I'm An Idiot!!!!!!

[nfpgasmask]

So I washed my VX today. Cleaned her up all nice and spiffy. Checked the oil and filled it up. And then shut the hood.

AND I FORGOT TO PUT THE OIL CAP BACK ON!!!

So I went for a short drive and stopped and smoke is spewing out from under the hood. I thought something REALLY bad happened. Pop the hood and I see oil all over and so I just think oil splashed out and is burning under there.

What can I do? Should I just hose it off??

JESUS I AM AN IDIOT!

Bart

[Ruflyf]

On other cars I have found that the engine degreaser at self car washes works fairly well with the pressure washer. Best bet is to borrow someones heated pressure washer if someone has one.

I am always afreid I'll do that or the radiator cap.

[nfpgasmask]

...but at least it isn't something REALLY bad. By some miricle the oil cap stayed on top of the battery where I set it and didn't fall out. I'll tell ya though, there is nothing like pulling into the garage and seeing smoke spew from under your hood. I almost lost it until I got the hood open and saw it was just my idiot self being forgetful. My garage floor is a mess now too. FARK!

So looking under the hood, the entire left side seems to have a nice layer of fresh 10W40 on it. But the smoke and steam is coming from down where the oil spewed out. Cripes. I am such an idiot. I guess I will just have to drive around with oil burning off under there. Maybe its time I take her in and get the whole VX detailed...

I check the oil level and it only lose a little bit...

Uggg.

Bart

On other cars I have fou
nd that the engine degreaser at self car washes works fairly well with the pressure washer. Best bet is to borrow someones heated pressure washer if someone has one.

I am always afreid I'll do that or the radiator cap.

[biju]

Sad news, bart. I'd freak no less if this happened to me...

if money allows, i'd suggest taking her in for a engine clean and detail. sounds like it's too much of a mess to tackle alone w/ just simple over the counter products.

best of luck.

-bej.

[Joe_Black]

Go to Wal-Mart and get a few cans of their foaming engine cleaner, apply liberally to the coated areas including the under-hood insulation. Just try to keep off exterior painted areas as it can make some waxes go milky if let sit. Let sit for 5 - 10 minutes then hose off with a medium spray from a garden nozzle until the water runs off clear. Any smoking you get will be from whatever didn't come off the manifolds and that won't last long.

I've been using that engine cleaner a lot as it's basically the same stuff as Gunk Engine Brite, and isn't particularly harsh and a very good general degreaser. As much as I've been using it on my diesels it's good stuff!

Next time you take the oil cap or anything else off that needs put-back, just place it somewhere really obvious. Like in a plastic pan in your driver's seat.

[PHO2GR4]

Dude, that is NOT what they mean by "Complete Lube and Oil Change".

On the bright side, it just means that your engine compartment now matches the rest of your midnight-black VX color scheme! TOTAL stealth mode!

Kidding, man. Seriously, this is NOT as bad as it looks right now. Think about how lucky you were to have realized your mistake so quickly! What if you'd just driven short, non-smoky distances over a period of many days! Your engine would be TOAST.

Once you get the engine all cleaned up, everything will no doubt look BETTER than it did before the mishap.

Good luck,

Eric

So I went for a short drive and stopped and smoke is spewing out from under the hood. I thought something REALLY bad happened. Pop the hood and I see oil all over and so I just think oil splashed out and is burning under there.

Bart

[Chopper]

What Joe said plus,run it through a carwash that offers an undercarriage wash. It is amazing how far a few drops of oil will spread in a few miles of 60mph driving...

[nfpgasmask]

Thanks guys. I'm up early this morning and I am going to go to the store and get some cleaners and go to work under there.

It really isn't as bad as I made it sound last night (but then again I was freaking out) so I should be ok.

Thanks for all the kind words.

Bart

[Ldub]

Might be a good thing to drive around for a half hour or so to evaporate all the moisture under the hood.

[ZEUS]

A better way to rust proof the under carriage is to use a rubber undercoating. I find engine oil to be a little messy for that... Look at the bright side, it might be easier to get some of those stubborn bolts loose now!