Unofficialbmw.com

[wa6lie]

Hello,

It looks like I made a mistake cleaning my engine!
The car runs like crap now. Seems to be rich, or like a vacuum leak,
or like the oil dipstick not seated. The car ran GREAT before I washed the engine. I used degreaser and water. I have cleaned before, with same problems, BUT once all was dry, all was normal. It has been 3 days since cleaning, and all is dry. Have checked and cleaned all electrical connectors.
Still runs like crap! And ideas?

Thanks, Scott
Salinas CA.

[edjack]

High-pressure water?

Remove and dry the distributor cap, and any other connectors you may have contaminated.

Best cleaner is an orange-based stuff, and a low-pressure spray.

When did you last replace the spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor? If more than 5 years, replace them, along with the spark plug connectors.
_________________


Ed BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319).
'97 540i 6 speed Aspensilber over Aubergine interior.

[wa6lie]

Ed,

Looks like the #4 spark plug insulator is leaking!
When pulling the wire when engine running, nothing happens.
On the others, car skips a beat. When pulling #4 wire, it will arc
very easily to ground, where the others will not.
Have replaced the cap and rotor recently, but replacing again
with a new wire set! The wire failure leads me to ahh.. on some other
intermittent ignition gremlins..

PS.. I knew it was no longer a "water" issue after my wife drove for 45 miles. All would have evaporated by then, and days later..


Thanks!

Scott

Salinas Ca.