Wow that engine is DIRTY did you purchase the car used? Did you try pulling that white fiber out? What kind of code is the car throwing? You can go to Pep Boys and they will read your ECU for free. Check engine light can be a ton of things. It could even mean that you didn't tighten the gas cap fully.
Oh and I would power wash that engine man, you don't want an engine to be that dirty.
Oh and I would power wash that engine man, you don't want an engine to be that dirty.