How much water gets past the window cowl when washing/rain etc.?

[cfiiman]

I was wondering how well the seal is from the hood weatherstripping to the lower cowl on the front windsheild? Mine is actually off the cowl right in the center at the highest point on the hood which seems like water would run on the top/back of the engine which seems like it wouldn't be a good idea. Are all of the seals like this or do I need to try to adjust my cowl "up" to get a better seal with the hood?

 

[RT/ED]

I would not worry about it. I removed the cowl seal on my 95 years ago to allow heat to escape. In addition, I fabricated vents with screening into my cowl. I have been caught in heavy down pours with no negative effects what so ever.

 

[plumcrazy]

i wash my engine regularly with soap and water. never a problem

actually one time i did have an issue but it was with a vec unit and all it needed was to be aired out and dried.

 

[cfiiman]

Thanks for the replies, I was thinking that it would probably be nothing, guess my main concern is 2 fold:

First off, if leaking directly in the middle my concern was the coil packs.

Secondly, and this is more of a washing thing, I've seen people "foam" their cars (which I am now doing as well thanks to the "junkman") and I see foam inside their hood intakes on the side where the PCM/ICM sit. I can only assume if there is foam everywhere they blast that area with water to remove it. I know I would soak those two things if I got remotely close to the big vents on the side, so that can't be a good thing right? I just stay away from that area as much as possible but I don't want to be "too" careful if I don't have to, thanks for any help.

 

[plumcrazy]

i flood my engine with water when washing it. have done this hundreds of times. only that one time i had an issue.

granted never high pressure

 

[cfiiman]

Plum, really, wow guess I would have thought that was a big no no do to electronics/etc. So you get the computers and modules and everything soaking wet??? If so that makes me feel a lot better about a little water that might run in, you don't have pics or a vid on "how" you flood it do you for cleaning, I'd love to see it.

 

[ViperTony]

I have a vented cowl and wash my Viper without covering it. Amazingly, water gets through it and drains out. No problems. I've been caught in a ridiculous rain storm a couple of years back (Plum will remember this, CT brunch)...I can't begin to describe how much water was coming down on us but not problems. If it bothers you then you could cover the engine with plastic or something under the cowl before washing. If the engine does get wet you could always take a leaf blower to it to dry it out.

 

[plumcrazy]

forgot about that day. on the ride thru the small streets on the way home, we actually floated the vipers for a few seconds while making a turn. dang that was fun.

 

[cfiiman]

Tony, the plastic is an awesome idea, didn't even cosider that. I could just get the drop plastic at the box store (1 mil I think) and open the hood, cover the whole thing and go to work, great idea, thanks!!!

 

[cfiiman]

Hey, on a side note, I noticed when I removed my heater box that there is a small rubber ****** where water drains out from the passenger side "speaker" vent. I guess the designers just decided to let the water fall to the ground past the engine/frame, but why not add a drain line and take it down to just passed the bottom of the frame? Has anyone done this?

 

[ViperTony]

The driver's side speaker grill has a small hole that empties out over the PCM area (I think). Not sure if it's the same on the Gen 1.

 

[Urhuckleberry]

Anything I should be concerned about damaging when washing the engine compartment out. I have never done that and don't know much about makin' motors crank, but I'm pretty good at...(I think that's a song!) J/K But on a serious note, will simple green work and wash it off with water? Thank you.

 

[plumcrazy]

id be careful using any harsh chemicals. i only use the same soap i wash the exterior of the car with.

if you use it, make sure its a wet surface when you put the soap on it and dont let it dry

 

[ViperTony]

I've used Griot's engine cleaner only because I had it in the garage. I use distilled water to rinse the engine compartment and I've done this on my daily driver once a year for 10 years without issue.

 

[cfiiman]

The driver's side speaker grill has a small hole that empties out over the PCM area (I think). Not sure if it's the same on the Gen 1.

I didn't know that, I learn something new everday on this board The "drain line" must run inside the hood then right, b/c I have never seen a line when the hood was opened, although I'll look again today, is there a pic of this somewhere?

 

[BigBadViper]

I thought you couldn't drive these in the rain.

 

[Slithr]

Thanks for the replies, I was thinking that it would probably be nothing, guess my main concern is 2 fold:

First off, if leaking directly in the middle my concern was the coil packs.

Secondly, and this is more of a washing thing, I've seen people "foam" their cars (which I am now doing as well thanks to the "junkman") and I see foam inside their hood intakes on the side where the PCM/ICM sit. I can only assume if there is foam everywhere they blast that area with water to remove it. I know I would soak those two things if I got remotely close to the big vents on the side, so that can't be a good thing right? I just stay away from that area as much as possible but I don't want to be "too" careful if I don't have to, thanks for any help.

cfiiman, here is a link to an engine cleaning video. I use this method (including the Adam's products) to clean my engine bay.... and it works great!!

Cleaning the Engine

A tip, last week a Viper tech told me to put a small piece of tape over the clutch fluid cap breather hole, before spraying water in the engine bay.

 

[Urhuckleberry]

id be careful using any harsh chemicals. i only use the same soap i wash the exterior of the car with.

if you use it, make sure its a wet surface when you put the soap on it and dont let it dry

Thanks for the helpful advice!

 

[cfiiman]

cfiiman, here is a link to an engine cleaning video. I use this method (including the Adam's products) to clean my engine bay.... and it works great!!

Cleaning the Engine

A tip, last week a Viper tech told me to put a small piece of tape over the clutch fluid cap breather hole, before spraying water in the engine bay.

Thanks for the link, but....the first thing the guy says is if you get a sensor wet you could light up your dash like a Christmas tree Kinda just makes me think my concern about getting water anywhere near there is a bad idea, i don't know...

 

[Slithr]

Thanks for the link, but....the first thing the guy says is if you get a sensor wet you could light up your dash like a Christmas tree Kinda just makes me think my concern about getting water anywhere near there is a bad idea, i don't know...

I saw that, but I think he is just covering his a$$ when handing out advise, or he was referring to the 80's-90's model cars when the switch to computerized cars was in full swing. I can say that I've employed this technique on my 2003 Viper several times without any issues (except I probably used more water ) But, I also don't want to mis-lead you....just speaking from personal experience.