How to Clean Your Car’s Engine

Having a clean car is a rewarding feeling. A critical area that car owners overlook is the engine bay's cleanliness. It is not an exposed part of the car, but debris and dust will always find their way through openings around the hood and the car's front end. Therefore, cleaning your automobile engine is crucial. During the cleaning process, the owner will be able to spot any issue with the vehicle’s engine, such as leaks and cracks. This article will highlight some of the benefits of cleaning your engine and the effective ways of cleaning your engine.

Benefits of Cleaning Your Engine

• Helps the car owner discover mechanical issues impacting the vehicle's performance
• Prevents dirt, gunk, oil, and grease from harming the engine's appearance
• Reduces the chances of rusting
• Keeps the outlets' interior passageways free of dirt clogging
• Reduces engine fires which are possible when the vehicle's motor is dirty

Steps to Cleaning Your Engine

1. Schedule the cleaning day: Considering a warm day with low humidity and wind is essential to help dry the engine and components after cleaning.
2. Cool your engine: When your car is running, open the hood and allow the engine to cool for about fifteen minutes to avoid getting burned or damaging the engine due to rapid contraction while using cool water to clean.
3. Remove plastic covers under the hood and the negative terminal from the battery: Doing this will help protect the electrical components from being damaged if they get wet.
4. Cover any sensitive electrical component: You can use a plastic bag to cover the battery, ignition wires, and engine control unit.
5. Degrease: Thoroughly spray the whole engine compartment with a degreaser, either a kitchen cleaner or a purpose-made engine degreaser.
6. Scrub: Scrubbing will depend on how dirty your engine is. Certain areas, such as valve covers, might have years of caked-on oil and dirt. You can use a small brush with synthetic bristles to clean the dirt and grime.
7. Rinse: You can use a power washer on a light setting or use a standard hose. Avoid spraying water on the electrical components and areas that do not dry up quickly.
8. Dry: This can be done by blasting air in the nooks and crannies to remove excess water or wiping with a towel or rag.

These eight tips will assist in maintaining your engine. Custom Complete Automotive offers quality advice to clients on engine maintenance through its specialized personnel. Contact us today for any automotive services, and our expert mechanics will assist you.