Nothing makes your car shine like a good wash, wax and detail job on the inside and out. But what about under the hood? This is the most forgotten area to cleaned on a vehicle. After spending hours washing the outside of your car and another few hours detailing the interior, your car still won't be totally clean until you detail the engine bay.
Use a pressure washer or take your car to the car wash to spray the engine bay off. This will remove dirt grime and other build-up. Get into all of the areas that will be hard to reach with your hand later. Be careful not to directly spray any electrical components.
2
Wet a rag in the bucket of soap and start washing everything. The soap will help get rid of tough grease and dirt build-up. You may have to change the rag for a new one a few times.
3
Rinse the engine bay off after finishing with the soap and water wash. You may have to repeat the wash a few times before you are done.
4
Spray the engine degreaser on everything that is still dirty. Follow the directions to see if you can leave it on or if you have to wash it off.
5
Go over all of the rubber and plastic parts with a tire cleaner. This will get the rubber and plastic parts clean and almost shiny with a wet look.
Tips & Warnings
Make sure to follow all directions on soaps, cleaners and degreasers. Some cleaners are not suitable for use on hot parts and must be used only after the vehicle has cooled. They should be rinsed thoroughly before starting the engine and driving the vehicle.
Be careful when working around electrical components, such as the fuse box and headlight assembly, with water and cleaners. Most components under the hood can get wet, but don't spray them directly with a pressure washer.
