Rocks in engine bay

[waffleso_0]

Hello folks! Went to top off washer fluid and noticed a bunch of gravel all over the top of the engine. I was pretty surprised since I baby this truck and I do not go off-roading at all. It has rained a lot in the Bay Area and the right side of my driveway gets a little muddy (my driveway is narrow, so the right-side wheels dig up grass), so I added gravel to that side over the last week. I have a very short driveway, so I go slowly in and out.

My question is, could gravel get stuck to the tires when it was wet and then flick up into the engine when I turn the wheel driving off? It is the only thing I can think of. I will power wash this out tomorrow during the day but wanted to get the community's feedback.

Pictures below

Sponsored

 

[rocsteady]

That seems very odd. Not to be obvious but I would suspect a big hole or missing inner fender liner?

 

[1996-to-2025]

That's a head scratcher. I would shop vac up as much as possible before power washing.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Penguin nest bro.

 

[waffleso_0]

Here are the fenders. I assume the best way to get them out is pick out what I can and power wash the rest? I dont have compressed air otherwise I'd try that. Dont have a shop vac either..

Suggestions?

I a

 

[03GeeTee]

Something weird is going on. Because I have a 1 mile gravel driveway and I have zero rocks in my engine bay.

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

Buy or borrow a shop vac! Is that the same type of gravel in your driveway?

 

[bigb]

Had to be some sort of critter? I was looking at all the electrical connectors on my engine the other day and wondering if I should ever attempt to wash it.

 

[waffleso_0]

Buy or borrow a shop vac! Is that the same type of gravel in your driveway?

Yeah, ill go to home depot tonight and pick one up. Ill suck up as much as I can and then power wash the rest tomorrow. I called my buddy who was a ford mechanic for years and he said nothing should cause problems within the engine but to vac out or compress air /power wash.

 

[waffleso_0]

Penguin nest bro.

I think you might be on to something. There was a bunch of dead grass and what looked like a nest in in the making..but did not really have much structure yet...

I cant imagine a bird can do this much but like I said, it was raining for a week in oakland. Lots of rain..

 

[waffleso_0]

Something weird is going on. Because I have a 1 mile gravel driveway and I have zero rocks in my engine bay.

Yes, same size and shape. We have lots of pigeons around here too since I have bird feeders and they always trying to eat it.

 

[Flak]

Gotta be animals.

 

[embedded rock]

 

[D.J. Swanson]

I vote for the critters. I've not had problems in recent years but back in the '90s I was spending a lot of time time in rural Oklahoma. I was driving a big '78 Bronco. Over a cold weekend packrats got under the hood and made a helluva mess, including chewing through wires and leaving twigs, mud, and pebbles.

 

[They Call Me Bruce]

For sure it's critters. I would not power wash the engine bay with all those electrical connectors, just asking for problems.

Sponsored