any risk of washing the car while the engine's on?

bfung · 08-27-2007, 02:47 AM

came bak from the golf course today...roof had some bird's crap...sprayed it a bit w/ water when i moved up the driveway...and thought might as well sprayed the front bumper a bit to get rid of the bugs...but i left the engine on even tho the water pressure was just moderate and i wasn't aiming at the engine or intercooler at all....

then i heard some whistling sound from the ventilation in the nxt few hrs....it went away when i decreased the fan speed....haven't heard it again since the evening...

could there be any damage spraying the car while the engine's on?...i was a lil worried but then i rmb all these touchless washes from gas stations tells u to leave the engine on....now is it a diff story for turbo engines since it has an intercooler?

AndrewAZ · 08-27-2007, 02:57 AM

Nope prob just the fan belt got wet and started to slip.. You drive in the rain dont you? I just wouldnt spray it with a powerwasher into the intake then you might run into a problem.

retlod · 08-27-2007, 06:55 AM

It wasn't running, but I washed mine yesterday with my fob in my pocket. Because I have CA, everytime I sprayed a front door handle it would lock or unlock! HAHAHA!

manyways · 08-27-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retlod

It wasn't running, but I washed mine yesterday with my fob in my pocket. Because I have CA, everytime I sprayed a front door handle it would lock or unlock! HAHAHA!

lol yeah that happens to mine

when i first did that, i was wondering why the blinkers kept coming on when i sprayed around the door

bronco · 08-27-2007, 07:54 AM

I wash all of my cars with the engine running, so I have my AC on. So far, no issues.

halB · 08-27-2007, 08:33 AM

If washing the car with engine on can cause damage then you shouldn't even drive it in the rain, and all the automatic car washes would be out of business!

thekurgan · 08-27-2007, 09:23 AM

The only thing I can think of is the hood temp. If the hood temp is high, and you hit it with a blast of cold water, there could be weakening of the upper layer of paint. I notice the 335i hood and underhood temps are quite high. Just a thought.

achien · 08-27-2007, 09:36 AM

Call me a Greenhouse gasser, but I never turn off my cars in the automatic carwash.

sesegal99 · 08-27-2007, 09:40 AM

Only problem I see.....Hot hood=fast drying water=waterspots.... if unfiltered water is used and you don't dry the excess water off fast enough.

Detailed Image · 08-27-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekurgan

The only thing I can think of is the hood temp. If the hood temp is high, and you hit it with a blast of cold water, there could be weakening of the upper layer of paint. I notice the 335i hood and underhood temps are quite high. Just a thought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sesegal99

Only problem I see.....Hot hood=fast drying water=waterspots.... if unfiltered water is used and you don't dry the excess water off fast enough.

Both good points, these are the negatives I see as well. Paint should be cool to the touch for ideal washing.

George

Dialpex · 08-27-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manyways

lol yeah that happens to mine

when i first did that, i was wondering why the blinkers kept coming on when i sprayed around the door

HAHA That happened to me this past saturday... That's when i finally decided to bring the keys back inside of the house.

bfung · 08-27-2007, 05:48 PM

the sound lasted for several hrs yesterday....it went away whenever i decreased the fan speed...but came bak whenever i hit the AUTO button...

didn't hear it on my way to work this morning...hopefully it's gone

cn555ic · 08-27-2007, 06:59 PM

man this is the funniest thing i heard!!!

ejazbmw · 08-27-2007, 07:33 PM

not sure why you would wash your car while its running unless its a automatic car wash...

eyescream · 08-27-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco

I wash all of my cars with the engine running, so I have my AC on. So far, no issues.

08-27-2007, 02:47 AM	#1
bfung First Lieutenant 29 Rep 355 Posts Drives: 07' e93 335i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	any risk of washing the car while the engine's on? came bak from the golf course today...roof had some bird's crap...sprayed it a bit w/ water when i moved up the driveway...and thought might as well sprayed the front bumper a bit to get rid of the bugs...but i left the engine on even tho the water pressure was just moderate and i wasn't aiming at the engine or intercooler at all.... then i heard some whistling sound from the ventilation in the nxt few hrs....it went away when i decreased the fan speed....haven't heard it again since the evening... could there be any damage spraying the car while the engine's on?...i was a lil worried but then i rmb all these touchless washes from gas stations tells u to leave the engine on....now is it a diff story for turbo engines since it has an intercooler? __________________ 07 E93 335 6MT / Alpine White / Coral Red / Poplar Grey / Sports with 19" style 230 / NAV / AS / CA / Bluetooth & TeleAssist / Last edited by bfung; 08-27-2007 at 01:16 PM..
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08-27-2007, 02:57 AM	#2
AndrewAZ Major 137 Rep 1,243 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Nope prob just the fan belt got wet and started to slip.. You drive in the rain dont you? I just wouldnt spray it with a powerwasher into the intake then you might run into a problem.
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08-27-2007, 06:55 AM	#3
retlod Private First Class 1 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Omaha, NE iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [0.00]	It wasn't running, but I washed mine yesterday with my fob in my pocket. Because I have CA, everytime I sprayed a front door handle it would lock or unlock! HAHAHA! __________________ 2007 E90 335i Black Sapphire \| Black Leather \| Aluminum 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| CA \| Heated Seats \| 6FL 35% Tint \| Golf Tee
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08-27-2007, 07:54 AM	#5
bronco Colonel 76 Rep 2,104 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	I wash all of my cars with the engine running, so I have my AC on. So far, no issues. __________________ SaaS - The world of tomorrow is already here...www.saaschronicles.com
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08-27-2007, 08:33 AM	#6
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	If washing the car with engine on can cause damage then you shouldn't even drive it in the rain, and all the automatic car washes would be out of business! __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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08-27-2007, 09:23 AM	#7
thekurgan Bad Lieutenant 233 Rep 3,517 Posts Drives: E90M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	The only thing I can think of is the hood temp. If the hood temp is high, and you hit it with a blast of cold water, there could be weakening of the upper layer of paint. I notice the 335i hood and underhood temps are quite high. Just a thought. __________________ 02 E39M5 \| TiAg/Schwartz \| Tubi Rumore \| Ultimate Ti Pedals \| E60 SSK \| Jim Blanton 3.45 40/100% \| Coby Alcantara \| StrongStrut STB
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08-27-2007, 09:36 AM	#8
achien AC 95 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: E90 Post Members Crazy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Call me a Greenhouse gasser, but I never turn off my cars in the automatic carwash. __________________ Your Supreme Leader
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08-27-2007, 09:40 AM	#9
sesegal99 Captain 70 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2009 328I Coupe Sport Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Only problem I see.....Hot hood=fast drying water=waterspots.... if unfiltered water is used and you don't dry the excess water off fast enough. __________________ 2009 328i Coupe Space Grey w/ Dakota LeatherSTEP, Sport Pkg. w Paddle Shifters, Prem. Pkg., Comfort Access, Grey Popler Trim, Heated Seats, Shadowline Trim, Xenon Adaptive Lights, GP Thunder Fogs, GP Thunder Angels, RE15mm Spacers, 35% Tint,OEM Alarm, Clear Corners, K&N, Strut Brace
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08-27-2007, 05:48 PM	#12
bfung First Lieutenant 29 Rep 355 Posts Drives: 07' e93 335i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	the sound lasted for several hrs yesterday....it went away whenever i decreased the fan speed...but came bak whenever i hit the AUTO button... didn't hear it on my way to work this morning...hopefully it's gone __________________ 07 E93 335 6MT / Alpine White / Coral Red / Poplar Grey / Sports with 19" style 230 / NAV / AS / CA / Bluetooth & TeleAssist /
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08-27-2007, 06:59 PM	#13
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	man this is the funniest thing i heard!!!
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08-27-2007, 07:33 PM	#14
ejazbmw blahhh 302 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	not sure why you would wash your car while its running unless its a automatic car wash...
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