Monday 26 November 2018

Cleaning Methods and Maintenance Advice for the Engine


Regularly cleaning our engine is an effective method to prevent breakdowns in this element.

As we showed in our previous article, the dirt in the engine is inevitable, so it is normal that certain accumulations of dust or oil appear on the surface of this compartment of the car. Therefore, knowing how to carry out an adequate cleaning of this element of the car will help to increase its useful life, protecting the different components that are part of the engine block and realizing possible leaks.

There are different methods to clean the engine of our car, and we will depend on what we decide to carry out, for this it will be necessary to be informed of the different options available to us.

How often should the engine be cleaned?

First of all we must bear in mind that the excess can be as dangerous as the defect. A cleaning too intensive or frequent can end up damaging the electronic systems that are in this compartment. It is advisable to clean the engine every two years as long as we limit the use of the vehicle to the city and annually if we drive on unpaved roads on a regular basis.

How much does it cost to clean a car's engine?

Being a punctual task, we recommend putting this work in the hands of professionals who have specific products or steam engines that protect all the elements that make up the engine.

If in spite of everything, you are encouraged to carry out this task on your own, here we leave you a guide where we explain what to do and what not to do when we intend to clean the car engine.
How to carry out the cleaning of the engine compartment?

The method to follow will depend on the depth with which we want to perform the cleaning. If it is a superficial cleaning, it will be enough to pass a cloth or a soft brush to drag the dust. We can also impregnate any of these two tools in some liquid that helps us to remove the dirt more stuck. In the market there is a wide range of chemical products (basically motor degreasers) that are already prepared for this purpose.

Before starting, the vehicle must be in a laundry room with wastewater treatment system or similar to avoid causing damage when liquids spilled on the engine fall to the ground along with traces of oil and other sediments.

The temperature at which the engine is located will be key to the success of the cleaning, since with the engine completely cold it will be difficult to eliminate and in hot chemical products can emanate dangerous vapors of inhaling.

Therefore, the first step is to heat the engine a little, without reaching the operating temperature but leaving it on for at least a minute to soften the accumulated dirt.

We must remove the electrical terminals that go to the battery and cover them with a plastic wrap to prevent them from getting wet. We will also protect the air intake and the carburetor with thick aluminum foil or bags so as not to expose them to water faults.

The next step is to shake with a brush or brush all the dirt, rubbing thoroughly when necessary.

Then, depending on the chosen product, it should be sprayed and left to act or follow the procedure indicated on the label. Another more homemade option is to dilute two cups of detergent, washing greaseproof dishes in four liters of water, preferably warm, and brush hard. Remembering also to carry out the steps in the lower part of the engine.

The last step is to rinse with a hose or pressurized water gun paying special attention to the electrical elements that should not get wet under any circumstances: connections of electronic boxes, control units, diesel pumps, ignition caps, and spark plug holes … etc.

Once the systems that use protection have been removed, to speed up the drying process, we must put the engine at idle until we hear the fan so that the humidity dissipates quickly.

Under no circumstances is it recommended to use polishes on all surfaces, as oily bases can damage rubber rubbers and plastics in the system. In case you want to polish certain metal parts, it is advisable to use specific products for the engine.


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