Thoughts on substance found in engine bay?

Boneybone · 10-17-2021, 02:37 PM

I was doing a once around on the car, making sure nothing was loose in the engine bay when I came across this substance. When I first saw it, I thought it might have been oil, but after touching it, it felt like grease (similar in feel to aquaphor or petroleum jelly) and didn't have a smell to it. What's weird is that it's only in the locations of the pictures that are attached to this thread. Nowhere else that I can see within the engine bay. Any idea what this could be/what I can start looking at to begin troubleshooting?

I am running MST intakes and a midpipe/axleback but otherwise stock.

jkoral · 10-17-2021, 03:17 PM

I would guess excess cosmoline.

KevinC · 10-17-2021, 04:44 PM

Wow. I JUST went through the exact same thing on Friday. Had an interim oil change done at my local indy shop. Tech was genuinely puzzled as to what this was and where it could have come from.

My conclusion? Probably from my PPF install. Got the car in May when it was just heating up here. For weeks, adhesive residue was leaking out of the hood film and over the headlights. Stopped after about a month. My theory is that the under-hood stuff is leakage from when the film was installed and I just hadn't noticed it. Didn't seem to be any sort of automotive fluid and wasn't near any potential leak/seepage spots.

Could also be cosmoline, but seems less likely. But what do I know?

Boneybone · 10-17-2021, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinC

Wow. I JUST went through the exact same thing on Friday. Had an interim oil change done at my local indy shop. Tech was genuinely puzzled as to what this was and where it could have come from.

My conclusion? Probably from my PPF install. Got the car in May when it was just heating up here. For weeks, adhesive residue was leaking out of the hood film and over the headlights. Stopped after about a month. My theory is that the under-hood stuff is leakage from when the film was installed and I just hadn't noticed it. Didn't seem to be any sort of automotive fluid and wasn't near any potential leak/seepage spots.

Could also be cosmoline, but seems less likely. But what do I know?

Man, that actually would make a lot of sense with regards to PPF. I did recently (within the last two months) have paint correction, ceramic coating done and PPF installed at various parts of the car. I've never heard of cosmoline being used on vehicles, but that would also make sense. After researching it, it does look fairly similar. I'm just surprised that if it is, it's only just now coming out of the nooks and crannies as opposed to 10k miles ago when I first purchased the car.

cncmastr · 10-17-2021, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkoral

I would guess excess cosmoline.

I wish. They haven't used cosmoline since 2007 or so.

CannibalOx · 10-18-2021, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boneybone

Man, that actually would make a lot of sense with regards to PPF. I did recently (within the last two months) have paint correction, ceramic coating done and PPF installed at various parts of the car. I've never heard of cosmoline being used on vehicles, but that would also make sense. After researching it, it does look fairly similar. I'm just surprised that if it is, it's only just now coming out of the nooks and crannies as opposed to 10k miles ago when I first purchased the car.

I have the same thing in my engine bay and I have not installed PPF of any kind.

David1 · 10-18-2021, 12:19 PM

Its just extra body sealer. Get it hot enough and it seeps.

pz619 · 10-18-2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cncmastr

I wish. They haven't used cosmoline since 2007 or so.

If it’s not cosmoline, it’s something similar. They still coat cars that cross the ocean.

ROASTM · 10-18-2021, 03:07 PM

I had something similar under the hood with my car shortly after it arrived back in the states from euro delivery - chalked it up as normal, wiped it off and haven't noticed it since - I wouldn't be concerned.

Enabled · 10-18-2021, 05:54 PM

The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like?

Boneybone · 10-18-2021, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enabled

The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like?

It surprisingly had no smell that I could pick out. I wasn't brave enough to taste it though, LOL.

aftercorbu · 10-18-2021, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enabled

The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like?

Tastes like a tide pod prob.

jdubm2c · 10-18-2021, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enabled

The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like?

Dog $hit…lucky we didn't step in it.🤣

Boneybone · 10-19-2021, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aftercorbu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enabled

The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like?

Tastes like a tide pod prob.

I hope so. That'd be a nice little treat 😂😂

MyM2See · 10-19-2021, 11:25 PM

I have the same thing on my car. Its cosmoline

10-17-2021, 02:37 PM	#1
Boneybone New Member 21 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2020 BSM M2 Competition Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: East coast iTrader: (0)	Thoughts on substance found in engine bay? I was doing a once around on the car, making sure nothing was loose in the engine bay when I came across this substance. When I first saw it, I thought it might have been oil, but after touching it, it felt like grease (similar in feel to aquaphor or petroleum jelly) and didn't have a smell to it. What's weird is that it's only in the locations of the pictures that are attached to this thread. Nowhere else that I can see within the engine bay. Any idea what this could be/what I can start looking at to begin troubleshooting? I am running MST intakes and a midpipe/axleback but otherwise stock. Attached Images
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10-17-2021, 03:17 PM	#2
jkoral Lieutenant Colonel 1023 Rep 1,968 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 LBB 6MT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (7)	I would guess excess cosmoline.
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10-17-2021, 04:44 PM	#3
KevinC your average JAMF 3101 Rep 4,094 Posts Drives: '21 M2 Comp, '19 Golf R Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cochise County, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 VW Golf R [0.00] 2021 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00]	Wow. I JUST went through the exact same thing on Friday. Had an interim oil change done at my local indy shop. Tech was genuinely puzzled as to what this was and where it could have come from. My conclusion? Probably from my PPF install. Got the car in May when it was just heating up here. For weeks, adhesive residue was leaking out of the hood film and over the headlights. Stopped after about a month. My theory is that the under-hood stuff is leakage from when the film was installed and I just hadn't noticed it. Didn't seem to be any sort of automotive fluid and wasn't near any potential leak/seepage spots. Could also be cosmoline, but seems less likely. But what do I know? __________________ '21 M2 Comp '19 Golf R
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10-18-2021, 12:19 PM	#7
David1 Brigadier General 814 Rep 3,953 Posts Drives: 09 E92 09 X5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (1)	Its just extra body sealer. Get it hot enough and it seeps. __________________ 2021 M2 Comp Sunset Orange \|Black with orange Stitching Dakota Leather\|Executive Pkg\|DCT
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10-18-2021, 03:07 PM	#9
ROASTM Second Lieutenant 164 Rep 249 Posts Drives: '20 M2C; '06 M3; '07 JKU Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	I had something similar under the hood with my car shortly after it arrived back in the states from euro delivery - chalked it up as normal, wiped it off and haven't noticed it since - I wouldn't be concerned.
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10-18-2021, 05:54 PM	#10
Enabled Lieutenant Colonel 1410 Rep 1,803 Posts Drives: 328xd Wagon, M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	The obvious question is, what does it smell and taste like? __________________ -2014 328d Wagon, 8HP. Self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs. -2019 M2 Competition MT, Alpine White. Self-tuned 560hp -2016 Mini Cooper S, MT. Many plans. Others: -E36 328is. 2000 Z3 Roady. 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual. Estoril Z3M Coupe.
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10-19-2021, 11:25 PM	#15
MyM2See Private First Class 148 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I have the same thing on my car. Its cosmoline
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