Things should look pretty good underneath that protective layer.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:15 am

lol, it's a washington only car. Things better look damn good under that protective layer!

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Thu May 05, 2005 7:16 am

Damn straight they will. I spilled front diff. oil on my firewall and that shined that patch up really well.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Thu May 05, 2005 7:21 am

i have so much caked on dirt on stuff. i tried to get it off with a poloishing stone and a fine grit flapper wheel. no dice. i really dont think wanter will do jack

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu May 05, 2005 8:33 am

proper engine cleaner will. what you were trying to get off was probably undercoating

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu May 05, 2005 3:24 pm

nzKAOSnz wrote:the biggest problem i encounterd was water getting into the Alarm horn and effectivly silencing it.
Lucky i got recipts. Its happenen twice. Next time the alarm horns going into the wheel arch.

That's why the horn is supposed to be mounted downwards to allow water to drain

93EJ22-Loosy · Post by **93EJ22-Loosy** » Thu May 26, 2005 11:25 pm

anyone ever use simple green...wait 5 minutes then hose off? follow it up with a nice coat of endust (some use WD-40 but it is sticky and collects dirt after awhile) and you are all set.

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:55 am

Actually simple green is not good for aluminum if left on for too long
http://consumer.simplegreen.com/cons_faqs.php

93EJ22-Loosy · Post by **93EJ22-Loosy** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:52 pm

Although this is true, it is also stated on that site that if you do use it, keep it under 10 minutes and they follow that by saying "Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation." This is where the WD-40 and/or endust comes in. They are used to add a protective layer over the exposed aluminum and to aid in repelling water, air, etc.

I agree it is a risk, but if only done on occasion I feel the risk is negligible.

93EJ22-Loosy · Post by **93EJ22-Loosy** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:54 pm

P.S. I forgot to mention the results are stunning as well

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Issues with washing the engine bay...

Issues with washing the engine bay...