Notices
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator 1997 - 2002 and 2003 - 2006 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator Discussion

Washed my engine, now rough running...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 11:45 AM
  #1  
crp2000eb5.4's Avatar
crp2000eb5.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Washed my engine, now rough running...

Saturday I hosed off the engine (while cold) and washed some of the plastic parts with soup and water. Later that night I took it for a ride and noticed the engine hesitating and running rough - like a misfire.

I took it home and figured it would dry out overnight. This morning - same thing. It runs just slightly better when not under load. Once you give it a little gas the shudder is worse. Idle is fine.

I figure the obvious, that I got something wet that i shouldn't but will it ever dry out? or do i have to replace/clean something? 118,000 miles, no tune-up yet, but it was running just fine before "Mr Clean" had at it

Thx in advance for any help. C
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 12:09 PM
  #2  
ohboy44's Avatar
ohboy44
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 392
Likes: 2
You probably got water down in the spark plug holes. You are going to have to remove the coils and dry everything out.
If it's never had plugs it sounds like a goog time to replace them.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 12:12 PM
  #3  
crp2000eb5.4's Avatar
crp2000eb5.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I just read a post about COPs (coil over plugs) when they get wet they can short out. Does anyone know if they can be dried out? Or are they ruined?

Also, are they part of a Ford dealers tune-up? How much$$ for them AND plugs??

Thx.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 12:19 PM
  #4  
arctic y block's Avatar
arctic y block
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Check for water in distributer cap. I pop my lose, lay it on top a 40 wat drop light for an hour or two. And it always works fin after.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 12:26 PM
  #5  
ohboy44's Avatar
ohboy44
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 392
Likes: 2
I've washed these engines before and had them run bad after. All I had to do was pull the COP's and dry them out and blow the water out of the spark plug holes.
Or if it idles good just let it run for a while to see if the heat will dry it out.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 01:07 PM
  #6  
crp2000eb5.4's Avatar
crp2000eb5.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I let it idle for 30 minutes and then took it for a ride. Still running rough. About 2 miles from home the "Check Engine" light came on.

Would disconnecting/reconnecting the battery help?
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2006 | 01:25 PM
  #7  
dukman22's Avatar
dukman22
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
CRP, I just bought a 2000 EB 5.4. I had it detailed, including under the hood. It became obvious that they had gotten water around the plug holes and COP's.Right after it started to do the same things that you describe. The only way you will be able to remedy the situation is to dry out the COP's and blow the water from the plug holes. If you keep driving it this way you will ruin one or more of the COP's. As long as you have to go to this extent, you might as well change the plugs and then you will be good for another 100K.

That is what I did and mine is smooth as silk. Good Luck.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 12:58 AM
  #8  
2-TRIPLE-O's Avatar
2-TRIPLE-O
New User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I had the same problem with my 5.4 eb earlier in the year. I went to ford and spent close to $750.00, but I went thru some puddles. The problem was I needed spark plugs & had to replace 2 coil packs cuz I had water in my plugs. The sad part is there is no distributor cap, the plugs run off of indivdual packs 1-8.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 03:19 AM
  #9  
cudaz101's Avatar
cudaz101
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Pullman Washington
So in reading this thread as well as many others before it, I am left thinking.

What if "During a plug change" you filled the plug hole with Di-Electric grease?? This is friendly stuff and would repell moisture for future details of the engine cavity...???

I am a new owner and have yet to even inspect the engine compartment with any kind of completeness. So I don't know if this is a logical solution or not. BUT there has to be something you can do to protect this area from moisture. This however does not resolve the issue with the COP getting wet. Thats another challenge in itself.


Brad
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 05:46 AM
  #10  
vze2sgxa's Avatar
vze2sgxa
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 467
Likes: 1
From: Where the war is...
Originally Posted by arctic y block
Check for water in distributer cap. I pop my lose, lay it on top a 40 wat drop light for an hour or two. And it always works fin after.
What's a distributor cap? None of us have seen one of those for years.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 11:31 AM
  #11  
heterodox1's Avatar
heterodox1
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
Did your air filter get wet. I soaked mine one time and boy did it run rough - kept surging trying to idle, etc. Just sitting there idling did NOT dry it out like I thought either...(had to dry it by the campfire)
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 12:20 PM
  #12  
crp2000eb5.4's Avatar
crp2000eb5.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I am hoping my process of idleing 30 minutes AM & PM for several days may dry out the plugs. I am driving my second car so this is an option for me.

How can I see "codes". Especially the ones for COP failures???
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2006 | 12:25 PM
  #13  
gibsonj's Avatar
gibsonj
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: north carolina
cuzda101

You would be talking about a lot of di-electric grease here. Each of the spark plug wells under the COP is an inch across by six inches deep to reach the head. The rubber boot connecting the COP to the plug obviously takes up much of that space, but still, not sure its practical to load up the rest with di-electric.

Probably, folks should just be careful when engine cleaning to minimize water in/around the COPS. Maybe a quart size ziplok around each COP would keep some water out.
 
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2006 | 07:22 AM
  #14  
marlong44's Avatar
marlong44
New User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
read post i had the same problems you have to get the water out of the plug holes first then replace the rubber boot that covers the plugs so that they wont happen again cost about 10.00 per boot
 
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2006 | 07:27 AM
  #15  
cudaz101's Avatar
cudaz101
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Pullman Washington
Originally Posted by gibsonj
cuzda101

You would be talking about a lot of di-electric grease here. Each of the spark plug wells under the COP is an inch across by six inches deep to reach the head. The rubber boot connecting the COP to the plug obviously takes up much of that space, but still, not sure its practical to load up the rest with di-electric.

Probably, folks should just be careful when engine cleaning to minimize water in/around the COPS. Maybe a quart size ziplok around each COP would keep some water out.
No....I am talking about a bead of grease to (fill) in the area.void left around the rubber boot. Any presence of grease is going to repell water to some degree. Maybe to the degree of no problems...

meh...I am gonna try it myself because I am always in the engine bay cleaning.


Brad
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:10 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE