oil cap boo boo
 

so i topped my oil off the other day and forgot to put my oil cap back on, i haven't driven the car since then, which was like 3 days ago since i have been sick. i drove it today to the store (3 miles away) and back. then i realized i forgot to put the cap back on. i saw a bit of spilled oil in the engine bay but i checked my oil on the dipstick and very little (unnoticeable difference) must have spilled out. what should i do to clean the spilt oil and and is there anything else i should do? obviously, i know it was a stupid mistake, but if anyone as any recommendations for how to clean it up and any insight on if any damage could have been done i'd appreciate it.

you can use brake cleaner (rubbed very lightly) on rubber and plastic without too much fading, just dont use it on paint, itll eat it away. OR, you can be safe and just use a degreaser, dish soap, etc on a rag.

the latter seems like a safer bet. any harm in just leaving oil on the areas i can't get to (like the areas that i can't see the oil spilled on?)

Might smell a little... Try some of that purple cleaner stuff you can get at the auto parts stores.

any harm in driving it as is? i've wiped up any actual liquid oil that was there.

Nah... Its not gonna start a fire or anything.

Use a degreaser like Zep (homedepot) or even just a mild solution of Dawn or comparable detergent and wipe it down. The flash point for oil combusting is much higher than anything you will see in an engine bay so there is nothing to worry about especially because you cleaned most of it up already!

Join the club, except I drove it 80 miles on the freeway! Got home and remembered. Was really freaking out not wanting to pop the hood!... There was the oil cap sitting in the engine bay right where I left it with an oily mess. Surprisingly, no measurable oil loss. I got out the Dawn dish liquid with rags and Q-tips, and was good to go.

I would use Simple Green. I find it gentler than the purple Zep.

I knocked down a bottle of oil and poured down the radiator etc. I guess hosing it down wasn't good enough so after a few days I had to remove the bumper and use Simple Green. I had to do it 3 times. Grrrrrrr.

If I did what you did, I still would use simple green. Easy on the hose and makenit like rain-pressure. I have a Toro leaf blower; use a similar unit to force dry after each rinsing. Good luck.

Oh, although grease comes off easier when warm, i would degrease with engine cold.

I am no electrician but be aware of electrical short. In other words, after rinsing and blow drying, let a few hours pass by and let remaining vapors/moisture go away before running the engine to avoid short ---- obviously this is a gamble as shorts could happen anytime with Murphy's Law.

wait, its ok to hose the engine bay? i thought that was bad....

Engines are designed to tolerate moisture and dirt so you are able to use a light shower with the hose and not risk any issues with the electronics. The key is to avoid using pressurized water or focusing the hose on any electrical connectors/intakes.

I'd like to think that we have all done this at one time or another (or at least that's what I tell myself to feel better). I once drove from western CT to northern NY like this. After a hard turn on an entrance ramp, my oil light went on. Smoke everywhere when I popped the hood. I was down 2 qts! Fortunately, I had a quart in the car and was able to get to the next gas station OK. I felt like a complete idiot, and never made the same mistake again (as I'm sure the OP won't either!).

definitely won't do it again. was this in your Z?

Technicians have left droplets of spilt oil (uncleaned) on and around the engine of previous cars I've had. No damage to the engine or other components, but like what others have said before, you can try to clean it with a degreaser.

Hosing down your engine gently is ok. Don't drench it. And wipe as much of the water you can before starting the engine. Use simple green and lighly hose it down. You will be fine.

1982 Scirocco. Offense occurred in 1987.

I normally clean my engine bay with one spray bottle filled with water and another filled with soapy water and some soft rags to combat the
tougher stains.

Just don't use one of those high-pressure washers otherwise a light sprinkle is perfectly fine.