Degreased and sprayed engine out, now rough idle.

[drokmofo]

Well, as the title says. My oil filter adapter gasket was leaking, as well as the driver side breather tube being not fully connected on the valve cover. So I connected the breather tube and sprayed degreaser so I could clean and find the leak. Sprayed degreaser off w water hose. Replaced the OFA gasket..no leak. But now on idle stopped in drive the SUV shakes badly. Runs as tho it needs new plugs. But I can hear a ticking noise near the backside top of the engine around the rear of the intake. I am figuring that I either got the cops too wet or water in a spark plug cylinder(s). I recently replaced all spark plugs w the sp546. More recently replaced the radiator. Truck was running great until I sprayed out the engine compartment. I am not the most confident w electrical issues, but enjoy fixing things myself. Any help/advise will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Trainmaster]

How long ago did you hose it? It may dry out after a couple of days and be fine. Or you can use a scanner to find which cylinders are misfiring and go after the wet ones.

 

[drokmofo]

Sprayed out Friday am. It rained that night and most of Saturday. Dry yesterday and today but more rain expected this PM. I am checking for any moisture in plug cylinders now. Drivers side front 3 dry so far. Thx for offering advice

 

[JExpedition07]

I did the same thing as you and had the same problem, when I hosed the engine down it killed a coil. Didn’t misfire until the next day but it came on hard suddenly and found the water wrecked coil on cylinder #8.

 

[drokmofo]

All plug cylinders dry...Is there an easy way to test the coil packs? Thx

 

[JExpedition07]

All plug cylinders dry...Is there an easy way to test the coil packs? Thx

Mine were dry too, moisture got inside the COP when you hosed it down plus it’s been raining, so the bad one is showing itself. Do you have a check engine light? I’d hook up OBDII and see what cylinder is misfiring. If you drive it a bit and it’s shaking like that it won’t be long.

 

[drokmofo]

Yes, I have a p0357. Going to move the cop to see if the misfire follows. Thx JExp

 

[gixer2000]

Pull the coils and I'll bet you find water under at least one of them

 

[Adieu]

Well, as the title says. My oil filter adapter gasket was leaking, as well as the driver side breather tube being not fully connected on the valve cover. So I connected the breather tube and sprayed degreaser so I could clean and find the leak. Sprayed degreaser off w water hose. Replaced the OFA gasket..no leak. But now on idle stopped in drive the SUV shakes badly. Runs as tho it needs new plugs. But I can hear a ticking noise near the backside top of the engine around the rear of the intake. I am figuring that I either got the cops too wet or water in a spark plug cylinder(s). I recently replaced all spark plugs w the sp546. More recently replaced the radiator. Truck was running great until I sprayed out the engine compartment. I am not the most confident w electrical issues, but enjoy fixing things myself. Any help/advise will be greatly appreciated.

You got water in a plug well and predictably killed a COP

Now you have a misfire

I *did* read somewhere about dipping them in vinegar and baking soda or some such crap, but if you cant fix it you need to replace it

 

[Adieu]

All plug cylinders dry...Is there an easy way to test the coil packs? Thx

Resistance ohms between the two contacts, iirc

 

[drokmofo]

To follow up, I did have a bad coil pack. My code reader gave me p0357 which I thought meant #7 misfire. So I swapped #7 coil w #5 coil to reproduce the misfire. Wouldn't repeat. I took all 8 coil mounting screws out and with the engine running I removed each coil from contact with the plug individually. With each 1 removed I listened for a difference in the engine idle. #3 gave no difference so I removed that coil and tested the resistance. It was way off compared to the new motorcraft coil I bought. So I popped the new 1 in and she is running happy again.

Thx to JExpy07 and Adieu for your input.

FYI, I found genuine motorcraft coils for $30 each on Amazon

 

[1955moose]

So much for depending on built in computer to diagnose problem. Why it threw #7 code, and in reality it was #3 is weird. Bottom line your fixed. Sometimes in repairing cars/trucks you've got to improvise. Next time cover up all the coils with plastic bags and zip ties. So this scenario doesn't happen again.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[drokmofo]

Back to this one... shortly after replacing the coil it started to run ruff again and sluggish on acceleration. Replaced the remaining 6 cop's that I did not replace before. Still runs like crap really. Took it to exhaust shop to test back pressure and finally! Driver's side catalytic converter is plugged. Passenger side is short on life too. Will be having drivers side replaced Friday morning. Hopefully this will be the fix. I have vacuum hose on hand for the next attempt if the new cat doesnt do it....

 

[16plati]

Well, as the title says. My oil filter adapter gasket was leaking, as well as the driver side breather tube being not fully connected on the valve cover. So I connected the breather tube and sprayed degreaser so I could clean and find the leak. Sprayed degreaser off w water hose. Replaced the OFA gasket..no leak. But now on idle stopped in drive the SUV shakes badly. Runs as tho it needs new plugs. But I can hear a ticking noise near the backside top of the engine around the rear of the intake. I am figuring that I either got the cops too wet or water in a spark plug cylinder(s). I recently replaced all spark plugs w the sp546. More recently replaced the radiator. Truck was running great until I sprayed out the engine compartment. I am not the most confident w electrical issues, but enjoy fixing things myself. Any help/advise will be greatly appreciated.

This is why you hand clean the engine bay..

 

[JollyRoger]

Glad you found the problem. I have discovered the hard way to never foam and hose off the engine, as I've done all my life with every other vehicle. It drives me crazy to have a dirty engine, but I'm dealing with it. I'll be replacing plugs and COP's in about 20K miles, so it will get cleaned when I do that. Otherwise, no water under the hood for me.

 

[1955moose]

If your a clean engine nut, nothing wrong there, you've got to put plastic bags over all eight coils. It only takes about 5 minutes to do, and you won't short out the coils, and eventually the cats too.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[TobyU]

I have cleaned a lot of them with water.
You often have to pull the COPS or wires up and blow the water out or let if dry out.
I won't spray alternators either.
I have seen people say it won't hurt them but had one of two go out over the years shortly after an engine spray so I put a bag over them now.
Before I had a power washer, I have limped home a few times with misfires after doing it.
I used the car wash and the tire cleaner, soap, then wax, then rinse.
The wax helps to dry thing out a lot more than a garden hose.