How to clean your car's engine compartment
Dust, grease, oil and other dirt can accumulate under the hood over time, leading to corrosion and damage to mechanical components, or even a drop in performance.
Whether it's to preserve your vehicle's health, extend its life or make it look good before resale, cleaning the engine compartment is a task that deserves to be done, and done well. This can be done at the same time as washing the exterior or performing other maintenance, such as changing the oil and filter at home.
How do you go about it? It's easy, as we'll explain below...
Step 1: Allow engine to cool
The engine compartment should be cleaned when the engine is cold. If you've just been driving, wait a good twenty minutes. The idea is to take care of the engine, not to burn yourself!
Step 2: Remove large debris
If your vehicle hasn't been running for a while and is sleeping outside, dead leaves or other gifts from Mother Nature may be trapped under the hood. Remove them with a small vacuum cleaner or hand broom.
Step 3: Protect electrical components
Disconnecting the battery and ensuring that the fuse box and other terminals are protected is the next step. For exact location and instructions, refer to your owner's manual. Use a plastic bag to cover these components.
Step 4: Watering the engine compartment
It's up to you whether you do or not. If you do, avoid using any pressurized machine, and take care not to aim directly at sensitive parts. A simple watering can with a gentle to moderate spray is preferable. This step helps to remove another layer of dirt from under the hood.
Step 5: Hand-dry or leave to dry
Before going any further, wait until the entire engine compartment is dry again. This is easier when the vehicle is outside with the hood open on a hot day. Otherwise, a cloth will speed up the process.
Step 6: Use a degreaser for stubborn stains
Now it's time to get down to business. Using a good store-bought degreaser, spray on the dirtiest surfaces and the thickest residues. It's important to follow the directions on the product label, of course.
Step 7: Wipe degreased surfaces clean
This step can easily be done with a rag... which you won't then use to clean the bodywork! Ideally, you should have one that's used only for this task and doesn't need to be washed thoroughly every time. If necessary, use a brush to reach smaller areas.
Step 8: Use a finishing cleaner
To complete the cleaning of the engine compartment, use a finishing cleaner to restore the lustre of the main parts. For shiny metal parts, a polisher can be useful, either sprayed or applied.
Step 9: Reconnect the battery and remove the covers
The last thing to do is the reverse of step 3, i.e. reconnect the battery and remove any plastic used to protect electrical components. Make a visual inspection and touch up as necessary. You'll be ready to start all over again in a few weeks or months!
