Engine cleaning...bad?
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Engine cleaning...bad?
Alright, I have a question.
I shampooed my engine yesterday. I sprayed a can of gunk engine degreaser to clean up all the winter crap under the hood. While rinsing, I let the engine run as this is the way I've always done it. Anyway....no problems, but this morning while driving my honey to work, I got a CEL. It stayed on for a couple of minutes and then went off. 30 seconds later in came back on. This cycle repeated for the duration of the 30 minute trip. As I was almost back home, it seemed to be off more than on, but still kept coming back on. I checked the codes given with the KOEO self test and got a few codes, but they are the same codes I goe a few days ago, relating to the egr.
So really, I have no new codes. Do I need to do an KOER test???
Can anyone tell me what I may have buggered up?
Appreciate any thoughts on this..
I shampooed my engine yesterday. I sprayed a can of gunk engine degreaser to clean up all the winter crap under the hood. While rinsing, I let the engine run as this is the way I've always done it. Anyway....no problems, but this morning while driving my honey to work, I got a CEL. It stayed on for a couple of minutes and then went off. 30 seconds later in came back on. This cycle repeated for the duration of the 30 minute trip. As I was almost back home, it seemed to be off more than on, but still kept coming back on. I checked the codes given with the KOEO self test and got a few codes, but they are the same codes I goe a few days ago, relating to the egr.
So really, I have no new codes. Do I need to do an KOER test???
Can anyone tell me what I may have buggered up?
Appreciate any thoughts on this..
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Pittsburgh,Pa.
I suspect that during the rinse process you got some water into a connecter. Yes they are supposed to be water tight but that's not always the case. A drop or two of water can short out the pins this in turn sends a false signal and engine ecm turns the CEL on.
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Thanks for the input guys...
Though I've never cleaned this engine before, I've cleaned many engines like this with no ill effects. I did rinse with soft shower setting, so as not to get water into anything, but the cleaner does come out of the can in a stream.
Also, whenever I have a connector off for any reason on this engine, I apply some die-electric grease before I put it back together. I will be checking and coating some more connections I guess and see if that helps. It did run fine this morning, but I was worried that I may have got some cleaner or water sucked into something I shouldn't have.....I guess that is sort of true though. I'll let everyone know if lubing all the connections helps.
Though I've never cleaned this engine before, I've cleaned many engines like this with no ill effects. I did rinse with soft shower setting, so as not to get water into anything, but the cleaner does come out of the can in a stream.
Also, whenever I have a connector off for any reason on this engine, I apply some die-electric grease before I put it back together. I will be checking and coating some more connections I guess and see if that helps. It did run fine this morning, but I was worried that I may have got some cleaner or water sucked into something I shouldn't have.....I guess that is sort of true though. I'll let everyone know if lubing all the connections helps.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Sounds reasonable, just got some moisture in a connector. Spraying with water is not totally terrible, but I suppose you have to be a bit controlled about it, and be gentle. No high pressure around wiring maybe. A gentle mist would rinse any cleaner away.
Seeing your weather is probably still cool up there like around here, might take a couple days to dry out totally.
Seeing your weather is probably still cool up there like around here, might take a couple days to dry out totally.
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
To update. I checked most of the connections under the hood. Not all as some did not seem to want to come apart and I did not want to break anything. I did find one connection on a black unit directly below the egr that seems to be wet. I hit everything I could with the die-electric grease. I then took it out for a test drive. A few minutes down the road..as soon as the engine got up to operating temperature, the light came on. This time is stayed on. About 5 minutes later, I was on an empty stretch of road with no traffic, put it in neutral and shut off engine and restarted. The light never came back on for the remainder of the test drive(approximately 10 minutes).
So hopefully, the problem has rectified itself or something dried out. Either way, I'm happy!
Thanks again!
So hopefully, the problem has rectified itself or something dried out. Either way, I'm happy!
Thanks again!
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
I did check codes this morning...but only got the same egr codes that I got a couple of days ago...
But on that note...
should I have vacuum at all times to the egr? I have checked a few times and there seems to be no vacuum at any time. I did check the vacuum lines and there appears to be no breaks. Perhaps I will have to dig deeper.
But on that note...
should I have vacuum at all times to the egr? I have checked a few times and there seems to be no vacuum at any time. I did check the vacuum lines and there appears to be no breaks. Perhaps I will have to dig deeper.
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Though I know how to....no I haven't cleared the codes since I checked them a few days ago. I did have the battery disconnected a few weeks back, so I knew that the egr codes were recent. As well, I did have the TQ code last time I checked codes before clearing, but don't remember what else was there at the time. It was some time ago.
I suppos it would not be a bad idea to clear them ...Huh?...lol
I will clear them before I head out later and see what comes back.
I suppos it would not be a bad idea to clear them ...Huh?...lol
I will clear them before I head out later and see what comes back.
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Elder User
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
Well, I am going to clear the codes now and try again.
I didn't have a chance to do it before my honey called for a ride and when I went to pick her up, the light came and stayed on for the duration of the 25 minute trip. I will also mention that the CEL only comes on once the truck gets up to operating temps, which I suppose should help narrow it down.
So I'll do that and then take it for a test drive and then pull codes again.
I didn't have a chance to do it before my honey called for a ride and when I went to pick her up, the light came and stayed on for the duration of the 25 minute trip. I will also mention that the CEL only comes on once the truck gets up to operating temps, which I suppose should help narrow it down.
So I'll do that and then take it for a test drive and then pull codes again.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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this is just a shot in the dark, but is there a coolant or vacum line from the back of the intake manifold to the egr?, because on my brothers lincoln mark 7 with the 5.0 his was clogged (entire line from intake to egr!)and caused all kinds of stuff to happen