How to Wash Car Engines
Washing a car engine is often the last thing that people think of cleaning on their vehicle, but it is the most important place to clean. If you don't wash the exterior of your car, nothing will happen, but if you don't wash the engine, you can lose performance.
Items you'll need:
- Hose
- Soap with degreaser
- Brushes
- Bucket
- Plastic bags
- Warm up your engine to help loosen oil and grease on the engine block. Run it for about five minutes and then turn the car off.
- Open the hood of the car and prepare under the hood for washing. Disconnect the battery, ensuring that you unhook the negative lead first. Then cover the battery with a plastic bag. Also, if your car has a carburetor, cover that as well. These parts must be protected from water.
- Hose down the engine while it is still warm. This will further loosen dirt and grime.
- Mix soap and water in a bucket. Use this solution to clean the engine. Use brushes to clean the block. A small brush like a toothbrush can be especially helpful, reaching into hard-to-reach areas that a large brush may not be able to get to.
- Rinse the engine, making sure that there is no residue from the soap left on the engine.
- Allow the engine to air dry for a couple of hours. Once it is dry, remove the plastic bags and close the hood. Turn on the car and allow the engine to run for several minutes. This will help eliminate any water that seeped into the engine during the cleaning process.