oil everywhere

[Billabong02]

I just got home from the movies and noticed a burning smell coming from the engine. I opened the hood and there is oil all over everything! The cap for the oil is missing. I just had the oil changed last firday and i have been driving around for the past week. I have not had any problems and the needle hasn't moved from the normal zone....I guess the guy either didn't put it on or it was loose. Has this messed up my engine?? How will i get all of the oil off the engine and the foam above it?? I have a powerwasher but i am afraid of using it on the engine. Tomorrow morning i will check the level and go get a new cap from ford.

thanks

 

[jimbo74]

if it didnt seize on you, you might be ok....... dont drive it anymore until you can add more oil and be sure of the level..... first thing i would do in the morning is call the place you had your oil changed and complain!

 

[twomedicine]

Use a can of spray de-greaser and let it stand for a half an hr or so then hose off the engine with cold water (and using a nozle). You should probably cover the coil pack with foil before hosing.

I think you could remove the hood insulation by prying out the plastic rivits. Maybe then it could be power washed clean

 

[00XLS]

Just cover up the electronics and you should be ok as these guys are saying. As for cleaning it tho, I'd go back to the place BEFORE cleaning it with bill in hand for the new cap and have THEM clean it so long as your positive it was them.

 

[TheRookie]

I am with 00XLS on this one. Being a mechanic I would expect a customer to bring their vehicle back for me to clean if I ever did something that stupid. I would make them get that engine SPOTLESS.

 

[TheRookie]

Better yet. Call the manager of the place and tell him or her what happened. Then tell them that you are going to go get the engine bay detailed at their expense now.

 

[MONMIX]

Hood liners do not clean up too easy.
I would toss a replacement into the bill.

 

[Billabong02]

Well i checked the oil in the morning and it was a quart low, i think i lucked out. The funny thing i just took it to ford to have the door latch replaced the same day, and it was leaking all over the ground. No on i guess noticed it. I took it back to the place that i got the oil change and told the guy what happened. He was quick to say that ford has this problem with the oil caps. I just looked at him...i could see it in his face he was scared. I felt like saying "so if the oil filter falls off who would you blame that on?" He gave me a quart of oil...which cost him like $1. I can't nail him to the wall because he has done all the work on my car and has always been fair in pricing, and done good work (till now). I guess he's human and makes mistakes. I cleaned up the engine as well as i could. Still smokes but that should go away after time. This scared me though...i was seeing flash backs of my 91 eddie that i drove down the highway at 65 with 2 quarts of oil in it. I never knew it burned oil. It wasn't till the valve clatter i realized something wasn't right. After all this i will make sure to check oil once a week.

 

[MONMIX]

hey 1 qt. down is not terrible.
Odds are you did no significant wear or damage other than the obvious cosmetic.