How to wash a car engine

Content

Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Warm up the engine slightly. Do not bring the engine to operating temperature, but let it run for a couple of minutes if it is heavily contaminated.

2 Move the vehicle to a location where soap and other cleaning materials will not damage and can easily enter drains. If there is no suitable place, move the vehicle to a car wash equipped with a waste water drainage system. This is especially important if the engine has a lot of oil and sludge residues.

3 Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery, then the positive one.

4 Cover all unprotected electrical components with plastic bags or plastic tape. This will prevent the water to be used from getting onto exposed electrical components.

5 Cover the breather or air intake and carburetor (on older engine models) with thick aluminum foil or plastic. You can tie the whole thing up with a string or braid, as getting water on these parts can cause serious problems.

6 Clean dirt and debris from the engine surface using a stiff or plastic bristled brush.

7 Mix the degreasing detergent with water using 2 cups of detergent and 3.8 liters of water.

8 Apply the solution to the engine, thoroughly wetting the most contaminated areas.

9 Take a garden hose. Thoroughly flush the engine surface.

10 Look in the engine maintenance manual for the name of the material required to clean the engine block and other metal parts. For stubborn dirt, use alcohol-based solutions, but preferably use a special engine degreaser available at any auto dealership. Follow the instructions on the package.

11 After washing the engine and removing any residual chemicals you used to clean the metal parts, remove the plastic.

12 Let the engine dry. Most engines equipped with a high voltage ignition system will start with wet wires (or an ignition distributor), but misfire or abrupt engine operation may occur until all components are completely dry.

13 Remove any material you have used to cover electrical and fuel system components.

Tips

Use warm water for a more thorough cleaning. If the engine is too dirty, transport the vehicle to a workshop and steam clean the engine.
Do not flush dirt, oil, debris down the drain or drain.

Warnings

Follow the correct procedure for disconnecting the battery. There are very sensitive computer components in modern cars that need to be protected. Failure to follow the correct procedure can cause failed service codes or damage the on-board computer.