I went to my local car wash and decided to wash the engine on my 2001 gt with engine degreaser, the only thing i covered was the battery, I started the car and drove it, immediately it felt sluggish and lost rpms, its been 3 weeks since that happen and when i drive it, it doesnt feel strong anymore, i dont have a cold air intake so i know is not the air filter, what do you guys think is wrong with my engine?
Wet Engine help!
- Thread starter jmartinezoc
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you will have to remove each cop look inside make sure they are dry .....I have used brake cleaner & long q-tips .....you can open them up & check the spring & hand dry them they can also short out they thay will need to be replaced but do a good cleaning & hope fpr the best the engine heat will not dry them out ......any 4.6 99 tp 2004 dont like water PERIOD ! just to mady electronics under the hood if you have a good leave blower blow the whole engine dry also
Maxpowers
Member
Never do that with these cars. Get a towel and cleaner next time.
As stated above, you most likely have water in your spark plug wells. You need to get it all out.
As stated above, you most likely have water in your spark plug wells. You need to get it all out.
I'm gonna add in here that the op might have done it when the engine was at least warm if not hot which is a big 
. I have washed my engine with water but you have to be smart about how much pressure and where you spray it, those are the keys. After that dry it off and try to not drive it at all until its completely dry.
As to how to fix it, the guys above stated what has to be done and then go from there with what you find.
. I have washed my engine with water but you have to be smart about how much pressure and where you spray it, those are the keys. After that dry it off and try to not drive it at all until its completely dry. As to how to fix it, the guys above stated what has to be done and then go from there with what you find.
Sonic04GT
Member
I agree with Austin. Took mine to a well-liked detailer that posts on the local forums. I hit a HUGE puddle on an on-ramp last year and it was so bad the muddy water shot straight up, hit the underside of the hood and rained all over the top of my motor. It was disgusting.
Anyway, he sprayed it down with a hose and got in there with a brush. Just have to avoid directly spraying things like the coils, battery, CAI, etc..
Haven't had a single issue since he did it.
Anyway, he sprayed it down with a hose and got in there with a brush. Just have to avoid directly spraying things like the coils, battery, CAI, etc..
Haven't had a single issue since he did it.
trinity_gt
10 Year Member
The electricals under the hood of any car are, generally speaking, water resistant, not water proof.
Directed spray from a nozzle will penetrate electrical connectors and will get into spark plug wells etc.
Remember that most municipal water is hard (it contains minerals and salts...) When the water eventually does evaporate, it will leave behind these salts and minerals on electrical contacts etc, which can cause conduction issues and hard-to-diagnose electrical gremlins down the road.
Most cars exposed to flood waters are written off because of this: Aside from ruined fabrics and carpets, their electrical systems are usually completely hosed by the junk in the water.
Bottom line: Don't spray down the engine compartment. Use a rag and some Simple Green. If you must spray it down, be very, very careful and selective as to where you spray and how much pressure you use and, of course, prepare to deal with electrical issues.
Directed spray from a nozzle will penetrate electrical connectors and will get into spark plug wells etc.
Remember that most municipal water is hard (it contains minerals and salts...) When the water eventually does evaporate, it will leave behind these salts and minerals on electrical contacts etc, which can cause conduction issues and hard-to-diagnose electrical gremlins down the road.
Most cars exposed to flood waters are written off because of this: Aside from ruined fabrics and carpets, their electrical systems are usually completely hosed by the junk in the water.
Bottom line: Don't spray down the engine compartment. Use a rag and some Simple Green. If you must spray it down, be very, very careful and selective as to where you spray and how much pressure you use and, of course, prepare to deal with electrical issues.
johnnyt03gt
5 Year Member
a few months ago. i had the grate idea to power wash my engine too.
as soon as i started it up. the car would pop and back fire, engine was shaking like a naked person setting outside in -20 degree cold, very sluggish' very low RPM's
so i thought i might have destroyed a coil.
after asking for help on the froums. they told my i just had water in my plug walls.
so i let the hood open all night. and had a fan blowing on it. the next day car nun perfect,
FYI, if you drove the car with water in plug walls. you could easily crack a plug,
as soon as i started it up. the car would pop and back fire, engine was shaking like a naked person setting outside in -20 degree cold, very sluggish' very low RPM's
so i thought i might have destroyed a coil.
after asking for help on the froums. they told my i just had water in my plug walls.
so i let the hood open all night. and had a fan blowing on it. the next day car nun perfect,
FYI, if you drove the car with water in plug walls. you could easily crack a plug,
No.11
10 Year Member
ok I feel a little more at ease after reading this. today I forgot to reconnect the coolant hose that goes to the throttle body and it spilled coolant all over the driver side of the engine. after I thought I had dried it off, I fired it up and saw a blur flame coming from the #7 spark plug. Shut the car off and attempted to dry over and over to no avail. then removed spark plug and found that it was cracked. so Johnny you say that wetting a spark plug would crack it? gotcha. so just need a new plug and some air in a can or something.
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