Smoking (Steaming) After Car Wash

[HCJR]

I have a '08 Escape XLT V6 and have notice since I bought it, it smokes (steams) from the engine after going through a laser car wash. Does any of your guys Escapes do the same? I don't notice a difference in driving after the wash or a change in temp. Doesn't last long, thought the water might be hitting something hot. Never really notice this on any of my other cars.

[fnnut]

Does the wash include an undercarriage cycle? That would cause the steam as the water would spray on the exhaust.

[jmanfish]

just a note.
I wouldn't EVER do an engine wash to begin with. I might have done that on my parents' Renault 12 back in 1980 without fearing any problem, but with THESE electronics inside? no way.
if the mechanic complains about the engine being dirty, it's their problem. I'd rather argue with someone about sloppiness than loose the warranty or damaging any computer inside.

[3.9square]

Originally Posted by HCJR

I have a '08 Escape XLT V6 and have notice since I bought it, it smokes (steams) from the engine after going through a laser car wash. Does any of your guys Escapes do the same? I don't notice a difference in driving after the wash or a change in temp. Doesn't last long, thought the water might be hitting something hot. Never really notice this on any of my other cars.

Simple. You drove there, your engine and drivtrain components are hot, the water is cold. These two things equal the steam. My engine always does it even with a little bit of water.

NOTE: It is NOT a good idea to let a hot engine get cold water on it. If you are ever drvining and you come across water that you must go through and it is more than a couple inches deep, pull of to the side and wait for the engine to cool down a little bit along with the tranny and the differentials. When you hit that cold water, the trans and the diffs will suck in air to try and equalize the pressure from the cold water and if they are under water they WILL suck water.

[deimos]

Originally Posted by jmanfish

just a note.
I wouldn't EVER do an engine wash to begin with. I might have done that on my parents' Renault 12 back in 1980 without fearing any problem, but with THESE electronics inside? no way.
if the mechanic complains about the engine being dirty, it's their problem. I'd rather argue with someone about sloppiness than loose the warranty or damaging any computer inside.

Well keep the water away from the coil packs and the pcm and there isnt gonna be a issue, i used to run a detailing dept for a ford dealership sometime ago and we never had an issue.