How to Clean and Detail Your Engine Bay with Just 3 Products

When it comes to cleaning and detailing your car, the engine bay is probably the most overlooked by most people. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If you’ve ever looked at a perfectly shiny used car and opened the hood to see what looks like a junkyard disaster, you probably know what we’re talking about.

The fact is most people aren’t quite sure if it’s actually okay to clean the engine. They’re often worried about damaging something by introducing chemicals and water to this sensitive environment. In truth, the engine and other systems are exposed to the elements every time you drive in the rain. Although a healthy engine can survive water, however, it is important to be careful with what products you use for cleaning certain components.

Caustic cleaning products that are too acidic (wheel cleaners) or too basic (detergents) can corrode metal components including electrical contacts. Carelessly applied dressings and conditioners that contain silicone could potentially contaminate sensors or cause drive belts to slip. The key to a good engine cleaning, therefore, is using mild, non-acidic cleaners and non-silicone conditioners or dressings.

Here are three simple, inexpensive products that will keep your engine bay looking tops. Like anything else when it comes to detailing, the process matters as well. Follow our tips below for perfect results.

Cleaning the Engine Bay

To clean the engine, use a non-acidic wheel cleaner. Why a wheel cleaner? Because this type of cleaner is designed to be safe on bare metal, rubber, and paint. The same materials and finishes found on wheels, tires, and brakes also live under the hood. To prevent corrosion, however, make sure it’s a non-acid cleaner. Eastwood’s Non-Acid Wheel and Tire Cleaner is an inexpensive alternative to other quality cleaners.

Procedure

• Remove any engine covers or shrouding that easily come off before starting and clean them separately
• Use a garden hose to lightly wet the entire engine compartment and rinse away loose dirt and debris
• Spray wheel cleaner on engine, underhood components, and bodywork including drip rails and underside of hood
• Spray a liberal amount of cleaner directly into a long-handled, nylon-bristle detailing brush

• Using the detail brush, work your way through the engine compartment, cleaning each component and surface thoroughly
• Reapply cleaner to surfaces as you work to prevent cleaner from drying
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water at low pressure; do not use a power washer or force water into components

Rust Decontamination

If you have light rust formation on steel parts like brackets, you can use a decontamination cleaner to dissolve this. Eastwood’s Almost Clay is a paint decontamination product designed to remove light ferrous particles like brake dust. It’s a mild acid that dissolves rust but leaves good metal and painted surfaces unaffected. We know, we said no acids, but this works well if you apply it judiciously to select areas only.

Procedure

• Spray cleaner only on lightly rusted component, avoiding other parts in the engine bay
• Use a nylon brush to cover the entire component with cleaner
• Let the cleaner react with the rust for several minutes
• The cleaner will turn to a reddish-purple color as it reacts
• Rinse the component and surrounding area thoroughly to neutralize the cleaner

Dressing the Engine Bay

Trim dressings work best when applied to dry surfaces, so make sure you’ve dried everything you can see or reach. With the engine and surrounding areas fully cleaned and rinsed, use microfiber drying towels to dry everything completely. Compressed air can also be used if you have it available but avoid forcing water into electrical connections and components.

The choice of dressing is even more important in the engine bay than on tires. Eastwood’s Silicone-Free Trim & Tire Dressing leaves a clean, uniform appearance without a greasy shine. While this might seem like a personal preference, it’s really about preventing electrical contamination from silicone-based dressings.

Procedure

• Apply dressing directly to a clean horsehair detailing brush – do not use your cleaning brush for dressing
• Avoid spraying dressing directly onto engine as the overspray can cause drive belts to slip and may leave spots in paint and glass
• Work the dressing into plastic and painted surfaces, making sure to get into corners and folds
• Use a clean microfiber towel to wipe the treated surfaces dry and ensure even coverage
• Never leave the dressing wet as it will only attract and hold dirt and other road debris