Ignorant Engine Bay Question

[Ground Speed]

I know this is probably a dumb question, but why would the inside of my engine bay be oily/greasy? It's like there is a fine mist of oil on every surface, plastic cowling, etc. For example, the coolant tank just about glistens at this point.

I know engines bays are generally dirty places to be when you have explosions, moving parts, road grime, etc, I just didn't know if this thin film was intentional or a byproduct of the engine throwing fluid out of somewhere. I always kind of assumed most engines - especially new ones with fresh gaskets and hoses would not leak or secrete any fluids.

Purchased in November, EcoBoost, about 1950 miles so far, not a daily driver.

Thanks! :headbonk:

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[IvanCRF]

Are you sure the stealership didn't apply Armor-all when they detailed it upon purchase? I don't Armorall anything because it just gets coated in sand from dust devils and sandstorms. However, it never hurts to check your fluid levels.

 

[Bartly]

Have an oil change done yet? Did somebody leave the the cap off?


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[jasonstang]

Dealer probably detailed the engine bay with some stuff.

 

[Ground Speed]

No oil change done yet. Levels look fine. I was guessing some sort of spray too since it evenly coats every single surface inside.

I first noticed it when I was washing the car, I opened the hood to wipe down the inside painted surfaces.

Should I try to remove the sheen with a warm soap and water towel or leave it on there as a sort of barrier against dirt and corrosion?

 

[1966 Sunbeam Tiger]

Should I try to remove the sheen with a warm soap and water towel or leave it on there as a sort of barrier against dirt and corrosion?

Car wash and power wash all of it.

 

[Chameleon]

Get some Simple Green and go to work.

 

[jasonstang]

No oil change done yet. Levels look fine. I was guessing some sort of spray too since it evenly coats every single surface inside.

I first noticed it when I was washing the car, I opened the hood to wipe down the inside painted surfaces.

Should I try to remove the sheen with a warm soap and water towel or leave it on there as a sort of barrier against dirt and corrosion?

You can use some engine degreaser on cold engine and normal water pressure just hose it down.
Don't use power washer.

 

[Joe 5.0]

Car wash and power wash all of it.

While many detailers spray water directly into the engine bay (with all electrical equipment and other important components covered), I don't recommend it.

Check out Autogeek or Chemical Guys for engine bay cleaners and degreasers. You can use one of their products with the cheap microfiber rags that you normally see in Target, Walmart, Autozone, etc.

Spraying a stream of water and chemicals into an engine bay just seems sketch y to me. It is asking for something to get damaged!

 

[1966 Sunbeam Tiger]

Get some Simple Green and go to work.

SG reacts badly to hot surfaces and can stain. Just the soap setting at car wash then rinse. If you have one, then use a leaf blower to blow all the water out.

 

[1966 Sunbeam Tiger]

Spraying a stream of water and chemicals into an engine bay just seems sketch y to me. It is asking for something to get damaged!

Don't be skeered.....just keep the nozzle at least 12" away from surfaces. What do you think the dealer uses to clean engines? We are talking 2016 electrical connections, not 1960's electrical connections.

 

[ElAviator72]

Are you sure the stealership didn't apply Armor-all when they detailed it upon purchase? I don't Armorall anything because it just gets coated in sand from dust devils and sandstorms. However, it never hurts to check your fluid levels.

Hehehe...you live in one of the worst climates for engine leakage. An El Paso summer or two will have something in your engine bay leaking in no time That and the super black asphalt that all the parking lots in ELP seem to be painted...mighty hard on engines and interiors. Don't miss that part about my hometown...

 

[ElAviator72]

When my 2015 Ecoboost was totaled out by the insurance company, the insurance adjuster said he'd never seen a cleaner engine bay except on the showroom floor ;) Never once cleaned it, it only had one oil change done (by the dealer). I checked the oil a couple of times, but that was it. Needless to say, they weren't able to deduct anything for condition issues on the value. The car had 7,500 miles on it...

 

[mikef523]

No oil change done yet. Levels look fine. I was guessing some sort of spray too since it evenly coats every single surface inside.

I first noticed it when I was washing the car, I opened the hood to wipe down the inside painted surfaces.

Should I try to remove the sheen with a warm soap and water towel or leave it on there as a sort of barrier against dirt and corrosion?

I would wash it off. Whatever it is, it will probably just be a "dirt magnet" if you leave it on there.

 

[Cueball]

So it seems the general consensus here is that if you use a degreaser or cleaner of your choice and then rinse (or even lightly power wash) that you don't need to cover anything these days? My 2011 Fusion is getting rather dirty and I have considered a good engine bay cleaning. And yes - a COLD engine for sure.

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