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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 03:07 PM
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Question wash engine bay

Can I wash engine bay w/water or is there too much that can go wrong? I always washed engine on my older fords and never had a problem. My 04 250SD now is very dirty under the hood and would like to clean it up.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 03:12 PM
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Only if you want to remove all the COP's and blow air into the holes to dry them out

I do it on my 4.6L's, but they have plug wires.

When I did my plugs, I took the time to wash it off first because I was certainly going to remove the COP's and plugs, so the water didn't bother me.

But if you're just going to wash the motor, I would stay away from the COPs and the plug holes. But then, there's no way to do that, either
 
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 03:20 PM
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yes you can. but you may have to post a new thread next week "missfire and stumble" the water ruins the cops.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 10:26 AM
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Use a dry rag...

I'd rather dust it off than use water...really. Too many problems - but that's when I found FTE...
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 01:27 PM
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Ah you guys are chickens ,I do it all the time every spring after salt season.
You just have to have a source of Compressed air and blow it off and off and off and off then run it then some more compressed air .
I 've never had a problem.

If you don't have the compressed air don't do it,though or you'll have problems
Rich
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by FortyFords
Ah you guys are chickens ,I do it all the time every spring after salt season.
You just have to have a source of Compressed air and blow it off and off and off and off then run it then some more compressed air .
I 've never had a problem.

If you don't have the compressed air don't do it,though or you'll have problems
Rich
When I did my plugs, I washed the motor off, and while I wasn't particularly careful, water DID get down the plug hole on two of them. From experience, I can say that WILL cause a misfire, if not immediately, then someday

Rich, what can I say? You're just lucky I guess!
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by FortyFords
Ah you guys are chickens ,I do it all the time every spring after salt season.
You just have to have a source of Compressed air and blow it off and off and off and off then run it then some more compressed air .
I 've never had a problem.

If you don't have the compressed air don't do it,though or you'll have problems
Rich
I can't even see the top of my engine, but I wash it all the time, from the front, from underneath and once in a while from the doghouse. Any water that may get in the plug holes will get burned out from a warm motor. I don't blow nuthin out, hell, it's a truck. You guys never hit mud puddles on the side of the road at speed ? I AIM for em. I don't play in the mud without 4WD but I can't imagine a truck unable to get a little wet,,,,,,
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 02:50 PM
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I won't even sneeze while I'm under the hood...

Ken and Rich - give me 6 numbers for the lottery, will ya'?
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 06:32 PM
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I have a 2002 f250 with v10, about every 6 months i spray on simple green and hose it off with water , i've been doing this for 3 1/2 years without a problem. I guess i've just been lucky and should start blowing off around the plugs when i do this. I did the same thing with my 2000 Lightning and never had a problem for 2 1/2 years.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 09:01 PM
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Besides the obvious jabs, I gotta say, with electronics (except the Ford plug holes) if the stuff is kept clean of dust and dirt, say hosing it off every oil change, you're much better off over the long run. I do this with the motorized side-view mirrors every wash.

I've had my 4.6's misfire after washing, no matter how careful I was.... water got in the holes. I ain't takin' the chance on 10 cylinders' worth of painful COPs Although I may have done it once or twice because I was willing to take the chance - and lived. But won't live to tell about it...
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 09:51 PM
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I wash my engine EVERY time I go to the car wash. That is every-other day. I just use the "wax" and make it quick. When I first washed it down it was pig filthy. I did stay away from the COPs but still got the topside really good. I have never, never, never, never had a mis-fire, hickup, stumble or anything else.
I also use the wax on the underside of the truck & fenderwells.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 10:28 PM
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Another lucky fellow

I wonder, if these lucky guys are more prone to early plug ejection?

Man, that sounded like an old-man's disease...
 
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 06:52 AM
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110k, don't think plug ejection is a factor.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by JasonSmith
110k, don't think plug ejection is a factor.
...and how old an old boy are ya'?

Krewat,
That was nasty....
 
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by krewat
Besides the obvious jabs, I gotta say, with electronics (except the Ford plug holes) if the stuff is kept clean of dust and dirt, say hosing it off every oil change, you're much better off over the long run. I do this with the motorized side-view mirrors every wash.

I've had my 4.6's misfire after washing, no matter how careful I was.... water got in the holes. I ain't takin' the chance on 10 cylinders' worth of painful COPs Although I may have done it once or twice because I was willing to take the chance - and lived. But won't live to tell about it...
yo Art, what ? You never heard of the "rev-tune" ? Hold her wide open until she clears herself out and gets warm enough to boil any condensation off the engine. There, now ya know,,,,,
 
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