How to clean your engine bay
Overview
Maybe you wash your car every weekend. Perhaps you’re a once-a-month kind of person. But have you
ever considered how to clean your engine bay? Not only does engine bay cleaning look good, it makes
it easier for your mechanic to spot problems as they arise. Let’s dive into how to keep an engine
bay clean.
You can do this job in your driveway or workshop but just be prepared for grease and oil if your
engine is messy. Also you’ll be dealing with engine bay cleaning products so be careful that the
runoff doesn’t pollute any stormwater drains.
As well as the chemicals, there’ll also be plenty of dust, so a mask as well as glasses or goggles
are essential. And some of these chemicals aren’t the nicest on your skin, better whack on some
rubber gloves too.
Items
- Car Wash – Yep, simple car wash that you might already have in the garage is great if your engine is just a little dusty.
- Aerosol Degreaser - You can grab aerosol degreaser at a super low price from our website, it’s great for the occasional engine clean.
- Bulk Degreaser – If you use degreaser more often, degreaser concentrate is a cost effective product. It can be applied using our next item.
- Pressure Sprayer – Use a pressure sprayer to mix and apply degreaser or car wash. It has chemical resistant seals so it’s made for the job, plus you can mix it as strong or as weak as you need depending on the state of your engine bay.
- Brushes – Stiff bristled, soft bristled, pipe cleaners, and paint brushes of all shapes and sizes for every nook and cranny. View our range of brushes.
- Rags & Towels – Car wipes, rags & cloths will come in handy throughout the whole process
Cleaning Your Engine Bay in 5 Steps
1. Engine Bay Preparation
Start by disconnecting the battery or consider removing it altogether (this makes it much easier to clean). Take a look at your air intake as well. If the opening isn’t exposed, you’re pretty safe. If it is exposed; take steps to seal it off. Check all of your filler caps and dipsticks. Water in any of these would not be super! Same for fuse boxes and distributors, you can wrap these up in plastic bags. Don’t forget to make sure your engine is cool enough to touch before you begin the job.
2. Pre-Clean Your Engine Bay
Engine bay cleaning starts by removing loose material before anything gets wet. Leaves, dust and sand can all be removed with compressed air if you own a compressor. Otherwise, a garden blower or even a vacuum cleaner works fine.
3: Washing The Engine Bay
The best way to clean a car engine bay is to start at the underside of the bonnet and work your way down. That way you won’t be dripping grease and gunk on your nice clean engine. If there’s just a little dust and road grime, some car wash and a soft brush will do here. For grease and oil, better get the degreaser onto the job. If you have a bonnet liner under here, some carpet cleaner actually works wonders to scrub that up. However if your liner is looking a little ratty, it’s best to avoid soaking it at all – you don’t want to make it any worse!
4: How to Clean Your Engine Bay Without Damaging the Engine
Again it’s about choosing the correct engine bay cleaning products. Use ordinary car wash for dust and road grime, degreaser for spilled oil and greasy build up. Degreaser is also brilliant for muddy 4x4 engine bays. Just spray the solution around the engine and engine bay, being careful around electrical connectors, distributors, and spark plugs. Make sure you allow the degreaser to soak for a few minutes. Just spray the solution around the engine and engine bay, being careful around electrical connectors and distributor – also don’t go crazy around the spark plugs. Make sure you allow the degreaser to soak for a few minutes.
When it’s time to clean it off remember, you should never pressure wash your engine – more on that at the end. This is where your variety of brushes and rags, along with a little elbow grease, will be super handy. Use soft brushes where possible, then firm brushes on thick build-ups and tough mud. Be gentle, we’re not scrubbing charcoal off a BBQ here. And remember to go easy around those electrical connectors, accessories and ignition components. Rinse gently as you go and apply more degreaser if needed. And again watch that no chemicals wash down stormwater drains.
5: Dry It Off
Finally, it’s time to dry it all off. An air compressor will work here but be careful, compressors can force water in where you don’t want it. You can also use a workshop vacuum if you have one. Just suck the water out of anywhere it has pooled.
Of course if you don’t have either of these machines, don’t stress – just use rags or microfibre towels to wipe the water away.
With all the water dried up, and the battery and air intake ready to go, the last thing to do is start the engine and run it for 10 minutes or so. This will warm everything up and help any remaining water to evaporate.
Tips
- To make your engine bay clean easier the next time around, try to keep on top of it every 3 months or so. That way you won’t have to scrub so hard – your future self will thank you!
- And if you really want to keep it super, dab some trim restorer around your plastics. Then wipe it off after 10 minutes for a brand new look.
Did you enjoy learning how to clean your engine bay? With the right directions and supplies, a DIY engine bay clean is super easy. Browse our entire range of car care products available online or in store at your local Supercheap Auto store. Shop now and get started today!
FAQs
Can you pressure wash your engine bay?
You cannot pressure wash your engine bay. The most likely problem you will face if you pressure wash your engine bay is water being forced into electrical and ignition components.
This can cause immediate issues the next time you start the vehicle, or long term electrical problems as the trapped water causes corrosion. High pressure water can also force dirt and contaminants deeper where they can cause more trouble.
How do I keep my engine bay clean?
Maintaining your fresh clean engine bay involves a few simple steps. Regularly check for and remove any leaves, debris, or dirt accumulation. Use a damp microfiber cloth for light cleaning and spot checks, and give your engine bay a quick clean every few months with a soak of car wash and a rinse. Regular maintenance checks will also help you spot any leaks early, preventing grime build-up.
What do I need to cover when cleaning my engine bay?
When cleaning your engine bay there are a few critical items that must be covered and protected. If you have an exposed air intake, this should be taped over to prevent water ingress. Any visible computer components, distributor, spark leads or ignition coils should be wrapped with a plastic bag and taped up. Finally ensure that all caps, plugs, and dipsticks for fluid and oil are firmly in place.
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