[Blue]

An issue with my new 2020 Ascent. Anyone else seen these deposits? The vehicle is less than 2 weeks old and these deposits are on both felt type panels on either side of the engine bay. Is it a chemical reaction taking place with the panel material or lack of mold resistance in the material? It’s a crunchy texture. Is it reasonable to expect these two panels to be replaced for free under warranty?

 

[Tgawe]

I have this on my Ascent as well. I'm not sure what it is. I'm curious as to how common it is and if it's a problem worth bringing up with the dealership.

 

[packout]

Looks like some sort of microbial growth. I will have to check on mine and report back. Can you spray it with a microbial killer and brush it off? If that does not take care of it, I would bring it to the dealer's attention.

update: My loan Ascent has this issue as well on both sides. Since my Ascent is sitting at the dealership for a warranty item for another few weeks, I will ask them to look at this growth and repair/replace if it exists.

 

[J_Ascent2020]

I have that too! It look like it was the pollen that has been in the air here.

 

[Luis Padilla]

Same here,all white in my case .Next time I wash the car will have have it with some solution and try to remove it.
These panels are made from something I’ve never seen before.They seem to be made from treated heavy duty felt then molded to shape.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Pretty sure it's pollen, which is very tough to get off of things. 😔

 

[pro10is]

Any water containing dissolved solids or organics can leave such deposits after evaporation. Typical solids would be salt and calcium. Typical organics would be pollens.

Removed dissolved solids with a mixture of water and vinegar. Remove dissolved organics with water and detergent.

 

[packout]

Pretty sure it's pollen, which is very tough to get off of things. 😔

I"m game; how does pollen fall inside the compartment? It would have to blow in through openings between the hood and engine compartment metal frame panels or through the wiper area.

 

[tdelker]

We have it too. I thought it looked like salt deposits, but I didn't spend much time looking at it.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

I"m game; how does pollen fall inside the compartment? It would have to blow in through openings between the hood and engine compartment metal frame panels or through the wiper area.

It washes down off the hood past the rubber gasket, hence how it pools.

 

[J_Ascent2020]

I'm going to see if I can get it off with compressed air. I have a feeling that will do the trick.

 

[Luis Padilla]

Maybe I’m missing something , what is the purpose for these panels?

 

[packout]

Maybe I’m missing something , what is the purpose for these panels?

Besides providing a cover for transitions, i have wondered why that particular material for the panel instead of hard plastic. It must serve some unique purpose.

 

[Sparkland]

Those panels are worth their weight in gold. They keep debris from falling into the fender well, as well as tools you might be using when working on the engine. My Honda Ridgeline does not have those panels and the engine bay not only looks worse, but I have had to fish a couple of screws out from that cavernous area in the fender.

It's only a guess, but they might use that material for sound deadening. Hard plastic would actually magnify the sounds from the road.

 

[nextmoon]

An issue with my new 2020 Ascent. Anyone else seen these deposits? The vehicle is less than 2 weeks old and these deposits are on both felt type panels on either side of the engine bay. Is it a chemical reaction taking place with the panel material or lack of mold resistance in the material? It’s a crunchy texture. Is it reasonable to expect these two panels to be replaced for free under warranty?

I've had the same exact white deposits inside my engine bay after ny 2nd week of ownership. It got worst with more white buildup. I decided to clean it with just water and a brush and it seems to have come off. A week later it came back and I noticed more than before. My guess is that it's acid vapor coming from the OEM battery. I then decided to clean it with baking soda mixed with water. After the baking soda, the white deposits disappeared for close to a month but eventually came back.

At that time I noticed my battery wasn't holding charge well via my multi-meter and found others complaining about their battery issues on this forum. I purchased a new non-OEM battery and cleaned up the white crusties again with baking soda and water. It has been 5 months now without return of the the white crusties. That leads me to think the source was the battery. I also had noted a wet spot underneath the OEM battery when I replaced it. I don't know what kind of liquid it was but I cleaned it with the baking soda and water as well.

In my closeup view of the white crusties in my engine bay, I would say they're like the white crusties that can form on battery post terminals.

 

[nextmoon]

Here's an example picture of the white crusties from a battery leak that has the same color, texture and consistency I found in my engine bay.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Here's an example picture of the white crusties from a battery leak that has the same color, texture and consistency I found in my engine bay.

Right, but this is yellow, and in some spots, you can see where it ran down from the upper edge...

https://www.ascentforums.com/attachments/1570910520227-png.1798/

 

[Blue]

I am in agreement with Nextmoon. I also noticed the amount of these deposits increasing with time. I don’t think it’s pollen due to the appearance and increase of the build up and the fact it is not pollen season where I am. It does look like battery/chemical residue.

 

[Sparkland]

I am in agreement with Nextmoon. I also noticed the amount of these deposits increasing with time. I don’t think it’s pollen due to the appearance and increase of the build up and the fact it is not pollen season where I am. It does look like battery/chemical residue.

I agree with @Robert.Mauro. It's water entering the vehicle and evaporating leaving behind mineral deposits. If it were battery acid/fumes then it would also be destroying the paint in that area of the engine bay.

 

[Blue]

Keeping an open mind. I am going to take a sample and measure the pH/acidity. That should help to decide what the material build up is.