Why should one bother degreasing their engine? For those who are wondering, here’s two good reasons:
- A clean engine is easy to work on. When everything under the hood is clean, it is easier for a mechanic to do routine maintenance and other activities.
- A clean engine compartment will bring you more money when you trade in or sell your car because it looks like the car has been “taken care of”.
It’s easy to do!
Degreasing an engine isn’t hard to do. According to the Service team at Deery Chevrolet in Pleasant Hill, IA, all you need is a good water hose and a good engine degreasing spray. Degreasing sprays come in two kinds: solvent and water-based. If you are sensitive to solvents, choose a water-based spray. Many professionals prefer solvent-based degreasers, though, because they work faster and seem to cut through heavy grease buildup better. The downside is the strong solvent smell. By the way, if your engine is really a greasy mess, choose either a gel or a foam formula, like Gunk Heavy Duty Gel Degreaser. This cleaner type is thick and hangs onto the grime to penetrate it better. You can get it at most any auto parts store.
Now it’s time for you to give it a try
Here’s how you do it! Degreasers work best when the oil and grease on an engine is soft and warm. So start your car up and let it run for about five minutes or so. Then hose the engine down with the degreaser and let it sit. Aim as carefully as possible to prevent the overspray from jumping out onto your car’s paint. After you’ve coated everything under the hood, let it sit for fifteen-twenty minutes so all the grease softens up.
Now you should take a garden hose with a good spray nozzle and wash off the engine and all the other stuff under the hood. This will probably create quite a mess so be ready to get oily and wet. It is basically imperative that this be done outside. When you’re done spraying the grease off, take a good look at the engine and see if you have removed all the grease that’s built up throughout time. If not, apply another coat of degreaser and repeat. It usually takes a couple of iterations to properly degrease an engine well.
What to do if you are degreasing the engine because you’re selling your car
When you are done degreasing, consider using some engine protectant. Gunk Engine Shine is a well-liked brand. The engine protectant spray imparts a slight shine to all the under-hood components and a protective layer of oil to make things look quite nice for selling the car!
Did you know that engine degreaser is considered to be hazardous waste? Check with your local disposal authorities to see how you should get rid of the container the product came in once you’re done with it.
We hope you have enjoyed this article!