Oil vs. Paint-n-Rubber

This really belongs in the wrenching confessions thread and I may add it there, but I need some specific info so I thought I'd start my own idiocy thread. It was a classic mistake and not that big a deal in the scheme of things, but now I have some work ahead of me.

I left the oil cap off after an oil change on the MR2, then proceeded to drive my 2-hour commute back-n-forth to work. About 20 minutes from the house I notice the back of my car is smoking. Park it to find out the obvious. Oil is everywhere inside the bay and all over my belts. In addition, because the MR2's engine lid is vented I have oil residue all over the back half of my car. Honestly, I'm just glad it didn't catch fire on the exhaust, because it was all over that too.

First problem - while I washed the back half of the car as soon as I got home (twice, at night, in cold-for-Georgia weather). I still have some oil "stains" in the black paint back there. They look similar to prismatic oil-in-water, but are completely dried into the paint. Any good method of removing these? Clearcoat scrub then wax? Clay bar? I'm berkelyed?

Second problem - oil got all over my alternator belt and possibly my timing belt (like a genius I didn't have the bottom timing cover on). It's my understanding that oil will degrade most rubber compounds, so I assume I need to swap out those belts and hope that no significant oil got into the alternator housing. Does this seem like a prudent way to proceed? Anything else I'm missing. Maybe someone to slap the back of my head, Gibbs-style?

IF you cleaned the timing belt as soon as you could after it got oil on it then you should be OK. Since these belts are exposed to some amount of oil/fuel fumes/vapors/liquids in normal opperation I can't see where a brief exposure to some motor oil should degrade it to the point that it needs replacing.

Try dawn on the paint. Belts are cheap.

I'd probably slather the entire car with oil, to even it out. Seriously. Then the spots don't show.

As for the belts and alternator and such, I'd just wash it all off.

I didn't clean the belts off that night, but the engine bay saw a bit of water as I washed the car. After de-greasing the bay, I'll probably just remove and clean them thoroughly to check for problems. Since the bottom timing cover has been off for a while it's probably a good idea anyway.

I'll try Dawn first, then go on to some finish reconditioning if that doesn't work.

LOL on slathering the car in oil. Maybe it'll hide all other other imperfections!

It works. Just like eliminating water spot stains from silk. You drench the entire tie (or dress). No more spots.

If you have factory paint some dish soap as suggested will do the trick. Don't worry about the paint being damaged from it unless you have $50 paint job with lacquer paint or a model T

It's a pretty crappy respray from Maaco or some other low-end shop I think.

Degreased the engine bay last afternoon right before it got dark. Belts aren't squealing so I may be ok. I'm still going to get in there and wipe some stuff down with a rag and get a better look at it this weekend.

I wouldn't worry too much about the belts. Must modern belts are fuel/oil/whatever resistant.

For the paint, if all else fails, use wax/oil remover and re-apply some wax. But honestly, the only time dawn hasn't worked for me, was when there was no wax on the paint to begin with. YMMV

I'd be more concerned with tossing one or more belts, happened to me when the lower oil line that runs into the in-radiator oil cooler on the Cadillac blew and drenched the accessory belt leading to it getting tossed. Make sure you remove all belts, and clean all belt drive surfaces so nothing slips...