design ford has is the worst igniton system i have ever worked on. i have a 98 expy 4wd with 105000 on the clock. had the plugs and cops changed at 85000. we use this as our third vehilce. most of the time she sits under the carport waiting for service. recently i had to change #2 cop after it went bad. i decided to lightly and i mean lightly wash the engine and now i have a misfire and can't get the damn thing to throw the cel. shudders and shakes badly, but won't throw it. oh brother i hate to pull all those boots and re-silicone them. damn engineers! they know how to make things, but not how to make it for practical use.

 

Learn not to do those things.
Granted the seal around the boots could be better but that's what you have to live with. Don't go looking for trouble by hosing the motor off. You just 'hose' yourself.
Happy New Year, make it a resolution.
My truck sits outside all the time and no problems.

 

i know blue, but i sure hate to look at that dirty engine. usually i use squirt bottles to do it but this time i turned the hose to fine mist and it shorted me. just too dang sensitive. just like a woman!

 

It will work itself out Turbinator. If you have access to a compressor get in there and blow her out real good. Then ask the Mrs. to do the same to you.
I had an issue with the condensation from a rail dripping on the back plug when I first bought my truck. Ford moved what ever they needed to move and fixed her for me. I too have hit that nasty dirty engine with the hose a few times. I would leave her running while I did. Course I tried to keep the spray below the valve covers.
It's a pain but like you I like a clean motor too. I don't do it any more.
Good luck buddy. Any other problems?

 

I got into my truck one day and when I started it, it went APE SH*T and started shaking and rattling and then engine sounded like sh*t. (Misfiring) Then I turned it off started it again and it was fine. And that was at 20,000 miles. I know its frustrating. My starter sputters a little too long sometimes and I took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong. Even more frustrating when you know somethings wrong and the stupid dealer tells u otherwise.

 

If it's not misbehaving for the dealer when they run it, how do you expect them to find anything wrong? Frustrating, but that's the way it is, they don't have magic wands in their toolboxes.