The engine is an important part of your car and probably the most neglected when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Perhaps because of all the wires and hoses, many people are reluctant to try to clean the apparatus under the hood. But maintaining a clean engine can prolong the life of the car and certainly can increase its resale value. Once you follow a few simple rules and safeguards, cleaning your engine can become a regular part of maintaining your car.
1. Never try to clean a hot engine. Your engine should feel slightly warm to the touch before starting your cleaning. The slight warming will help to loosen the excess grease and can speed up your cleaning task. If the engine is hot to the touch, wait a few minutes for it to cool down.
2. Cover any areas that you do not want to get wet. This includes any filters, air intake valves, the distributor and distributor coil. Cover these areas with a small plastic bag, like a sandwich bag or larger, and secure the bags with rubber bands. For larger areas, you might try aluminum foil.
3. Check and secure all fluid caps for windshield washer solution, power steering fluid, oil dipstick and any other caps.
4. Using a good quality degreaser, spray the entire engine compartment. Start at the perimeter and work towards the center. Allow the degreaser to sit for 3 – 5 minutes to loosen the dirt. The degreaser will remove wax so you may have to re-wax certain areas. Repeat this step if there are stubborn areas that need extra attention.
5. Spray the degreaser off with a slow stream of water. Do not saturate the area with water, as sensitive components may be damaged. Go over the area with a soft cloth to remove excess dirt.
6. Use a detailing brush to get into crevices that are hard to reach. This brush has soft, flexible bristles that can fit in between places that can’t be reached by hand.
7. To clean the battery, disconnect the cables and clean the terminals as well as the battery posts. Clean the battery with a stiff wire brush. A commercial spray will protect your battery from corrosion.
8. To dry the engine, use a can of compressed air. This will get water out of hard to reach crevices. When the engine is completely dry, apply a rubber protectant to rubber hoses and gaskets and plastic shields. This will make them resistant to grease and dirt stains.
9. The painted surfaces of your engine can be waxed to prevent corrosion, but regular car wax can’t stand up to the heat generated by the engine. Check with auto supply stores for products designed for this use. To spruce up the appearance of your engine, you can apply a spray-on protective coating in either a shiny or matte finish.
10. Finish up with a high quality non-silicone lubricant for hinges, shocks and cables. Check all fluid levels and remove all plastic bags and cleaning supplies.
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