I was not aware that the M5 engine compartment was hermetically sealed to all water.
The warnings about rinsing off the engine bay simply must be due to the fact that once the hood is closed no water can enter the compartment when driven at 90MPHG through 1" per hour rain storms....
Yeah, being a wiseask, but I'm just not getting it. How can it be OK to drive yet not OK to rinse? Does it really stay dry?
I'm not saying it will always fail when using water.
It is ok to rinse it in some places.
I just wouldn't take too many risks.
If your car develops a warning light or short circuit of some kind, what will you say? Wout was right? That won't solve the problem.
If you need more convincing, maybe you should try watering down your engine bay
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Engine bay cleaned. I actually used Fantastic, and a pressure washer... Ok I'm wearing Flame ******ent Clothes.
I did cover ballasts, and alternator, and was careful where i sprayed. First I guess I should let you know that I had a small leak that ran down from the lower power steering pump hose, which with dust, made a thick, black, oily coating over the mesh that covers the Power steering hose.
I put car up on Rhino Ramps and removed under coverings. Noticed oil on the bottom of Power steering pump, and a more than a few drips of oil from a sensor located on the passenger side, lower portion of the oil pan.
So i sprayed the entire underside of engine and break area being careful not to put direct pressure on any rubber or Elec connections.
After looking like i went for a swim, I dryed engine with towel, removed plastic bags and allowed to dry in the sun for about an hour.
Started up and all seemed fine.
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2002-05 Build Carbon Black ///M5
First Aid Kit ~ Warning Triangle ~ Full BMW Tool Kit
Looks clean to me! Thanks for sharing experiences and photo.
All we are saying here is - when cleaning your engine - PLAY IT SAFE. No need to risk a possible electrical malfunction later due to water or moisture getting inside sensitive electrical connections - that's all.
If some people here still feel that there is no need for a concern, then by all means, hose your entire engine compartment down with water and cleaning solution and hopefully - nothing goes wrong later.
All I know is - one of the most difficult issue to troubleshoot is intermittent electrical connection. It will drive you nuts as it is hard to duplicate the issue. INTERMITTENT.
I also do know, here in aerospace business, we design our connectors to be mounted sideways to further protect the connectors from moisture or liquid going directly into electrical connections.
Our electrical harnesses are routed with "drip loops" to divert liquid or moisture away from connections.
Lots of good design practices we put in place to protect the flying public.
At any rate, the inputs I provided and so as some folks here did too are precautions to take to avoid possible trouble later. If some owners still feel there is no need to worry about it, then by all means, do as you wish.
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Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
With a clean engine, do you notice any odor after you've parked in the garage with the engine hot? I had a PS hose leak that is now fixed (I think), and it seems that the residue would have burned off after a couple thousand miles, but maybe it lingers forever. Wondering whether a good engine cleaning would do much good, or if there's always the smell of oil/fluid when the engine is hot.
Again, I do not recommend petroleum based engine cleaner such as Gunk. Your engine will smell for months.
Use Scrubbing Bubbles. So easy to use, spray on, hose off. Odor is much much reduced, the smell burns off in about a day.
I used to use Gunk and my engine would smell for weeks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkwind
With a clean engine, do you notice any odor after you've parked in the garage with the engine hot? I had a PS hose leak that is now fixed (I think), and it seems that the residue would have burned off after a couple thousand miles, but maybe it lingers forever. Wondering whether a good engine cleaning would do much good, or if there's always the smell of oil/fluid when the engine is hot.
__________________
Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
I read someplace that aluminum foil can serve as a good cover for electrical components when you wash your engine. It adheres and molds to the thing you're trying to protect and won't melt like plastic (though I don't think it's wise to wash an engine that's hot anyways). I've never tried this method, and I still don't think you should apply too much water pressure even though the electricals are covered. Also, I wonder if this may cause more problems if water does get in since the foil can act as a conductor?
I dryed engine with towel, removed plastic bags and allowed to dry in the sun for about an hour. 
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