How to clean an engine bay safely

A clean engine stands out. It may help you sell your car faster. A clean engine also runs slightly cooler. Personally, a clean engine has helped me troubleshoot problems with my engine. Here's how to clean it, safely.

What you'll need:

• Simple Green diluted 1:1

• Assorted brushes

• A hose (power washer is optional)

• Plastic bags

• Leaf blower or compressed air

I always start with a cool engine. I also like doing an engine bay cleaning before doing any exterior wash in case the water splashes off the engine.

Before you begin, it's important to cover up sensitive parts. Although most modern engines can withstand some water, it's good to cover certain areas. Using plastic bags, cover the battery terminals. Then locate and cover the alternator. The alternator is usually in the front of the engine by the belt.

Start by spraying the underneath of the hood with your degreaser. Allow it to sit for a minute or two. For this part, I'd recommend long brush to agitate the product. Now using the strongest water pressure on your hose, or a reasonable pressure on your pressure washer, rinse off the product. It may be necessary to repeat.

Now you can spray the degreaser on the engine. Be careful with stickers. The degreaser may cause fading if it's too strong. Using long narrow brushes you can reach between the engine.

Once all the surfaces are clean, allow to dry. If you have a leaf blower or any compressed air, use this to push all the water away.

Finally, you can use a microfiber to dry all the surfaces before they are dressed. Using a sponge, apply trim restorer to all the plastic surfaces and then wipe off the excess with a microfiber.

A clean engine bay helps your car stand out and is a great touch to a clean car. Call Mendez Auto Detailing if you would like your engine cleaned!