How can you improve the appearance of your car’s engine compartment to almost the perfect condition it was in when it rolled off the assembly line? You need to wash it thoroughly. You can do this yourself.
Why is it so important to clean and degrease the engine compartment?
Of course, a dirty engine compartment is not the end of the world; a little dirt or spilled oil will not cause much harm to the engine. But constant contamination of the engine and engine compartment without proper cleaning can lead to dramatic consequences later on. It will make it difficult to detect oil leaks or damage that may occur while driving. Even worse, there is an increased risk of fire in the engine compartment, especially when oil and other flammable liquids cover the exhaust manifolds and other components. Another compelling reason to wash the engine compartment is to prepare for any work on the mechanical part of the car, whether it is a repair or a scheduled preventive replacement. It is much easier to diagnose malfunctions, replace components, and generally work on or under a clean car.
What tools and equipment should be used to degrease the engine compartment?
You will need:
- an effective degreaser
- a stiff brush
- a brush for cleaning small parts
- a clean cloth
- a garden hose connected to a water source.
So, let’s get to work.
Step 1. Protect the engine
Remove or block the air intake, and if the vehicle runs on gasoline, cover any exposed electrical components. It is important not to degrease or wet the electrical components in the engine compartment, as this may cause the electrical equipment to malfunction when turned on. If moisture has gotten inside these components, use an air hose to remove the moisture or let the car dry for several hours before starting it.
Step 2. Clean the engine with a degreaser.
Apply the degreaser liberally to the entire engine, making sure that the engine remains completely cold. Be careful not to inhale the mist or get it in your eyes—wear safety goggles and a mask. The main area to tackle is the gaskets, seals, and sides of the engine block, especially if you’ve spilled oil. It may be helpful to remove any covers or components that block access to the greasiest and dirtiest depths of your engine. It’s also a good idea to move on to the chassis rails, cross members, and steering components as soon as possible. Allow the degreaser to sit for at least 5 minutes before moving on to washing the engine compartment.
Step 3. Rinsing the degreaser from the hose
Thoroughly but carefully wash off all degreaser with a hose. Be careful not to wet electrical components such as the generator, coils, or fuse boxes. It is also important that water does not get into the air intake—as mentioned earlier, remove, cover, or block the engine’s “breathing apparatus” with a bag or several rags.
Step 4. Reapply the degreaser
Now that there is a little water in the engine, it will be easier to “lather” the dirtiest areas. Apply a little more degreaser and, after spraying each component, scrub it with a brush to remove stubborn dirt. Continue applying degreaser and scrubbing until all the dirt is removed—you may need an extra can of degreaser if the engine is particularly dirty or if it has been sitting for a while and allowed oil deposits to harden.
Step 5. Rinse the engine compartment
Now you need to thoroughly rinse off the degreaser and all the dirt you’ve removed. Take your time and make sure that no water gets into the air intake or onto electrical components.
Step 6. Drying the engine compartment
The easiest way is to wipe all parts of the engine compartment with a rag or absorbent towel, but this will not result in complete drying (moisture may remain in hidden corners and cracks). Instead, it is better to first dry the engine in the air and then use a suitable cleaning cloth. Many SUVs are already equipped with onboard air compressors, which can be a very quick and easy way to dry the engine compartment. Simply attach an air gun to the compressor hose and blow air through the entire engine compartment, trying to reach any areas where water may accumulate. Make sure that the air intake and electrical components are completely dry.