Many car owners are afraid to wash the engine compartment, fearing it will harm electrical equipment, and leave the engine dirty. There are numerous stories of problems appearing after the engine washing. But this happens only due to mistakes made in the process. This article will guide you how to wash the engine at home properly so as not to damage the unit and other equipment.
Do You Need to Wash Your Car Engine?
The engine compartments of modern cars are protected from pollution. However, if the car is not new and has been intensively used in difficult conditions, this procedure is necessary. It should be kept clean not from an aesthetic point of view. Pollution impairs the cooling of the unit, and the consequence of this is premature wear, problems with electrical equipment, unpleasant odors in the cabin, an increase in the fire hazard of the machine, and the complexity of repairs and maintenance. You can ensure the engine compartment’s cleanliness with engine detailing for your car. It is important to know how to wash the engine, and how to follow a certain sequence of actions.
How to Wash a Car Engine?
Do not pour water into the engine compartment. Washing without a high-pressure device is a longer procedure, but you need to be patient and careful:
- Do not use alkaline products for a contactless car wash. It does not cope with all types of pollution under the hood.
- Surface treatment with a brush and spraying the detergent solution from the polarizer.
- Wipe the surfaces with a sponge dipped in a solution to soak dirt.
- In the engine compartment there are many different parts and assemblies with complex geometric shapes; to soak the dirt, you will have to use all the available tools.
- Stubborn dirt can be removed with kerosene, but it should not be used on painted and plastic parts.
- It is necessary to allow the dirt to soak for some time, but the solution must not be allowed to dry.
- Rinse off the solution and dirt with care, you need to make sure that water does not get on electrical equipment and contacts.
However, if the engine compartment is heavily polluted, it is advisable to repeat the procedure. It is difficult to remove stubborn dirt on the first attempt.
Remember that the engine wash procedure can only be carried out on a cold engine. Otherwise, there will be a sharp temperature drop, small gaps will form in tight joints, water will get there, and corrosion will form. In addition, hot parts could be deformed, plastic could burst, the collector could crack and other problems.
