How to Clean an Engine Block
Your vehicle's engine was originally painted with high temperature engine paint that would resist oil, grease, dust and dirt. However, over time, even the best engine paint and finish will deteriorate. When this happens, you'll need to put in some effort to keep your engine block looking clean. While dirt and grease don't necessarily impact engine performance in a negative way, it does look unsightly. Fortunately, you can clean the engine at home in your driveway.
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Things You'll Need
- Safety goggles
- Socket wrench with socket set
- Zip-ties
- Hose and water
- Engine degreaser
- Scrub brushes
- Water hose
- Clean shop towels
- Plastic sheeting
Instructions
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1
Cover your vehicle's electrical wiring and electrical components in the engine bay with plastic sheeting to protect them. You will be using water to clean the engine, so you don't want to damage any electrical components.
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2
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery terminal by turning the nut on the negative cable clamp counterclockwise and pull the cable off the terminal.
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3
Unplug all of the electrical connections connected to your engine block. Make sure you cover these electrical components and wires with plastic sheeting.
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4
Spray your engine with engine degreaser. Make sure you cover every area of your engine.
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5
Scrub the engine with scrub brushes. Make sure you do a thorough job scrubbing the block so that you remove all traces of oil and grease, as well as dirt that has accumulated over the years.
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6
Wash the entire engine block off with a water hose. Make sure you remove any remaining degreaser and dirt.
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7
Plug all electrical connectors back in. Reconnect the battery cable and remove the plastic sheeting. Let the engine dry completely before starting it.
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