Oil Spilled by the Mic/Speakers/Connector

[vnle]

I did something entirely stupid the other day. While making a pack of ramen, I somehow fling oil across the desk and onto my iphone 4. The dock cable was connected to it and most of the oil just got onto the Speakers area and the dock connector. I thought since, the cable was plugged in, it wouldn't get into the dock opening that much so I just cleaned up the oil in the speakers and the front/back plate as much as possible. iKlear did wonders for this purpose, it cleaned up the oil well and no residue was left on the outside area. Luckily, no damage visible at all (I was afraid of oil getting underneath the glass ) and the phone still works fine. The speakers seemed a bit gargled but I think I'm being paranoid and it's really fine. However, I plugged in the cable this morning and when I disconnected it, there was oil on the metal part of the cable I tried to clean it up as best as I could but I just can't reach that far in to grab the rest of the oil. What can I do? Will the oil set off the liquid detectors apple has? And will it mess up my phone? Help please! Aside from the dock opening, there are no traces of oil left (at least I can't see any ).

On another note, my phone now has the faint spell of seafood. Hopefully it will go away ...

Thanks guys!

 

[Orion126]

I don't think oil will mess up the interior of the iPhone. However take that with a grain of sodium (since you were making Ramen soup after all). Why do I say that? Because I have seen YouTube videos of people dipping their motherboards in cooking oil to use as a coolant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go78ONPZEmY

 

[mlts22]

Oil isn't conductive, nor will it evaporate. However, the stuff used by motherboards is mineral oil, which does not go rancid unlike olive oil.

 

[BurntReality]

Just out of curiousity why were you using oil in Ramen noodles?

 

[Givmeabrek]

I thought you used water with Ramen noodles???

Anyway, oil shouldn't hurt anything. Just keep wiping off the connector. Should be fine.

 

[err404]

The back is easy to remove. I would open it up and wipe down the inside as best you can. The oil will go rancid and smell worse over time. That is not good for a device you hold up to your face.
That said, the oil is unlikely to damage the electronics.

 

[vnle]

Just out of curiousity why were you using oil in Ramen noodles?

I thought you used water with Ramen noodles???

Anyway, oil shouldn't hurt anything. Just keep wiping off the connector. Should be fine.

Hahahaa, I do use water with ramen but it was the seasoning pack that it came with - it was basically a pack of flavored oil

Really? That's a HUGE relief. Thank youuuu~

 

[vnle]

The back is easy to remove. I would open it up and wipe down the inside as best you can. The oil will go rancid and smell worse over time. That is not good for a device you hold up to your face.
That said, the oil is unlikely to damage the electronics.

I'm really bad at taking apart electronics then sticking them together again ... so

I actually don't think it got into the device, just inside the dock connector. I shined a flashlight in there and it's pretty much sealed off except for like a little hole. So it's just that little bit I've got left in the sealed off part that I can't get out. I think it's slowly getting out though ...?

 

[vnle]

Another note ...

I'm not sure if it was because of the reception but today when I was using the speakers for a call, the other person sounded really really gargled Could it be that the oil is blocking off the speakers? I cleaned it as best as I could and there are NO residue left, you can't even smell the oil in the speakers.

By the general consesus, it seems that the oil won't affect the working of the device ... only that it'll smell disgusting in a few days.

Thank you guys! If there's any more advice, please post them! Again, thank you!

 

[Adisah]

I guess maybe a vacuum could get out any remaining oil.