Cleaning the engine bay is something most people never bother to do to their car. It may be because it seems like a lot of hard work however it is very simple and only takes a few minutes. A clean engine bay can add to the value of your car when it comes to selling it, and undoubtedly makes it easier for mechanics to make repairs and carry out inspections to ensure there are no oil leaks.

Many people think you should not spray your engine with water, this is partly true. However, as long as you do not spray any of the electrics or air intake with water then you will have no problems, we have detailed thousands of engine bays with a high pressure washer and never had a single problem.

When it actually comes to the engine bay detailing, the first thing you should do is make sure your engine is cold – never try and clean a warm or hot engine. This is because products will dry too quickly and leave stains. The next thing you should do is cover the air intake and any electrics. The best material for covering these components is aluminium foil. This may seem like a strange choice, but it actually makes a lot of sense, as it is very easy to mould over awkward shaped parts, and it is 100% waterproof provided you don’t tear it.

Then spray the complete engine bay down with degreaser allowing it to break down all the dirt and grime. Degreasers are readily available at any automotive outlet, they have advanced from the days when they used to be potent formulas that were damaging; they are now quiet weak whilst still being able to break down the dirt and grime.

While the degreaser is breaking down all the dirt and grime – usually a couple of minutes grab a soapy car wash sponge and wash any areas that are very dirty, once you have done this give the engine bay a good rinse with the hose, however we suggest using a high pressure washer as this will blast off the dirt and grime a lot better and use minimal water which is a lot safer.

After quickly removing all of the foil coverings, the next thing you should do is wipe down the engine bay to remove all the water with a chamois, and then start your engine in order to dry all those areas and crevices you can’t reach with the chamois.

With the engine bay now clean and dry you will now be able to apply a dressing to any hoses and rubber areas to give them a nice finish.