Did you know that engine cleaning contributes to extending the life of your vehicle? If you like it To keep your car clean inside and out, keep reading this article where we explain how to clean your car engine.
Don't worry, you're not the only person who is intimidated by cleaning their car's engine. The presence of mechanical parts, belts and electrical components such as the battery can be scary at first glance, but the process is easier than it seems if you follow the instructions we provide.
On the other hand, you may be wondering if water damages the engine. We already told you that it does, but don't worry, there are engine cleaners that do not require the use of water.
If you decide to clean the engine, think about the advantages of having this important part clean and shiny: Your car will enjoy more efficient cooling and suffer less wear on cables and pulleys., in addition to helping you detect leaks and minor breakdowns.
Having said this, we explain to you how to clean and wash your car's engine and interior.
Remove dust and surface dirt: how to proceed?
Cleaning a car's engine is essential to keep it in good condition, but before you get down to business you need to know the following.
Cleaning the engine a couple of times a year is like performing maintenance. before the car, and it is almost as important as changing the oil.
Of course, you can't do it without already knowing how to do it, for example, forget about using water guns or any pressure product.
It is ideal to use a water-based degreaser for delicate areas and a universal degreaser for more difficult-to-remove dirt.
Once you know the basics, let's start by removing dust and surface dirt. To do this, choose a dry, covered place to clean so that the different parts you are going to clean can dry.
The second thing you should do is let the car rest to let the engine cool downYou don't want to burn yourself in the middle of cleaning, do you?
If the car has been running for a while, park it where you are going to clean the engine, open the hood and turn off the car.. Let it cool for about half an hour before cleaning.
Once the engine is cold, it's time to remove any dust and dirt that you may find on the side grills of the hood and the plastic covers. Clean these areas with a brush or paintbrush used to remove any leaf debris and any dirt you may find.
If you have an air gun you can use it too.
Remove any plastic covers under the hood except for the battery and fuses. You can clean them separately, but we recommend leaving them on.
Turn off the car and remove the negative terminal from the battery. This will help protect the electrical components from being damaged if they get wet.
If you prefer, you can cover sensitive electrical components such as the battery, ignition cables and engine control unit with a plastic bag.
Degreaser for the engine
Once you have covered the sensitive parts, the car is turned off and ready, it is advisable to read the degreaser instructions to use it properly.
Ideally, keep a bucket of water nearby and dilute the amount of water depending on the dirt. For example, our product Eco-friendly Fax body and engine degreaser SKU 1225 requires a ratio of 1 liter of water to 20 milliliters of liquid for normal dirt.
If the grease is more difficult to remove, you can use a larger quantity, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. In the case of the Sk1225 degreaser, you can use up to 60 milliliters.
Once you have the amount of diluted degreaser, you can pour it into a spray bottle and spray the engine. If you prefer, you can pour the liquid onto a rag and wipe it over the engine areas.
The ideal is to use a professional degreaser since Household degreasers used in the kitchen are often quite aggressive and can damage rubber and plastic surfaces.Chassis and body degreasers usually respect these types of surfaces.
After applying degreaser all over the engine, it is time to scrub and rinse. If necessary, repeat the process several times until all the dirt is removed.
Tips for cleaning the engine
Once you know the process for cleaning the engine, we will give you a series of recommendations, including the materials you will need.
- Plastic bags: Even if you don't use water, you will use a liquid such as a degreaser. To prevent the liquid from reaching the inside of sensitive areas, cover the battery and other areas such as the fuse box with a plastic bag.
- Brush, paintbrush and paintbrush: you will use these items to clean dust and surface grease. In the case of the brush, you can use it to lightly rub the degreaser and thus remove grease and dirt from the engine.
- Microfiber cloths, sponges or wipes: Microfibre cloths are highly absorbent and can be used to dry your car's engine thoroughly. You can also use sponges or wipes. Choose the material you feel most comfortable with.
- Engine degreaser: As we mentioned before, a specific engine and bodywork degreaser is the best way to remove grease from the interior of your car. Using a professional product reduces the risk of damaging some of your car's engine components due to moisture.
- Avoid water to clean the engine, there are degreasing products water-based ones that perform the same function.
Finally, if you want to leave your car's bodywork shiny, we recommend that you read our Tips guide for cleaning your car body.
And now that you know how to clean your car engine you have no excuse not to do it.
Remember the importance of prior maintenance on the most important element of your vehicle! ¡We hope you found this article useful and that it helps you clean the interior of your vehicle!