Oil explosion - Help!! (don't laugh too much when you read t

[GeordieLad]

I've only ever made three posts on this great website. They have all been Peugeots fault (of course) and I have always received great tips and sound advice from members.

But... this one is my fault. You will have either done this yourself, or will know someone else who has.

"I topped my oil up and forgot to put the cap back on".

If the words 'volcano', 'mess', 'smell' and obviously 'oil' spring to mind then you know what I mean. At least I hadn't driven too far or too hard. I drove to work yesterday - a 14 mile return trip and didnt even notice. It was only today when I was nearly at work I noticed the smell and the tinge of smoke rising out of the black air vents on the bonnet. So I had driven about 20 miles.

When I popped the lid there was quite a lot of oil - maybe half a pint. Most was on the silver engine cover but some was on the cables, power steering fluid tank and surrounding area.

I ran to my office and did an Andrex Puppy impression - running out the door with as much of that lovely blue absorbent towel as I could carry. I'm sure I've cleaned perhaps 80% of the oil from the engine, the surrounding area, cables, pipes etc. There doesn't seem to be oil on any of the electrical connectors or anywhere where it looks like it might cause a short. Obviously looking underneath I can still see drips of oil which I will try and clean off later.

I have topped up the oil to within limits.

The engine starts fine and sounds fine. The car drives fine with no warning lights. There is just a little bit of smoke - obviously from the places I could not reach with the blue cloth. The engine looks almost as clean as it did before my stupidity.

So, now to my questions:

1) Will the remaining oil I couldn't get to eventually burn off?
2) How long will it take? (it smokes / smells a bit)
3) Is is a bad idea to steam clean modern car engines?
4) Any other suggestions of how to clean the remaining 20% or anything else I need to do / check would be much appreciated?

It was my fault this time but any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[GrandadMonkey]

Oh dear, but you're not the only one to have done it. :lol2:
Excess oil will burn off the hotter parts of the engine and exhaust but may leave a blackened residue.
Whenever I've worked on a car engine (new piston rings etc) the oily smell has taken a few days to go away.
I am not in favour of steam cleaning the engine bay. The damp can create a lot of electrical problems.
If it is filthy, use "Gunk" with a paint brush doing small areas at a time, and clean off with a rag. It's fiddly though.

Think positive, at least it won't go rusty!

Ron

[Jabba]

I have a similar story, happened to me about 20 years ago. had recently passed my test and thought i was being super efficient when borrowing my dads car and checking the oil water etc, + left the water cap off. drove to do some shopping and their was eventually steam coming out of the engine and I mean steam!!! coming from everywhere. I panicked and called the AA man out and if to make matters worse when he checked and said start the engine I had it in gear and nearly knee-capped the poor bloke as well. he wasnt amused!