Cleaned Engine, Now Barely Runs
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Cleaned Engine, Now Barely Runs
Hello everyone, new here. i recently got a truck, 2006 F350 6.0, has been maintained, bulletproofed, deleted, etc. (also has a fairly new ficm, 3k miles) Today we sprayed the engine with engine degreaser and my dad used the pressure washer to clean it. Immediately after washing, it has a lope in the idle and will not accelerate, and has a knocking sound under acceleration. Showing several codes for high injection circuits. We expect we got some water somewhere that it shouldn't be. Where should I go from here? (diesel newbie)
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
Likes: 549
From: Spanaway
Well I think you can guess what I am going to say. With all the electronics under the hood now a days you never want to use a pressure washer.
Your going to need to unplug the FICM and dry the plugs out with contact cleaner and do the same for the injector plugs. The next two places
are on the driver side fender and down on the fender liner lust below the ABS pump. I would start with the injectors first then the FICM.
The plugs down below the ABS are the connections for the main harness and if they get wet they need to be dried and cleaned. At the injectors
and the main harness connectors you can use some dielectric grease to help keep water out of the connections,
Your going to need to unplug the FICM and dry the plugs out with contact cleaner and do the same for the injector plugs. The next two places
are on the driver side fender and down on the fender liner lust below the ABS pump. I would start with the injectors first then the FICM.
The plugs down below the ABS are the connections for the main harness and if they get wet they need to be dried and cleaned. At the injectors
and the main harness connectors you can use some dielectric grease to help keep water out of the connections,
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,832
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From: Jersey Shore
With the age of the harness, with addition to what Sean said, with a pressure washer there also could be water in the harness itself causing crossfire. And with a pressure washer, if it was mine I’d pull the FICM and see if when shaking it if you hear water sloshing around. The access panel gasket could be compromised.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
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since you are a newbie as you say, and if the pulling harnesses and plugs is a little daunting for you. You could simply let it idle for an extended time to the point where the temp gauge is in the middle of its range. Maybe with engine heat it will dry it's self out. enough to be able to drive it. and hopefully it will completely clean up. If you do the plug pulling, especially the FICM, watch some videos on how to release the plugs, if you do it wrong you might break the clips the the butchers bill starts to climb.
I am not suggesting you drive it while it is knocking.
I am not suggesting you drive it while it is knocking.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,832
Likes: 3,119
From: Jersey Shore
The problem with idle drying is if there is some arcing across wires or shielding, even a small amount due to only idle, it will burn up the insulation into a bigger problem. By about the middle of July here in Jersey it will have been warm enough to dry out.
About the only time I would use a light pressure shower nozzle on a modern motor is to wash off the dry chem fire extinguisher dust, and then I'm not sure which would do the most damage.
About the only time I would use a light pressure shower nozzle on a modern motor is to wash off the dry chem fire extinguisher dust, and then I'm not sure which would do the most damage.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
Likes: 549
From: Spanaway
Jack I was thinking the same about idling.
If there is a warm inside place you can park that would be a good start.
I still would pull the connectors apart and clean with contact cleaner. There
is the risk that what ever you used to clean with including the water can
leave deposits behind once the moisture has evaporated.
If there is a warm inside place you can park that would be a good start.
I still would pull the connectors apart and clean with contact cleaner. There
is the risk that what ever you used to clean with including the water can
leave deposits behind once the moisture has evaporated.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 23
From: Tennessee
Pressure washer is not good. My engine bay looks like new with only using Simple Green and a rinse with a garden hose.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Jacksonville Florida
You could pull harness, unwrap look for damage and dry with blow dryer. Then get a big role of harness wrap and redo the wrap. Along with pulling Ficm and looking for water inside and checking and drying all plugs. a little time consuming but you could do it faster than it would take to let sit and dry naturally, i would think.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
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