Q&A for How to Clean a Car Engine

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How do you get the exterior your car engine clean?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

If you have a more modern car, you can just use a brush and an all-purpose cleaner to clean the plastic covering of your engine components. If you have an older car, you might need to use a degreaser.

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Question

Can you use a high-power hose to clean off a car engine?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

I never recommend high-pressure cleaning in an engine bay. I've seen way too many computers, fuse boxes, and alternators get fried by high-pressure cleaning.

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Question

Can diesel fuel be used to clean an engine?

Community Answer

Straight diesel fuel would make a poor cleaning agent since it won't rinse well. Buy an emulsifier that turns kerosene into a cleaning solvent that rinses away with water. The resulting solution is the same stuff that is sold in spray cans, but it is much cheaper per use.

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Question

Is it good to wash a car engine compartment with pressurized water?

Community Answer

No. High-pressure sprays can get through the seals, which are designed to keep your electrical components dry. When water gets in, it causes rust and poor electrical performance, resulting in serious and costly problems down the road.

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Question

Should the alternator be covered when I wash the engine?

Community Answer

Yes! Also any other major electrical parts, like fuse blocks, junction boxes, etc. Avoid spraying electrical connectors directly when rinsing, and don't use a garden hose for the spray down; a pump-up pressure sprayer filled with HOT water is much more precise and effective.

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Question

How do I clean the carpet in a car?

Community Answer

Standard purple power degreaser can get anything out of carpet in a car. After you clean with degreaser, make sure to spray water (out of a bottle) and then vacuum the carpet.

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Question

Should the car be running when I clean the engine with a hose?

Community Answer

Definitely not! It will just cause damage. It should be physically impossible if you did a good job of closing the air intake.

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Question

It is okay to use kerosene as replacement for degreaser?

Community Answer

Yes, IF you mix Solder Seal/Gunk S-C Super Concentrate into the kerosene and then rinse it away with water. This mix is identical to Engine Brite. Otherwise you'll have an engine dripping with kerosene, which is a major fire hazard.

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Question

Should I spray oil over the engine after cleaning it?

Community Answer

Definitely. You should use around a quart and a half of 5w 30. If you do not do this, your engine could rust!

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Question

What should I use to prevent rust after I wash my engine?

Community Answer

Use a quart and a half of 5w-30 motor oil.

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Question

What kind of spray should I use to clean the engine?

Community Answer

I recommend using some spray tire cleaner to clean your engine (if it's not too greasy) and firewall. It will wash away all of the grime and grease just like it does on tires.

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Question

Can I clean up a hybrid car engine with this method of using water?

Community Answer

Yes. Hybrid cars are also designed to operate when wet. To be safe, pay extra attention to wrapping exposed electrical components in the engine bay before you start the cleaning process.

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Question

How do I remove power steering fluid that got on my engine?

Community Answer

Rub it with baking soda after leaving it on for 10 minutes. If that does not work, try soda water.

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Question

Can I use a vacuum to clean my car engine instead of water?

Community Answer

Yes. Any standard vacuum (like the ones you use for your carpet in your house) can be used to effectively remove grease, oil, power steering fluid, anti-freeze, etc. from your engine. You simply turn your vacuum on, lift it up and onto your engine block and then begin to push and pull it back and forth. This will allow the spinning brush head to effectively dislodge all the built up gunk and grime from the surface which will then be sucked into the waste collection bay by the low pressure vortexes created by your vacuums motor. After you have vacuumed the top of your engine, you will need to crawl under the car with the vacuum in order to lift the up to clean underneath.

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Question

Oil has leaked oil over my engine from the dipstick, which was not inserted properly. Could the oil be harmful to the engine and other components, such as the starter motor and rubber components?

Community Answer

Over time it will cause damage to hoses, wires, and plastic parts. It is nothing to panic about but you should clean it out when you get a chance.

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Question

What if I mixed a liquid soap and fuel as degreaser and then wash the engine with a pressure washer. Will it still be okay?

Mr Tinker

Community Answer

It should be as long as you don't spray it too long at an electrical connector.

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