Is your car's engine bay looking a bit worse for wear? If you're wondering how to clean an engine bay effectively, you've come to the right place.

Why Clean Your Engine Bay? 

Cleaning your engine bay is a key element in maintaining the health and longevity of your vehicle. Over time, dirt, grime, and contaminants can accumulate in the engine bay, potentially causing corrosion and interfering with the proper functioning of various components. Regular cleaning prevents these issues, leading to increased resale value and a well-maintained vehicle.

What You'll Need

 Before you get started, gather the following products. You can find these high-quality products on the Detailing Shed website:

• Microfiber Drying towels
• Nitrile Gloves
• Koch Chemie Green Star Gs (engine bay degreaser)
• Pressol Double Action Sprayer
• Pressure washer (optional)
• MTM Hydro Foam Cannon OR IK Foam Pro 2 Sprayer
• Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam
• Long Handle Brush
• Detail Brushes
• Medium Handle Soft Grip Wheel Brush
• Koch Chemie Motorplast (engine bay conserver)

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Engine Bay Cleaning:

1. Prepare Your Vehicle: Park your car in a ventilated space or out of direct sunlight if you’re working outside. Turn off the engine and let it cool completely before opening the hood. If you just drove the vehicle, let it rest for a few hours.
2. Protect Yourself:Put on Nitrile Gloves to protect your hands from chemicals and electrical components before proceeding.
3. Optional: Disconnect Battery: Once cooled, carefully open the hood of your car and disconnect the negative battery cable, to prevent electrical shorts.
4. Protect Electrical Components: Cover exposed electrical components with plastic bags to shield them from excessive water. This includes Alarms, Fuse box, ECU etc.

How to Clean An Engine Bay: 

1. Prepare the Cleaning Solution: Mix Green Star GS and water at a ratio of 1:5 in a sprayer bottle.
2. Rinse surface:Rinse engine bay surface with water using a garden hose or a pressure washer. Make sure you work from top to bottom, starting with the hood working your way down to the engine bay.
3. Apply the Solution: Spray a generous amount of the Green Star GS diluted solution to the engine bay, ensuring even coverage.
4. Foam Gun:Add a foaming solution and water to your foam cannon or sprayer. Spray an even amount of snow foam to the engine bay. We recommend using Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam.
5. Let the Solution Sit: Allow the products to dwell for up to five minutes to break down dirt and grime.
6. Scrub Away: Using Medium Handle Soft Grip Wheel Brush, scrub the engine bay surface thoroughly. Take a more intricate Detail Brush for the finer details. Use a Long Handle Wheel Brush to go in deeper areas and reach all the nooks and crannies.
7. Rinse with Water: Use your garden hose or a Pressure Washer to thoroughly rinse the engine bay. Keep wet, do not dry.
8. Spray an Engine Bay Conserver:Evenly spray the engine bay including hoses with Koch Chemie Motorplast. Leave for a few hours to dry.
9. Wipe area: After a few hours, come back and wipe the excess product with a microfiber towel to ensure you don’t have any unwanted high spots or streaking.

After cleaning, remove all plastic bags and reconnect the negative battery cable and securely close the hood of your car. Ensure all chemicals and cleaning equipment are stored away safely.

Got questions? Read our most frequently asked questions below, or get in touch with our friendly experts today.

FAQs

How often should I clean my engine bay?

We recommend cleaning your engine bay every 3-6 months, depending on driving conditions and how much dirt accumulates.

What are the benefits of cleaning my engine bay?

Cleaning your engine bay enhances your car's resale value, prevents corrosion, and ensures proper functioning of components.

What should I do if I get Koch Chemie Green Star Gs on electrical components?

If you accidentally get the degreaser on electrical components, rinse it off immediately with water.