Spic and Span for your car engine
Most people operate with the general understanding that they need to wash their car regularly to keep the exterior looking good. Not only that, but regular car washes help maintain your car’s paint. Now, if the exterior of your car looks great, so should the interior. As much as it may look new, a dirty engine can make your car run like an antique. Never fear! In fact, you can clean the engine of your own car, as long as you don’t mind getting a little dirty. It’s really not as difficult as it seems…
The first is the first
You can’t jump in and hose down your engine. That could be quite dangerous, in fact (think exposed wires). First, you’ll need to clean up as much debris as possible. Things like leaves and twigs can get caught in the grill, hood (especially around the seams), and vents. An air compressor is great to use as it will simply blow away the debris, but it’s not something in most people’s garages. No air compressor? No problem! A small brush will do.
Remember what we said about hosing down your engine as dangerous? Well here’s why…sensors, exposed wiring, distributor, spark plug gaps. These cannot be exposed to water without some type of protection. Your motor is already more or less waterproof (think rain), but wrapping the sensors and such in plastic will secure it.
NextTop…
This one is simple… start the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes. Built up grease and oil stuck to the engine will loosen up and degreasers work much better with a warm engine. Speaking of which…
Getting rid of accumulated dirt in your engine requires a degreasing product. While petroleum-based degreasers are efficient, they can also degrade rubber hoses and seals. You should get something with a softer touch, something watery or even citrus based. It is better to apply a degreaser from the bottom up. Otherwise, it can drip on you as you work. Be careful as the degreaser can remove the wax from your fenders. Carefully spray then hose down the fenders, grille and hood.
How bad is it?
Now if your engine is basically clean, just let the degreaser sit for 3-5 minutes. If there is a lot of buildup on your engine, you may need to use a parts brush to break up the gunk. A little car wash solution can help. Actually, if I’m being totally honest here, Dawn (as in dish soap) works pretty well. It’s a degreaser itself, so it can help you loosen up those heavily soiled areas. Just don’t use too much. Your car engine will turn into a bubble bath when you hose it down.
Last but not least…
Wash that pup! There is no need to use a high pressure hose as it can loosen things up. A regular garden hose will do, with light to moderate water pressure. After hosing off the engine, you can let it dry on its own for a while, but be sure to wipe up any remaining moisture with a microfiber towel. A warm or hot engine will dry out relatively quickly, but will stain (kind of like what happens outdoors when you turn on the sprinklers and let it air dry). Don’t forget your before and after photos…