Let's be honest, cleaning your car engine is not the most fun task on your to-do list. It's dirty, it's greasy, and it's just plain old tedious. However, it is important to keep your engine clean for a number of reasons. First, a clean engine is a happy engine. A happy engine means a happy car, and we all want our cars to be happy. Second, a clean engine just plain looks better. When you pop the hood of your car and see a gleaming, clean engine, you can't help but feel a sense of pride.
Step One: Prep Your Area
You'll need to do a little prep work before you start cleaning your engine. Make sure you have a hose on hand for rinsing and a clean towel for drying things off. You'll also need some sort of cleaner - we recommend a degreaser. Once you have all your supplies gathered, open up your hood and prop it up so you can easily access the engine area.
Step Two: Start With the Big Stuff
Cover your car's air cleaner or air inlet to avoid getting water in the engine, also cover any electrical items to avoid getting them wet. Using your hose, rinse off any big chunks of dirt or debris that have collected on or around your engine. You don't need to be too gentle here - just get rid of the big stuff so you can focus on the nitty-gritty later on.
Step Three: Apply Cleaner & Scrub away!
Now it's time to get down to business. Spray your cleaner onto any areas that look particularly grimy or dirty, and use a brush to scrub away any built-up grime. A toothbrush can come in handy for getting into small crevices and nooks and crannies. Once you're satisfied that everything is nice and clean, rinse everything off with your hose.
Step Four: Dry Things Off
Use your clean towel to dry things off as much as possible. That's it! You're done! Now enjoy the fruits of your labor - a freshly cleaned engine that's ready to take on driving adventures.
A clean engine isn't just aesthetically pleasing - it can also help prevent problems down the road. So next time you're feeling like tackling a chore, consider giving your engine a good cleaning. It's not as daunting as it might seem, and your car will thank you for it! See our article 8 Best Engine Degreaser For A Clean Engine Bay to see our recommendations on what engine degreaser to use!
