Detailing Engine

[Gwfl]

I'm having my bird detailed next week and they will be cleaning the engine compartment...a light general cleanup. No powerwashing but it will be getting hosed down. Do I need to worry about spraying water around in there? I think the COPs problems have to do with water so I'm being cautious.

Gary

[Borla Babe]

Re: Detailing Engine

? I think the COPs problems have to do with water so I'm being cautious.

Gary

A damp rag maybe, but NO RUNNING WATER!!!!

[joe166]

Re: Detailing Engine

I'm having my bird detailed next week and they will be cleaning the engine compartment...a light general cleanup. No powerwashing but it will be getting hosed down. Do I need to worry about spraying water around in there? I think the COPs problems have to do with water so I'm being cautious.

Gary

Yes you do need to worry. I have had at least a dozen COPS failures and each one followed a major water event. Hurricanes, flooding, aggressive washing etc. Since mine is a daily driver I got the ESP and all have been covered even without the factory extension, but it is a PIA. The couple of days of sputtering until the check engine light comes on is annoying.

[NebraskaBird]

Re: Detailing Engine

I know you folks are correct with your Bird, however, I have power wahed my enigne about 6 or mores (when I am preparing my Bird for car show see my photo gallery of my trophy) with no problems what so ever.
I know many are saying I have just been lucky, I mean I not spraying into thing just over things and spray down the inside of my hood. (again look at my photo gallery and you will see my hood open at cars shows after I sprayed and wiped down my engine)

[Bradford]

Re: Detailing Engine

I guess I've been lucky also. I open the hood and hose off my engine every time I wash the car, use a soapy rag on the engine cover, front shroud, then hose the entire engine bay. I've been doing it for 3 years now. I never heard about COP issues till I found this site in April. I'm sure my day will come. I also have Ford ESP Premium Care Warranty. Also have a great service tech at my Dealer that dosn't question anything, if I say there's a problem, he looks for it, light or no light, code or no code.

[My Raven]

Re: Detailing Engine

No Water !!!

Both times the Raven had a COPs problem was when some good intentioned fool at a dealership used water be it a hose or a powerwash to clean the engine.

I don't recommend it. You are just inviting a big bill and a huge headache, IMHO.

[Ediron]

Re: Detailing Engine

25-30 yrs ago I though nothing of hosing down an engine.We would brush it down with kerosene than hose it down with water.With todays electronics I would never take the chance.I wipe it down with a damp towel after washing and drying.

[Johnny Gumballs]

Re: Detailing Engine

Chrome out the engine and you do not have to worry about washing and powerspraying anything...................

[Monty]

Re: Detailing Engine

I'm having my bird detailed next week and they will be cleaning the engine compartment...a light general cleanup. No powerwashing but it will be getting hosed down. Do I need to worry about spraying water around in there? I think the COPs problems have to do with water so I'm being cautious.

Gary

I have gunked and washed my engine a number of times. Did, however, have 3 cops go out about 3 months ago but mechanic found no water or moisture in cops area. He seemed to think mostly heat related. I took the covers off my coils and plugs right after that and haven't had any additional coils go out since. I also have washed the engine after removing the covers and still no problems. My wife has a Ford Escape with no cover of any kind and never had a cops problem with it. It's a 2005 which we bought in August of 2004.

[joe166]

Re: Detailing Engine

You know, that is kind of like saying "I smoke and I don't have cancer, so I think it is perfectly all right for you to do so. There is no risk involved, my lack of illness proves it"

The fact that not everyone who wets their engine gets a cops problem belies the underlying fact that there IS a risk involved and that was the original question, wasn't it?

The real answer is....there is a risk, it's your car, do what you want.

[Ediron]

Re: Detailing Engine

Six Pac post an article yesterday about detailing and it said DON"T power wash as electric componants can get damaged.

[Ediron]

Re: Detailing Engine

John were did you find all the chrome ?? thanks ED

[BirdWings]

Re: Detailing Engine

Six Pac post an article yesterday about detailing and it said DON"T power wash as electric components can get damaged.

Here is the article that SixPac posted..
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/01/aa.things.not.to.do.in.car/index.html

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Detailing Engine

Chrome out the engine and you do not have to worry about washing and powerspraying anything...................

John, did you chrome the COPs too?

[Bradford]

Re: Detailing Engine

I've read every post, everyone has simply stated what they have done and their experience with it. Some have problems, some don't, some have COP problems due to water contamination, others havn't had any water contamination in respect to the COPS problems they had. NO one has stated do or don't based on their post, simply posted their experience. The post are for you to make your own judgement call.