At the risk of starting a long thread - Power Washers and Engine Bays!!

Dear All

I've been power-washing the engine bay of my old 1997 2.0 Mondeo Ghia X for
many years, about once per year, without incident. Those of you who know
Fords will also know that this engine is petrol. For the record, I've never
bothered with covering distributors, coil packs, HT leads etc with plastic -
I've simply followed this process:

1) Liberally spray "GUNK" from Halfords all over engine, including plastic
parts etc

2) Powerhose off with Bosch Aquatak funky machine, substantially, until all
'rainbow-coloured' water has disappeared

3) Optional: Wash again with normal hosepipe, getting a little closer to
components than I would using the powerwasher (minimum 1ft. at all times)

4) Take car for italian service. Wait until engine warm, then plenty of
welly along the nearest motorway and back. At least 20 miles / half an hour.

5) Check engine bay is dry over all major components; wipe water remnants
away with dry cloth.


So... today I performed the process on my new Mondeo 2.2.TDCi Ghia X for the
first time. Incidentally, I should also add that I'd just performed an oil
and filter change immediately prior to the engine bay power-washing process.
(Pretty thick really - Ed).

To my horror, whilst power-washing, I noticed that the design of the new
TDCi engine is such that there is an area where water can collect around the
top of the dipstick filler tube. It drained away slowly, but I am almost
positive that *some* water will have migrated down said tube, mixing with
the (brand new) engine oil.

Diesel engine started perfectly, but the question is, do these engines get
hot enough to burn off any unwanted water in the engine oil?? Paranoia tells
me to replace the engine oil AGAIN - but common sense tells me to rag it for
a while to burn off the water in the new oil.

Opinions, please.

Car is on an 05 plate, with 17K on the clock.

Rgds

Alan

"Alan Dempster" <fred.flintstone (AT) bedrock (DOT) com> wrote

Dear All

I've been power-washing the engine bay of my old 1997 2.0 Mondeo Ghia X
for many years, about once per year, without incident. Those of you who
know Fords will also know that this engine is petrol. For the record, I've
never bothered with covering distributors, coil packs, HT leads etc with
plastic - I've simply followed this process:

1) Liberally spray "GUNK" from Halfords all over engine, including plastic
parts etc

2) Powerhose off with Bosch Aquatak funky machine, substantially, until
all 'rainbow-coloured' water has disappeared

3) Optional: Wash again with normal hosepipe, getting a little closer to
components than I would using the powerwasher (minimum 1ft. at all times)

4) Take car for italian service. Wait until engine warm, then plenty of
welly along the nearest motorway and back. At least 20 miles / half an
hour.

5) Check engine bay is dry over all major components; wipe water remnants
away with dry cloth.


So... today I performed the process on my new Mondeo 2.2.TDCi Ghia X for
the first time. Incidentally, I should also add that I'd just performed an
oil and filter change immediately prior to the engine bay power-washing
process. (Pretty thick really - Ed).

To my horror, whilst power-washing, I noticed that the design of the new
TDCi engine is such that there is an area where water can collect around
the top of the dipstick filler tube. It drained away slowly, but I am
almost positive that *some* water will have migrated down said tube,
mixing with the (brand new) engine oil.

Diesel engine started perfectly, but the question is, do these engines get
hot enough to burn off any unwanted water in the engine oil?? Paranoia
tells me to replace the engine oil AGAIN - but common sense tells me to
rag it for a while to burn off the water in the new oil.

Opinions, please.

Car is on an 05 plate, with 17K on the clock.

Rgds

Alan

Most modern cars have a seal around the top of the dipstick so it may not
have drained into the oil at all

Tony

is an area where water can collect around

the top of the dipstick filler tube. It drained away slowly, but I am
almost positive that *some* water will have migrated down said tube,
mixing with the (brand new) engine oil.

Diesel engine started perfectly, but the question is, do these engines
get hot enough to burn off any unwanted water in the engine oil??
Paranoia tells me to replace the engine oil AGAIN - but common sense
tells me to rag it for a while to burn off the water in the new oil.

Opinions, please.

Car is on an 05 plate, with 17K on the clock.

Rgds

Alan

Most modern cars have a seal around the top of the dipstick so it may not
have drained into the oil at all

Tony

if no 'mayo' in the oil it's fine....

I'm surprised there's much to clean - most modern bays are a sea of
plastic....

"john" <jsmith1456 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

is an area where water can collect around
the top of the dipstick filler tube. It drained away slowly, but I am
almost positive that *some* water will have migrated down said tube,
mixing with the (brand new) engine oil.

Diesel engine started perfectly, but the question is, do these engines
get hot enough to burn off any unwanted water in the engine oil??
Paranoia tells me to replace the engine oil AGAIN - but common sense
tells me to rag it for a while to burn off the water in the new oil.

Opinions, please.

Car is on an 05 plate, with 17K on the clock.

Rgds

Alan

Most modern cars have a seal around the top of the dipstick so it may
not
have drained into the oil at all

Tony

if no 'mayo' in the oil it's fine....

I'm surprised there's much to clean - most modern bays are a sea of
plastic....


Check the oil level, has it risen? Oil floats on water.

Alan Dempster wrote:

I've been power-washing the engine bay of my old 1997 2.0 Mondeo
Ghia X for many years, about once per year, without incident. Those
of you who know Fords will also know that this engine is petrol. For
the record, I've never bothered with covering distributors, coil packs,
HT leads etc with plastic - I've simply followed this process:
1) Liberally spray "GUNK"...
2) Powerhose off...
3) Optional: Wash again with normal hosepipe...
4) Take car for italian service....
5) Check engine bay is dry....<snip

Thanks for the report of a personal experience of years of power
washing the engine without ill effects. I've saved that for future
reference. Indeed, it is a controversial practice. To give a balanced
view of the subject, and especially for those ready to embark on this,
which may (or may not) lead to irreversible subtle adverse effects on
the running of the engine, the pros and cons should be appreciated and
well understood. Here is one report from the anti-power-wash lobby.
http://www.fordscorpio.info/karcher.htm

--
Lin Chung.
[Paste ntlworld over the Water Margin to send a private message.]

Brian wrote:

Alan Dempster wrote:
...noticed that the design of the new TDCi engine is such that there
is an area where water can collect around the top of the dipstick
filler tube. It drained away slowly, but I am almost positive that
*some* water will have migrated down said tube, mixing with the
(brand new) engine oil...
Check the oil level, has it risen? Oil floats on water.

You may be able to rid of the water, all of it, from the bottom of the sump.
Put your car in a position such that the sump plug is at the lowest level,
i.e. most dependent point. Let it rest there for a good few hours before
draining, say, a quarter of the oil from it. Water, being lighter, will
separate out at the bottom and be drained off. Worth a try (yes, I am
aware of baffles inside the sump to minimize sloshing), as there is no
alternative.

--
Lin Chung.
[Paste ntlworld over the Water Margin to send a private message.]

Oops....Oil being lighter. Confused again....

--
Lin Chung.
[Paste ntlworld over the Water Margin to send a private message.]