Help - Pink stains on hood liner

[StartedWith97TJ]

I have a 2021 ecodiesel Rubicon with about 38k miles on it. I recently noticed some pink-ish stains on the hood liner. My coolant is a little bit lower than normal, but it was at the high mark during the summer months, so it should be a bit lower with the cooler fall temps. It is currently sitting at the lower mark. I don’t see any pink marks on any of the hoses or other objects in the engine compartment. The stains are most obvious above the air box, but you can see lines across the front and towards the back of both sides.

Has anyone seen this before? Any ideas?

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[Operative73]

Interesting. 2020 Sport, 3.6/AT@ about 40k mi. This past weekend I washed my wrangler, cleaned the engine bay because I was putting hood struts on when I noticed similar stains on mine. Washed it and thought it was from going through puddles or something. Washed right off. Nothing noticeable on the engine components, not low on any fluids. Mine looked more white than pink but I didn't look too closely. Just went out to check, all clean still.

 

[watchluvr4ever1116]

That looks like the same color as the coolant.

 

[Gregj]

Do you go through automatic car washes? Looks like the wax/sealant that they spray on.
Gregj

 

[Operative73]

Do you go through automatic car washes? Looks like the wax/sealant that they spray on.
Gregj

Good call!!!! I didn't go through an auto car wash but I did use the pressure sprayer car wash. I didn't use the soap under the hood, but for convenience, I did spray under the hood with the wax setting as I rinsed the whole Jeep.

 

[jdsqrd]

I had the same in my last Jeep and I'm pretty sure it was from the Pre Soak setting at the car wash. I always used that first, then hand sponged, then washed/rinsed/waxed.

 

[Wrangler man]

Good call!!!! I didn't go through an auto car wash but I did use the pressure sprayer car wash. I didn't use the soap under the hood, but for convenience, I did spray under the hood with the wax setting as I rinsed the whole Jeep.

That spray wax is horrible for your paint BTW. I wouldn't soak the liner with too much water if you decide to try and clean it. It will likely get heavy and start to fall off. I've heard others say their hood paint started to discolor when they remove theirs in a attempt to release engine bay heat. Personally I would use a home high pressure washer with an inline filter with the low volume/gpm nozzle and a very quick rinse. If the stain doesn't come off the first time (wax based) just repeat every time you wash the car. A slight bit of Simple Green wouldn't hurt either. That's what I use twice a year throughout the engine bay to keep the grit and grime away. Just be sure to rinse keeping the same method.

 

[Operative73]

That spray wax is horrible for your paint BTW. I wouldn't soak the liner with too much water if you decide to try and clean it. It will likely get heavy and start to fall off. I've heard others say their hood paint started to discolor when they remove theirs in a attempt to release engine bay heat. Personally I would use a home high pressure washer with an inline filter with the low volume/gpm nozzle and a very quick rinse. If the stain doesn't come off the first time (wax based) just repeat every time you wash the car. A slight bit of Simple Green wouldn't hurt either. That's what I use twice a year throughout the engine bay to keep the grit and grime away. Just be sure to rinse keeping the same method.

Thanks for the advice. When I washed the stain from the wax off, it was at my house, garden hose dish soap and I left the hood all the way open in the sun to dry so the weight was on the hood not pulling away. Thought of this for the reason you mentioned(I couldn't believe how heavy a moving blanket got when it was wet.) I buy Simple Green by the gallon and refill spray bottles. Simple Green is great, I have used it on my Harleys for years, and it works on the chrome and the satin paint.

 

[StartedWith97TJ]

Thanks for the thoughts/suggestions. I initially created this in the ecodiesel thread, but it seems to have migrated. My initial concern is that the pink coolant tank is now low, and I have pink marks under the hood.

Have any other diesel owners had this issue? Also, how do I get this under the ecodiesel thread?

 

[R3TRO]

It's deff soap from the car wash. Mine did that too when I sprayed the hood liner. The heat bakes it on and was a pain to remove. I only use water now on the actual liner and mild soap in the bay.

 

[jaystifel]

Mine has that too, took it to the dealer and they did a pressure test on the cooling system, new water pump goes in next week. Apparently they are notorious for leaking

 

[StartedWith97TJ]

Gas or diesel?

Mine has that too, took it to the dealer and they did a pressure test on the cooling system, new water pump goes in next week. Apparently they are notorious for leaking

Thanks for the heads up. That is what I was worried about when I also noticed the coolant in the overflow tank was down a bit. Is yours a diesel or gasser?

 

[jaystifel]

Gas or diesel?


Thanks for the heads up. That is what I was worried about when I also noticed the coolant in the overflow tank was down a bit. Is yours a diesel or gasser?

Mines gas, after reading this thread I’m starting to think mines just soap and maybe the mechanic was wrong but I’m getting a new water pump regardless. Doesn’t hurt to get it looked at while it’s under warranty

 

[Zedgy]

Hate to grave dig but i just got a 2020 Wrangler with the 3.6L a month ago, and now i am also seeing this exact same looking pink dust under my hood. I am almost certain it wasn't there when I bought it, and I have not washed it in my time owning it.
Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening? I want my wrangler to last, and this doesn't look right considering the coolant is near the same color, but i just don't understand.

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