What is the Best Way to Clean A Car Engine?

Cars, like other machines with moving parts, require a lot of maintenance. But, you don’t always need professionals to handle all of your car’s maintenance, says a local auto shop that performs Engine Decontamination Treatments in Cranbrook, Cranbrook Cars. In fact, when it comes to things like changing oils and cleaning the engine, you can execute them DIY style.

This article outlines four things that you’ll need to know about cleaning your car’s engine.

Prepare your car engine before starting

Because the engine is one of the parts of the car that gets the least attention, you have all kinds of debris gathered around the engine bay. You need to begin by clearing all of these. Grass, twigs, and leaves will have to go.

Next, protect the electrical systems of the car. You’re going to be using liquid solutions around these, and so, battery terminals and other electrical portions of the engine will have to be protected. You can use simple items like towels and shirts to wrap up these areas.

Caranddriver suggests that plastic bags may be a more efficient alternative because they are waterproof.

It’s also important to disconnect the battery of the car. Better yet, remove it from the engine bay completely. But before you do so, start the car and let it run for a couple of minutes. This will heat the grease around it, making it easier to clean.

You need to invest in a good engine degreaser

There are several engine degreasers out there, but I personally recommend spray nine heavy duty cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle that’s easy to apply, meaning you can cover lots of engine area relatively easily. Ensure to spray it evenly; begin from the bottom up.

When using this particular brand of degreaser, you need to be careful, so you don’t get it on any painted components. It is so potent that it can remove the coat of paint. This is also why you should apply it evenly and lightly on the engine.

After spraying the engine, let the degreaser sit in for about three to five minutes; the product works by eating away at the grease, and it needs time to work. The newer your engine, the less time the degreaser needs to work. Old engines need the full five minutes while newer ones can do with just three.

Use a bristled brush to scrub the engine. Scrubbing while the degreaser is soaking is an effective way to get rid of engine grease. You should focus on areas with thick coats of grime. You should wear protection — eye protectors and gloves — to keep the grease and degreaser off your body.

After scrubbing, clean the engine with water.

Is it safe to spray your engine with water?

Not all car models are made the same so, this question depends on your vehicle. Cars manufactured after 2003 already have most of their essential components either covered up or water-sealed. The only parts you’ll need to worry about are the battery, alternator and intake.

With all these taken care of, you can gently wash all the dust and dirt off your engine with water. However, if your engine is more complex, you’ll have different components to cover up.

If your engine is tucked or fitted with a supercharger, you’ll need lots of towels and plastic bags to cover up the components. You should also inspect your engine for things like naked wires chewed up by rodents or things you forgot to put back into place.

If you decide to go with fabric, you need to be light on water usage and pressure.

Clean your cables and battery bay

Popular mechanics suggests that you pay special attention to your battery and battery terminals. Nine out of ten starting and battery changing problems happen as a result of bad connections. Use corrosion neutralizer like CLR to clean the cables.

You should also remove the battery and clean the try. You can use baking soda and a wire brush to scrub the corrosion. Once the tray is dry, use rust-resistant enamel to coat it. Just like with the degreaser, you should keep the enamel away from other parts of the vehicle. Cardboard can help.

Conclusion

The car engine is a complicated looking piece of machinery. But, you have to remember that you’re cleaning it, not fixing it. Once you take a few precautions, you’re good to go. Remove your battery and keeping it from moisture. Also, wear protection, so you don’t get exposed to the degreaser.

Speaking of degreasers, a good engine cleaning is incomplete without spray nine heavy duty cleaner or other kinds of degreasers out there. A degreaser, along with a good scrub and a mild current of water, can do wonders for your engine.

With the more complicated car maintenance tasks like replacing parts, you should seek out a good mechanic. However, when it comes to cleaning your engine, all you need is a little elbow grease.