How to Wash Under the Hood of a Car

Automobile engines are exposed to a variety of conditions including dirt, tar and at times, a mixture of both. This is called highway grime. Routine washing of the engine results in a more efficient running engine. Washing your engine twice a year will eliminate visits to the mechanics front door.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 water hose with a pressure producing nozzle
• 10 plastic baggies
• 10 heavy rubber bands
• 1 spray bottle of engine degreaser 32 oz.
• 1 stiff bristled, long handled auto brush
• 1 small stiff bristled brush or toothbrush
• 3 towels

Prepare Engine for Washing

1. Position automobile in a location where the oil and grease residue that will be washed from the engine will not create an environmental problem with the runoff. Washing an accumulation of grease from a heavily soiled engine can produce heavy stains on a concrete driveway which may last for years.

2. Clean any and all debris from the engine compartment. If an air compressor is available blow off engine compartment.

3. Start and warm the engine until hot to the touch. Do not allow the engine to get over heated.

4. Cover all sensitive electronic equipment with plastic baggies, secured tight with rubber bands. Depending on your engine, this would include the alternator, coil, carburetor, air filter, and similar components in which water entry might interfere with functioning. Tighten motor and transmission oil fill caps are on tight.

Washing The Engine

5. Spray all painted surfaces of the car body using hose with nozzle on spray setting . This will help in removing any degreaser that may inadvertently get on painted surfaces.

6. Spray degreaser over entire engine surface starting at the bottom of the engine block and working up to the top of the engine.

7. Allow degreaser to work for 5-8 minutes. Do not let degreaser dry on engine block.

8. Wash thoroughly and remove any spilled degreaser which may have reached the painted surface of the car body.

9. Scrub heavy accumulations of grease and oil on the engine block using the long handled stiff bristled brush to scour and loosen grease deposits in heavy accumulation areas. Clean tight crevices and hard to access regions of the engine compartment using small, stiff bristled brush.

10. Wash engine block using hose with nozzle set to highest pressure setting to remove greased and liquefied degreaser. Be careful to avoid using high water pressure spray around areas you have protected with plastic bags.

11. Allow engine to air dry for 5-10 minutes and then towel dry the remaining water. Start engine after towel drying to use engine heat to remove any remaining water.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not allow engine to get too hot before washing.
• Avoid spilling or splashing degreaser on body painted surfaces. If this occurs, wash off as soon as possible.
• Most degreasers are solvent based. This can shorten the life of rubber hoses and gaskets. Water based and citrus based degreasers are available that do not damage rubber components.