Engine Dust

grogman45459 · May 4, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

Zembonez · May 4, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

It is pollen season big time. Your engine compartment is not a sealed space. Just think how many cubic yards of air are pulled in by the fans and forced in by driving around.

grogman45459 · May 4, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

It is pollen season big time. Your engine compartment is not a sealed space. Just think how many cubic yards of air are pulled in by the fans and forced in by driving around.

I originally thought that as well but a couple of things made me think otherwise - I'm not seeing it on the other truck at all and it's concentrated at the front of the engine - I can snap a pic of it & post it later after work.

gdpgmc · May 4, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

It is pollen season big time. Your engine compartment is not a sealed space. Just think how many cubic yards of air are pulled in by the fans and forced in by driving around.

I originally thought that as well but a couple of things made me think otherwise - I'm not seeing it on the other truck at all and it's concentrated at the front of the engine - I can snap a pic of it & post it later after work.

Something to consider, possibly you have an antifreeze leak. On my old truck I had the lower Rad hose covered in a greenish/yellow coating (could almost say dust looking). I had a small pinhole leak in the radiator in that area that only leaked under pressure. I never saw any antifreeze on the ground and I was loosing coolant but at a VERY slow rate. I found it sort of by accident and replaced the radiator. No more mysterious coloring...

grogman45459 · May 4, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

It is pollen season big time. Your engine compartment is not a sealed space. Just think how many cubic yards of air are pulled in by the fans and forced in by driving around.

I originally thought that as well but a couple of things made me think otherwise - I'm not seeing it on the other truck at all and it's concentrated at the front of the engine - I can snap a pic of it & post it later after work.

Something to consider, possibly you have an antifreeze leak. On my old truck I had the lower Rad hose covered in a greenish/yellow coating (could almost say dust looking). I had a small pinhole leak in the radiator in that area that only leaked under pressure. I never saw any antifreeze on the ground and I was loosing coolant but at a VERY slow rate. I found it sort of by accident and replaced the radiator. No more mysterious coloring...

Interesting - thanks - I'll get under it and check everything out more closely tonight.

brims · May 4, 2009

My hoses have been yellow since the first week I had my 08, didn't notice it on the 07. Nothing really takes the yellow off, I've tried a bunch of cleaners. The coolant level hasn't gone down any. I just figure the hoses suck or something. I don't know, as long as I have no problems, I'm fine with them being yellow. Wouldn't be against knowing why they do that, but I haven't lost any sleep over it.

grogman45459 · May 5, 2009

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or not - I've got an 2005 Tahoe with 40K on it and have noticed yellow dust all over the the hoses and plastic near the front of the engine. It almost looks like tree pollen, if the hood were left open for a period of time. I wipe it off with a rag and it's back again when I pop the hood after a wash.

It's always garaged and I don't see evidence of anything leaking under the hood or a source. is there something I'm missing?

Our '01 Yukon XL has never had anything like this.

With Pic now

2000DV4.8 · May 5, 2009

Looks like pollen to me. Maybe the electric fans as opposed to the mechanical fan have something to do with it? Just a guess.

Bostonsfavson · May 5, 2009

I'd say it's almost certainly pollen.

vikinghogue · May 5, 2009

its pollen, under my hood looked the same. I took a rag and some rubbing acohol and wipe everything down then sprayed armor all on and wiped it off it looks new again