Mystery Engine Bay Dirt

[stubzie83]

This is my first post, so hello everybody

 

I bought an 04 GT back in October 2010 and have been loving the Z experience. I recently installed an engine torque damper (worked really well) and have been getting familiar with everything under the bonnet. I noticed when getting the car that the engine bay was quite dirty (probably Ok for the age) but didn't think much of it. On closer inspection though, the whole of the chassis around the top of the engine (roughly in line with top of upper plenum) is covered in a fine spray of oil to which dirt has stuck. I tried to wipe it off thinking initially it was just dirt by it is sticky and smeared like oil.

 

I can't see any spray lower down in the engine bay or on any of the hoses. The top of the plenum is also very dirty and covered in a yellowish-brown film of which I was actually able to peel some like very thin paper revealing shiny new aluminium beneath. Inside of the bonnet is clean though. Any ideas where this mystery spray/dirt could have come from? I'm thinking that there has been some oil spraying out from somewhere in the past and it's burnt on - bit worried about it!

 

Also whilst peering down in the engine bay I noticed some black spray marks/cast off on both sides of the chassis roughly above where the exhaust manifold meets the top of the catalyser on each side. The joint area around the gasket looks clean though. Any thoughts on what that could be?

 

Also have lots of salt corrosion on all the bolts which I need to clean up as it looks like some of the bolts might never come undone otherwise. Lots of work to do!

 

Thanks in advance.

[M13KYF]

 

sounds like you have/had a leak somewhere

[leonk]

Has someone sprayed it with engine lacquer or waxoyl maybe??

[stubzie83]

Not sure if it has been coated in the past. If it has then it definitely needs stripping off and doing again. I took a few piccies quickly, apologies for the quality was done in the garage.

[stubzie83]

Also got a pic of the spray pattern above the area where the exhaust manifold joins the cat. There is a similar black spray pattern on the other side above the other manifold/cat joint. Almost looks like spots of black paint.

[Ricey]

My typically useless guess is that someone tried to impress their mates by frying an egg on the plenum

 

to the forum anyways!

[stubzie83]

 

Well I'd like to think not as the only previous owner was a middle aged lady!

 

Any decent cleaning products to get this stuff off, or is it wire brush/wool and plenty of elbow grease?

[M13KYF]

It may be a garage that sold it second hand. Sprayed a load of engine dress or WD40 over to make it look clean. Over time its ended up like this

[stubzie83]

Yeah looks like it was coated with something and the overspray has coated the top of the engine bay. Might have even been delivery wax from the factory that was not cleaned off. Had some success cleaning it off today with some orange oil based cleaner.