2004 Forester:dirt in engine compartment

[JohnL]

Before I run back to Subaru, is it common to have road dirt/spray leaking
past the hood, over the radiator and landing on the top of engine,
hoses,etc? The hood appears to be closed all the way. This looks like
mostly salt spray with a little brown dirt mixed in. Oh, no off-roading and
it's at all of 1500 miles. Thanks.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Before I run back to Subaru, is it common to have road dirt/spray leaking
past the hood, over the radiator and landing on the top of engine,
hoses,etc? The hood appears to be closed all the way. This looks like
mostly salt spray with a little brown dirt mixed in. Oh, no off-roading and
it's at all of 1500 miles. Thanks.

Yes.

 

[George]

Yes, I have 1800 miles on 2004 Forester and Engine looks really dirty after
the salt.

 

[HowardR113]

Same here, 1200miles on a 2004 Forester, driving in New Hampshire. I was
surprised at how dirty the engine compartment is already.
-howard

 

[Dominic Richens]

Before I run back to Subaru, is it common to have road dirt/spray
leaking past the hood, over the radiator and landing on the top of
engine, hoses,etc? The hood appears to be closed all the way. This
looks like mostly salt spray with a little brown dirt mixed in. Oh,
no off-roading and it's at all of 1500 miles. Thanks.

I drove about 50km on crappy gravel roads, some of it in the poring rain.
The engine compartment looked like a river bed.

Has anyone ever had an alternator belt come off and get trashed because of a
piece of stone? I was thinking I should keep a spare alternator belt with
the spare tire.