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Manual Engine Cleaning (tutorial)
Why do it?
It is a shame to open your hood and discover dust, dirt, oil stains, etc. This may seem like a long and tedious operation, but this tutorial will show you how to carry out an effective cleaning in a short amount of time.
More than just cleaning, the regular nourishment of seals, hoses and plastic components will allow you to preserve these parts for as long as possible, as they can be costly to replace if not properly maintained.
So roll up your sleeves, arm yourself with a dose of motivation, and let's go!!
In which situation(s)?
Before winter, especially for vehicles parked outdoors, this helps to nourish and protect rubber components (hoses, seals) against the cold.
Similarly, approaching summer to prevent hardening.
Also, before a visit to your mechanic, a quick engine clean shows the care you take of your car, and the mechanic will no doubt be more careful to avoid working "messily".
Step 2: Choosing the products to use
Everything depends on the level of dirt in your engine bay. A regularly maintained engine will simply require a good APC (All Purpose Cleaner) diluted at 1:4, for example. On the other hand, an engine that has never been cleaned will require a good degreaser at an equivalent or even lower dilution ratio in order to tackle certain ingrained oil or grease stains.
- Microfibers: Don't hesitate to use old microfibers for these thankless tasks. There is no need to deeply soil new ones or use high-quality microfibers.
- Brushes: Use soft-bristle brushes for delicate parts and harder-bristle ones for cylinder heads or other porous metals.
- All Purpose Cleaner: Dilute at 1:4 for regular maintenance.
- Degreaser: Dilute at 1:4 for the most heavily soiled areas and/or on oil and grease stains.
- Compressed air: If you have the ability to use a high-flow blower (SideKick) or compressed air from a compressor, this will allow you to thoroughly dry product residues and dry more quickly in tight and/or hard-to-reach areas.
Step 3: Process
The tutorial above walks you through the different steps of cleaning the engine bay as well as the inside of the hood.
Step 4: Nourishing/conditioning of components
After washing the engine bay, it is worthwhile to nourish the plastics and other seals. Use plastic/seal dressings such as Valet Pro PROTECTANT or Chemical Guys SILK SHINE for this purpose.
Also, take the opportunity to apply a little Quick Detailer/Quick Wax to the inside of the hood to revive the shine and provide protection.
What if I want to clean my engine with a pressure washer?
It's possible! Using a foam lance, you can dose a solution of degreaser and shampoo, for example, to spray with the pressure washer. This will help remove the grime located at the bottom of the engine bay.
Be absolutely sure to carry out the operation on a cold engine and carefully protect electrical and sensitive components such as the alternator, battery terminals, wires and other connectors, distributor (on older models)... using plastic wrap or waterproof tape.
Then run the engine for 10 minutes to thoroughly dry everything.