Finally got around to having my snow tires taken off my S the other day (hey, I know it's almost June, but I've been busy). Told my mechanic to check the oil as well. He swaps the tires and adds half a quart. Pick up the car, drive home with the top down. Park in the garage and don't drive it again until today, when I take go out with the top up and the A/C on. Immediately I smell oil. Pull over, pop the hood and find the oil cap sitting on the sill by the windshield wipers and oil splattered all over the engine bay. Screw the cap back on and swing by the garage, but the mechanics aren't there b/c it's the weekend. Check the oil level and it's about a quart low. Add a quart and take it home to clean it up. Wiped the oil off wherever I could see it, but the hood liner above the cap was pretty saturated. I'm headed back to the garage on Tuesday, but before I did, I wanted to get people's thoughts:



(1) Do I need to have the hood liner replaced? Is it now a fire hazard?



(2) Do I have to worry about engine damage/oil contamination from running with the cap off?



(3) Aside from assuring that all the splattered oil is cleaned up, it there anything else I should make sure the mechanic does when I go back?

 

Spray down the engine and compartment with a $3.00 engine cleaner that sprays off with a water hose, this is what I would suggest. The hood liner I would say is a fire hazard. Those hood liners are also fire retardants by design, the plastic clips/holders are designed to burn off and the liner drops down on the engine in the case of a fire, the liner smothered with oil would really burn at that time. I would get it replaced, double check my info, but when I worked for Nissan all of their liners are designed to drop down and smother the fire.

That really sucks, this is why I am going to change the oil, radiator fluid and all other simple fluid changes myself. We are all humans and when a human is involved expect an error, at least if I f-up I can kick myself in the "A".

I replaced my brake lines with stainless braided lines yesterday myself, went through a little trial and error, but I have it down now, I plan on the rear Monday. Installed the AEM CAI last monday, a little fooling around on that, time was the only thing spent and my time on my car = priceless, even if I screw it up.

Can you say get the wrench out of your ear next time, you monkey!

 

To make you feel better...it could have been worse.

1. Good thing you caught it early and avoided the need for a new engine.

2. Lucky you didn't loose the cap or have it wedge between the transmission and the engine bay.

3. Be glad he didn't drop the hood down on the cap.


To be safe I would replace the hood liner and replace the oil. Do a search to see how others clean the engine. Although I wouldn't clean it until the mechanic sees his screw up. Good luck, I think it'll be ok.

John

 

Why would you ever spray your engine down with water????? This can lead to many electrical and sensor problems. I would just clean it up with a rag and cleaner....the oil will burn off eventually.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rdriver
[B]Why would you ever spray your engine down with water?????

 

all the senors are all designed to be water resistant, look at them that are in closed off housing.

I wasn't saying take a 100psi water pressure hose to the engine compartment.

It has been raining alot lately, this is a car, you drive outside in the weather. Get over it, you car is going to get wet. Do you think the Japanese, didn't think to make the sensors water resistant?

There are spray on engine cleaners designed to degrease the engine and then "SPRAY OFF" with a hose or there are burn off solvents while the car is at idle.

I spray my Civic and Pathfinder down all the time and never have had a problem, same with the following past cars the I have owned, Mustang, 280zx Sensors and solenoids all over the place, Cavalier, Chevy truck, Malibu and many others.

It is ok to get the car wet is all I am saying.