TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:32 am

Hi there
I'm driving a 1970 Bay and last weekend about a 1000 miles from home I had a tire blow out and bust through my already rusty battery tray 20% tray 80% wood. It smashed the wood through the bottom of the battery and splashed juice up the vent wall and of course all over the tray. Since replacing the battery tires etc I have cleaned out the tray with tons of baking soda and water. My paranoia has me freaking out that my engine is going to disolve! javascript:emoticon(':shock:') Well it makes me feel better to say it hopefully it is a rediculous notion. I made an additional paste and wiped down high spots in the engine. Will it hurt any thing to hose down the entire compartment?

Ahhhhhhhhhhh and thanks!

Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:13 am

Welcome, sory to hear about the spill. Yes you can hose out the engine compartment, you'll have to dry out the distributor afterwards, remove the cap and let it air dry.

Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:41 am

get something like this and put baking powder mixed in water in it. Spray down any areas that got hit with battery acid. Then use the hose to was down the whole engine bay and under the engine. You can put a plastic baggy over the distributor cap to keep as much water off as possible. I used to leave the bus running as it is easier to keep it running than start it afterwards - of course avoid spraying the air cleaner intake so you don't get water inside the engine. If you are concerned a mist of battery acid got into the engine through the snorkel, when you get home pull the oil bath, rinse it and change the oil. Spray inside the shroud too. If would not do this on a really hot engine to avoid thermal shock.

Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:08 am

Its not so much the acid, as it is the salt precipitate formed after the acid evaporates that rusts away your bus. The baking soda will neutralize the acid but may not eliminate the salt. Make sure to wash all the surfaces clean after the baking soda bath.

Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:01 pm

Thanks a zillion guys! Will do!

Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:16 pm

If I spray it while it is running wouldn't that suck vapors into the engine? And potentially short out something?

Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:21 pm

Shut off the engine and hose it down pretty good.

Try not to spray the distributor though. It will be fine.

Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:24 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: Shut off the engine and hose it down pretty good.

Try not to spray the distributor though. It will be fine.

Thanks Randy

Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:40 pm

I always did it with the engine running at the coin car wash. As one gets near things that affect the ability of the engine to run the RPM will drop so you know to not spray that area. Once you know what to avoid you can do it with the engine off and just avoid those things. If for example you have a torn rubber boot from the oil bath to the carb the engine will slow down as water gets into it. But if the engine is off and you don't know it is getting in, you could get enough in to cause trouble when you went to start it. Water doesn't compress well.

places not to spray

inside the snorkel
inside the alternator or generator
stay away from the distributor
stay away from the voltage regulator and relays
stay away from the top of your new battery
If any CV boots are ripped or torn don't spray them
If water gets indside any lights pull the lenses and dry them out
try not to blast too hard at the fiber board over the engine
try not to spray water anywhere that can get inside the carb