Get your engine clean and running cool

Many people have clean looking cars on the outside and some keep the inside just as clean. But one of the areas that is forgotten the most is the engine compartment, the workhorse of the automobile. Many times I have popped the hood on a beautifully detailed vehicle only to find the engine covered in dirt and grease. Besides being an eyesore, the engine will not run as cool as it would if all the parts were free or dirt and grime. If properly done, the engine detail can be painless to do and create and engine compartment that is pleasing to the eye.

After the wheels have been tackled and the door jambs have been cleaned, I the tackle the engine compartment. The reason I tackle this next is similar to why you clean the door jambs before the exterior of the vehicle, you don't want to get grease and dirt all over your freshly cleaned paint.

The first thing I like to do is start the vehicle up for about 10 minutes or so to get the engine compartment warm. Warming up the engine compartment will help loosen up the grease and dirt and therefore making it easier to clean the grease off. T prepare the engine compartment by using tinfoil for cover up the starter area, be careful of the hotwire to the starter and wrap the alternator tightly with tinfoil. The reason I use tinfoil is that it doesn't melt and it is easily molded to cover up sensitive areas. For those with aftermarket intakes you should disassemble the air filter and block off the intake. I then liberally spray a strong solution of APC from a pump sprayer, or garden sprayer. I tend to use pump sprayers are they save on time and on your hands from repeatedly pumping a hand sprayer. Try to get in all the nooks and crannies and along the troughs of the engine compartment.

After the APC has had time to work away at the grease, it is time to start scrubbing at the exposed areas with a stiff bristled brush. For the harder to reach areas, use a stick or screwdriver and wrap the end with a microfiber towel and agitate the hard to reach areas. Once everything that can be scrubbed or agitated, spray the entire engine compartment with a steady stream of water. My advice is to not use a power washer as it may force water and other foreign matter into the various electrical connections. The rubber gaskets in the connections keep water out but could fail if water is blasted at them at a high velocity.

After the engine has been rinsed, give it a quick dry with a towel and spray your favourite dressing on all the plastic parts. After you have completed the whole car, check the engine compartment again to see that the dressing has the look you desire for the engine plastics.