Minor Gripe About Engine Bay

hotdogjohnny

hotdogjohnny

Well-Known Member
1,378
755
USA
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Sedan
The other Hondas I've owned have had very good isolation stripping under the hood to keep the engine bay clean. Not so 2012 Si. First of all, there is only one strip of rubber seal, about a foot long, on the battery sdide of the hood. We had road salt down last week and while it was a non-snow event, there was salt splashed up all over, including the valve cover. Really? I didn't even go through any puddles that I'm aware of. Anyone else notice/care about this? Anyone ever take steps to seal a hood area better than this, or is it futile?
 
Oh I care about this and I'm with ya!!
It doesn't take puddles to do that, if I'm behind someone in the rain I know I'm screwed under the hood and have to pay an extra bit of attention the next time I wash my Si. I HATE this too!! What's with just the strip in front of the battery where's the rest of it??
 
I am going to have to check under the hood. No salt here but it has rained a lot lately. I'm sure someone will come up with a solution to this. I guess I better get the simple green out.
 
I've always washed with a low pressure water hose under the hood, it says not to with this 2012, and I haven't had to yet. but if/when I do I'll try to not direct the water on any of the electrics, the rest of it shouldn't be a problem, I'll just have to wait and see what gets dirty in there.
Anybody out there that has used a hose under the hood? Hurt or not?
 
Monk said:
I've always washed with a low pressure water hose under the hood, it says not to with this 2012, and I haven't had to yet. but if/when I do I'll try to not direct the water on any of the electrics, the rest of it shouldn't be a problem, I'll just have to wait and see what gets dirty in there.
Anybody out there that has used a hose under the hood? Hurt or not?
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I have always used a pressure washer, but not get it to close, then let the motor run a while to dry it out well.
 
mphil said:
I have always used a pressure washer, but not get it to close, then let the motor run a while to dry it out well.
Click to expand...

When I lived in apartments I used a pressure wash as well and kept it back. Like I said they say not to but if we don't direct it at the alternator/elec/bearings/etc. I don't see a problem, when driving in a heavy rain it's going to come in through the radiator and from underneath. Thx for responding, it always nice to know from others that do it without problems.
 
It is really funny you mention this (and I am now a little concerned).

I got stuck in that nasty storm that hit the midwest last week, driving back to Minneapolis from Chicago. I stopped halfway to get wiper fluid. When I popped my hood, my engine bay looked like the side of my car - caked in dirt and salt, as though I'd driven in the storm and slush with my hood open. I was shocked it was so dirty, given it was the first time it had been driven when they've salted roads or in a storm (it also was a terrifying drive: these stock all-seasons are garbage, I was sliding and losing control when late model Cavaliers were speeding past me).

But now this is concerning to me. This salt has no place being under my hood in my engine bay, and if they say you shouldn't power wash or clean it with water under there, what are we supposed to do? Not all of us live in sunshine and rainbow weather 12 months a year, and after looking, you're right - there's hardly ANY weatherstripping to protect the engine bay from stuff coming in at all.

I am now disgusted, because the cost cutting they did to this vehicle has extended into the engine bay, and this salt could wreak HAVOC over time in there if it's not cleaned up, and I'll be expected to foot the bill due to Honda's beancounting. What a bummer...
 
I wouldn't blame the car......... All cars have areas that will let water and road crap in......... It has to have openings to let the air in .......... where there's air there's water..... For salt or other nasty stuff I'll spray with "Bike Bright" and rinse with low pressure (or if you use a car wash wand don't hold it close). I feel when they say not to wash inside that they're covering their a-- because of the ppl that will "blast" the crap out of it.
 
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