Should you detail your car engine?

As the saying goes, sometimes it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

With detailing, the outside is pretty important and the main focus of your wash process. That doesn’t mean that your engine bays should be neglected! We believe it's important to keep the beating heart of your beast looking as beautiful as it sounds.

Why should you clean your car's engine?

Under the bonnet of your vehicle, you can (understandably) find stubborn oils, grime, and dirt that clings to engine components and other surfaces in the engine bay. It is just as important to keep these parts clean as it is the general exterior of your vehicle. 

Longevity: Maintaining the cleanliness of vital components like belts, hoses, and electrical connections prevents the build-up of dirt and grime, allowing for an extended life expectancy.

Corrosion Protection: Cleaning engine components of corrosive substances such as road salt and grime helps to protect the engine from rust and other corrosion-related damage.

Engine Performance: A clean engine contributes to improved performance by allowing for better airflow and heat dissipation, preventing overheating and potential damage to the engine.

Visibility: Keeping engine components clean allows you or a mechanic to identify any leaks, loose hoses, and other potential issues allowing for quick repair to prevent further issues.

Increased Resale: As with maintaining any part of your vehicle, a clean engine can be a positive selling point, contributing to your vehicle's resale value for potential buyers.

Is it necessary to use an engine bay cleaner?

You can use a dedicated engine bay cleaner for the task, or simply look for an aggressive cleaner that will easily and effectively transform grubby engine bays into shiny, spanking-new machinery. It's important to look for a product with a big grease and oil carrying capacity that will cling to the particles and lift them from surfaces to be washed away.

Is it safe to use water on engine components and surfaces under the bonnet?

Generally, yes. The bonnet of your vehicle is not completely watertight, meaning that oftentimes rain and other liquids can seep into the engine bay. Most modern engines are designed to withstand exposure to water so it is perfectly safe to apply direct water contact. 

However, there comes a risk of messing things up and, to be safer, we recommend using a steam cleaner. Steam is a lot safer, uses less water, and allows you to be more accurate when cleaning.

If you are worried about potentially harming electrical components, especially in older vehicles, you can protect sensitive areas such as the alternator, battery, and air intake with a microfibre towel or appropriate cover.

Make sure to dry all components thoroughly with a microfibre towel or electric dryer to prevent lingering water and moisture from causing issues.

How to safely clean your car engine.

Keep It Cool 😎

Ensure all engine bay surfaces are cool before you begin to clean to prevent damage to yourself and the car. Cleaning engine components whilst the engine is hot puts you at risk of burns and increases the probability of baking chemicals onto the surface. 

Use Protection 🤺

Keep water and chemicals away from sensitive parts of the engine bay such as the alternator and spark plugs. DO NOT remove the battery unless you have the right tools and the knowledge to do so. Instead, you can protect the battery with a microfibre towel or designated battery cover.

Spray Away 🫧

Apply your cleaner to contaminated areas and allow to dwell. The product will loosen grime, oils, and other dirt, lifting particles from the surface and making for easy clean up.

We recommend Koch-Chemie Green Star for effortless engine bay cleaning. The great thing about this product is you can use it on a multitude of surfaces and your car will thank you for adding it to your routine! Green Star is highly concentrated, making it dilutable for different applications - for engines use a 1:5 to 1:30 solution.

CARPRO Multi X is a multi-purpose cleaner with excellent dirt-carrying capacity. With strong cleaning action and a surprising foaming ability, Multi X provides a deep clean on engine components and more.

Malco Red Thunder is a highly concentrated cleaner and degreaser specifically capable of breaking down contaminants in the engine bay area. You can dilute up to 1:10 and spray directly onto contaminated surfaces.

Brush It 🪥

You can agitate your cleaner with a soft detailing brush to help dislodge and lift tougher contaminants.

Try the CARPRO XL Detailing Brush with nylon fibre bristles that are resistant to alkaline, acidic, and solvent cleaners. This brush can withstand repeated rigorous use without deteriorating and has great agitation power to aid your cleaning.

ValetPro sell a variety of high-quality detailing brushes including the Chemical Resistant Wheel Brush with blue nylon bristles appropriate for any chemical job. Their Large Wooden Handle Sash Brush is also fit for the job with soft synthetic bristles safe for multiple uses.

The Chemical Guys Dual Purpose Toothbrush Style Detailing Brush is great for small, tight, hard-to-reach areas. The polypropylene bristles are tough on dirt but soft on vehicle surfaces.

Steam Team 💨

Use your steam cleaner to wash away lifted contaminants and cleaner. A steam cleaner is more accurate than using a pressure washer, not to mention safer overall to avoid any possible mishaps with water.

Wipe Up 🧻

With a microfibre drying towel or microfibre cloth, wipe up any residue and completely dry the area. You can also use a blower / dryer to ensure the area is free from any moisture. Sitting water in the engine bay can cause rust and damage to exposed metal parts and other components in the engine bay.

Dress to Impress ✨

Coat engine bay surfaces with a specified dressing to provide long-lasting protection and leave behind a glossy look. 

Try Koch-Chemie Motorplast to apply a permanently elastic protective film and shield against corrosion and environmental factors. Treated parts will be transformed to a "like-new" appearance by this naturally shiny, water-displacing conserver.

The "e" in CARPRO Perl stands for "engine". Perl is a concentrated, versatile, water-based protective coating that leaves behind a hydrophobic layer to repel dirt and water. Restore and protect engine plastics from drying out, fading, and cracking.

Meguiar's Engine Dressing safely restores and protects engine bay materials for a long lasting, like-new appearance. The specialised formula prevents the cracking, fading, and hardening of engine bay plastics and rubbers.

With the simple steps above, you can have an engine bay that sparkles as much as your vehicle exterior.

As Slim would say, “it’s all about the details."