DannyMBinNJ

I have a 2019 E450 4matic sedan. I notice when I wash my car, soap and water are getting into the engine bay. I never had this problem with my 2011 c300 4matic sedan. Anyone else noticing this? Is it a design flaw as I can't imagine it is good to have soap or water under the hood.

Thoughts...or suggestions??

DM

CaptainE

Hand washing? Are you using a power sprayer?

ua549

I hand wash my car and never see a drop of water under the hood when I refill the washer fluid.

konigstiger

Time for a discussion with your dealer.

c4004matic

Sure its not windshield fluid? There might be a leak sowhere. Squirrels and rats love to chew on the plastic.

threeMBs

Its 90+ outside with dew point over 70. Even in AM it is already too humid with very uncomfortable dew points.

ua549

I washed my car this morning. The temperature was 74 °F and the dew point was 66 °F. Very comfortable, indeed. Where do you live, threeMBs?

threeMBs

Well that would be before 8AM, I suppose it is doable. I'm an hour south of you. Hand wash my roadster only. Touch-less automated carwash is good enough for my E, after which do see some water drops under the hood but not around engine area, more toward sides where fenders are and toward windshield over black plastic areas on both sides.

ua549

Actually it was after 9am in the shade of 2 large oak trees plus a cooling breeze off the golf course. The afternoons are too hot to do much of anything outside. Once the daily rains start next month I won't have to wash the car until October.

rbrylaw

We wash both our E400 and E450 by hand, and have never gotten water or soap in the engine bay. We don't power wash though. Just wet 'em up. Soap 'em up. Use a soft sponge. Rinse 'em off and dry. Engine bay stays perfectly dry.

DannyMBinNJ

I notice it when I use a power wash hose but also when I use a regular garden hose....the water seems to bounce off the windshield wipers and go under the hood. Next time anyone washes there car...open the hood to see if there is any water or soap.

rbrylaw

I ALWAYS open the hood after washing my car to wipe any little drips around the edges. There is never any water or soap in the engine bay area.

ua549

+1

I use a 3/4" hose with an adjustable pressure nozzle. Like rbrylaw I always open every door, lid, etc. to dry the jambs and edges around openings. There is never any water where it shouldn't be.

suby01

No issues here 2018 E300. And I do keep it soapy long time.
Do you know where its coming from, is it wet/soapy in the front or sides?

rbrylaw

Such a shame CT., makes you mar the front bumper with a license plate. Thankfully, we only are required to put back plates on our cars in Florida.

suby01

HaHaa, please do not remind me of this. I typically do not partake in being DMV complaint with the front plate mobile taxation unit law. But this car just looks too expensive to get away with the prosecutor tossing the ticket away for a a missing front licence plate with any potential triple digit speeding claims on top of all that.

rbrylaw

I would follow the law too. I'm just fortunate it's not required here!

ua549

I would not live in a state that requires a front plate OR that has an income tax. Florida forever.

baadmon

On a aspect close to car washing - I'm literally in the desert (El Paso, TX) and am concerned with all the dust that is in my engine bay and under the hood. Does anyone believe that spraying under the hood (engine & such) will cause any harm? I've heard of steam cleaning an engine before, but not sure if anyone here in TX does that or wouldn't trust them to do it at any rate.