Degreased engine bay at car wash, engine runs a little rough now =(

[Edison Carasio]

I had a bad valve cover gasket that leaked oil all over the place in the engine bay and it was smoking bad. I changed that a while ago an on my off day this week I went to the car wash and degreased everthing. I didn't get the alternator wet which was good and I left the car running. But now it seems to run a little rougher than before. Did I just ruin my car? It never died on my while I was doing that or driving home. When I got home, the car seemed to shake really bad when I was sitting still. I revved the crap outta the engine and it seemed to go away.

I'm not sure if it's just my imagination or if it idles a little rougher than before. If the car never died, and still starts up on me, what could I have done to mess it up?

[nswst8]

Moisture in the electrical/Vacuum system could throw your values off.

[Edison Carasio]

Think that's something that will go away by drying out on it's own?

[stephensimmons]

Think that's something that will go away by drying out on it's own?

How long did you let it run after you washed it?

[Edison Carasio]

I drove home, so about ten minutes. Then about 5 minutes when I got home. And I turned it off at home after that and started it back up to make sure it would start up and it did with no issues.

[nswst8]

Think that's something that will go away by drying out on it's own?

Should go back to the way it drove before after it dries itself out.

[Edison Carasio]

That's what I was hoping. Seemed to improve by leaps and bounds as I was revving it at home. Like it was shuddering like it was gonna blow up then I revved it to like 5k and held it for like 20 secs and it stopped. I'll check it again later.

[Civic Accord Honda]

probably got a little bit of water in the dizzy, should be mint once it drys out :thumbup:

[A18A]

indeed, everytime i wash my engine bay, i got water in the dizzy which made it run pretty shitty. just pull the cap off & dry it out, then it should run good again

[Dr_Snooz]

x2 on the distributor cap.

I'd avoid washing while it's running. You might draw water into vacuum leaks, short live wires, etc. Whenever you go to wash it, expect the car not to start for awhile afterward and plan accordingly.

[Hauntd ca3]

is agood idea to have access to an air compressor when degreasing an engine bay, just so you can blow all the water out of stuff

[AccordB20A]

one of the common fails i have when waterblasting a b20a is water getting down the spark plug holes and fucking up the leads

[MessyHonda]

x2 on the distributor cap.

I'd avoid washing while it's running. You might draw water into vacuum leaks, short live wires, etc. Whenever you go to wash it, expect the car not to start for awhile afterward and plan accordingly.

good point...i try to run the car first to warm up the engine...not too hot tho...so then the water dries off faster...but yeah...dont even spray the dizzy...i just used a old toothbrush with degreaser on that part so i would not get water in the cap

[Edison Carasio]

When I was doing it I was careful to not get any of the eletrical stuff. Main focus was exhaust manifold and that area of the block. But it seems to be running ok now. I drove it last night. The valve cover gasket it still leaking though :( I'll go to the dealer this weekend and pick up a new gasket (screw that Autozone crap) and some Honda-bond. Need to pick up a throw out bearing spring and rear main seal for the transmission anyway.

But you guys are saying powerwash it when it's OFF? I was always told do it while it was running so that if anything gets wet that shouldn't you can get lucky and it will dry out if the engine is running (all the heat).

[A18A]

one of the common fails i have when waterblasting a b20a is water getting down the spark plug holes and fucking up the leads

lol maybe thats why most of my b20a leads are fail