Aren’t you among those who pay major attention to car exterior and interior cleaning and detailing? What about that is under the hood? When it comes to car detailing, many individuals forget to clean the engine bay. As overwhelming as it may sound, it is nearly always worth the time and effort, especially if you want your vehicle to appear at its finest.
If you find yourself unable to remove stubborn stains or grime from the engine compartment of your vehicle, or if you simply don’t know where to begin, don’t worry! This blog will show you how to use WD-40 to clean the engine bay and for other purposes.
The engine compartment must be kept clean and well-lubricated to ensure optimal performance and a showroom appearance. A buildup of dirt and grease in the engine might cause it to wear out more quickly. In the same way, a dusty engine room can hide leaks and other problems with the vehicle’s engine. It is vital that you clean engine bay with wd40 to prevent further damage.
WD-40 is a great choice for this operation since it quickly penetrates into tiny crevices and loosens dirt or other particles that wear on moving parts.
Before starting a detailed guide to clean your engine bay, first, let’s see why did we choose Wd40?
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Why Wd40 to Clean Car Engine?
WD-40 Multi-Use is probably one of the greatest cleaners for a wide range of applications. In keeping with its name, it is widely regarded as one of the most versatile cleaning products on the market.
Because of its ability to break down dirt and grime, it can be easily wiped off of any surface. Additionally, it can be used to keep metals free of rust and corrosion, as well as to remove excess moisture and penetrate hard-to-reach areas.
Over 2000 different uses make this one of the most versatile products in the market. With Wd40, metal, wood, rubber, and most plastics can all be cleaned with ease. Despite the fact that Wd40 has a diversity of other applications, cleaning the engine compartment with it is primarily for vehicular purposes. Following are the most popular Wd40 car uses:
- It prevents rust and prevents mud from adhering
- Displaces moisture from the wiring of the car
- Loosens rusted oxygen sensor in car exhaust
- Protects chrome and corrosion sensitive areas of the car
- Removes bugs and bird droppings from the car.
- This invention can remove gum from different surfaces and also be used to remove surfboard wax from the car’s rooftop.
- Prevents locks from freezing during negative temperatures and lubricates the door hinges to prevent corrosion.
- Softens the car door seals and prevents cracking and drying
- Clears grease, gunk, etc from car interiors, fenders, and windows.
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Now that we have understood the positives of using Wd40 to clean car engine, let’s have a look at a few of its negatives:
- It’s not a good Lubricant, you may need to use another good lubricant after using Wd40
- Doesn’t smell good
- It attracts dirt if not rinsed properly after cleaning.
- Can eat a few plastic parts (avoid the use of clear polystyrene and polycarbonate plastic).
Now that we know the pros and cons of Wd40, what would I recommend to clean the engine bay?
Well! Wd40 is my answer. Besides having a few negatives, it is still one of the best products out in the market to clean the engine bay with. Also, it has more positives than negatives.
You can use Wd40 to clean the engine without skepticism because it is safe for the engine. Following our guide to clean engine bay with Wd40, you can safely clean your engine bay.
Dos and Don’ts to Clean Your Engine Bay:
While cleaning the engine compartment with Wd40 is simple and can be done at home using our instructions, there are a few considerations to make before getting started.
Following are the 3 Dos and Don’ts to keep in mind before you clean car engine.
Do: Take a Picture Before Any Action
Don’t: Be Quick to Take Things Apart
Take a photo of the situation before you do anything. Take a few photos and you won’t have to worry about filling up your phone’s memory.
If you have a camera, take a couple of pictures.
You may have a fantastic memory, but remember that you’re not a pro. If you don’t clean your engine bay on a regular basis, you run the risk of losing track of where certain parts are located or which wires need to be reconnected with what.
For the sake of knowledge, a few main parts of your car engine are:
The Engine block, crankshaft, starter, cylinders, pistons, timing belt, throttle body, Fuel injectors, oil pump, water pump, various sensors including coolant temperature sensor, oil pressure sensor, Fuel injection ECU, etc.
Wires and connectors to hook them all together and a whole bunch of bolts and nuts.
If your purpose is to clean the engine bay, these parts are of no use to you.
All you need is just follow the steps given below and clean the engine bay. We also recommend you just clean the engine bay from the top without going deep.
Consider taking your vehicle to a professional for a thorough engine cleaning. With so many components (including those listed above), you run the risk of generating an entirely new issue.
Even if you don’t plan on cleaning the engine all the way, it’s still a good idea to take photos. For example, taking photos will help you remember which cables to reconnect, where the hose with the strange bend was attached or anything else you need to remember.
Taking pictures is also great evidence of the improvement you have made.
Do: Use An Appropriate Cleaner
Don’t: Go Crazy With the Engine Cleaner
There are a variety of engine cleaners available, but you have no idea what they can do to your vehicle’s engine unless you try them. Engines with a lot of sludge and high intensity require special cleaning products.
We recommend using Wd40 to clean engine instead of a high-intensity cleaner.
Wd40 multi-use has been tried and tested by tens of thousands of customers, and the reviews speak for themselves.
Wd40 is safe to use to clean the engine compartment so close your eyes and go for it.
Do: Use the Garden Hose
Don’t: Use the Pressure Washer
A garden hose is the best tool for removing dirt and stones. A pressure washer can produce water that is incredibly forceful and pressurized, so be careful not to push it too hard. Aside from electrical panels and connections, it is easy for it to seep. That’d be a tremendous bummer.
Even if you are using a garden hose, seal all the electrical connections and crankcase openings using any plastic.
How to Clean Engine Bay With Wd40?
In order to maintain your car operating smoothly, it’s important to clean out the engine area frequently. Without the proper equipment and knowledge, however, completing the task might be overwhelming.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to be an expert to clean the engine bay, as long as you follow the instructions, you may clean the vehicle engine at home.
Things to gather:
Gather the following things to get started:
- Wd40 as the main cleaning solution
- Soft-bristled brush to scrub the surface
- Garden hose to rinse the engine bay after cleaning
- Microfiber cloths absorb the water and remove extra water from the engine.
Step-1) Schedule the Cleaning:
Plan a day when you can do the engine cleaning and try to pick one that is not too cold. After a thorough cleaning, the engine of a car will benefit from a warm, windy day.
Give your vehicle a chance to cool down if it was running. For at least 20 to 30 minutes, leave your vehicle parked in a shady spot. Wait until the engine achieves its ideal temperature. A hot engine can not only burn you, but it can also vaporize Wd40 quickly without allowing it to do its task.
Step-2) Remove the Existing Debris:
The first step is to clean up the engine compartment of any loose trash. Clean out everything that isn’t supposed to be in the place. You shouldn’t put anything like leaves or grass there, as well as paper or twigs. A brush can be used to remove the dirt and grease from the engine. Remove them as well as they’ve been loosened.
Step-3) Prepare Your Engine:
Before we start to clean the engine bay, it’s vital to prepare it.
Disconnect the battery:
Taking the battery out is a good place to begin. Taking the battery out of the way will make it much easier to clean the space around it.
If you can’t remove the battery, at first disconnect the negative terminal and then disconnect the positive terminal.
By removing the negative terminal first, you disconnect the battery from the chassis of your car.
Disconnecting the positive terminals first will keep the whole car conducting due to the negative terminal being attached to the body.
If by mistake your wrench would make contact with any part of the car that can cause a short in the system causing severe damage to sensors and even it can end up setting your car on fire.
When you are done with cleaning and detailing the engine, and everything is dried then you can reconnect the battery. Connect the positive terminal at first and then the negative terminal.
Protect Electrical Components:
To clean engine bay with Wd40, you are going to use water in the upcoming steps. And the bad news is that the water can cause damage to electrical components e.g. water can blow a fuse.
To avoid water from causing damage, you will need to protect electrical components. You will need to wrap plastic around components. You will need to cover ECU, ignition wires, exposed wirings, spark plug inlets, alternator, and the distributor cap.
It is possible to protect these electrical components by covering them. The air intake must be covered as well if it is exposed. It’s important to use plastic that won’t be harmed by Wd40, as previously discussed.
Protecting these components will allow you to clean your engine bay more thoroughly with less risk of damaging anything.
Step-4) Apply Wd40 on the Engine:
Let’s begin the cleaning process now that we’ve gathered all the essential supplies and clean engine bay with wd40.
The first step is to apply Wd40 to your car’s engine. Use Wd40 to thoroughly spray the engine compartment. Use as much Wd40 as you can to completely cover the surface area.
Allow the solution to sit for 5-10 minutes after applying it. As a result, the solution will perform as expected. You may have to reapply the solution or let the solution soak for a longer period of time depending on the amount of filth and grease in the engine.
Before applying the solution, make sure that you have removed any excess dirt or grime over the engine bay.
Step-5) Scrub:
Using a microfiber cloth, all the filth and grease may be readily removed after letting Wd40 soak for a few minutes. You can use a soft-bristled brush to scrub stubborn spots like the valve cover that have been caked with oil and filth for years.
Scrubbing with a bristled brush is usually sufficient. Although you may have to apply extra solution and repeat the same process if it didn’t really work.
Step-6) Rinse the Engine Bay:
After this, there is still a lot of work for you to accomplish. Even after cleaning the engine, you must remove the cleaning solution to avoid attracting more dirt and dust. Removing all of the Wd40 solution, dirt, and grease requires rinsing the entire engine compartment with a garden hose.
Electrical components should not be sprayed directly, especially in places that require a long time to dry. Make sure that all of the electrical components have been covered with plastic in Step-3 before proceeding with this step.
Step-7) Dry and Detail the Engine:
After you clean engine bay with Wd40, you are left with a wet engine. Start drying the engine with a microfiber towel. Before taking another step, the engine must be totally dried out.
Make sure there is no water left in your engine compartment. Compressed air or a water-filtered vacuum cleaner can be used to remove water from areas that you can’t get to by hand.
This step can be skipped if you don’t have access to either of them. Try not to expose any of the electrical components until the engine is totally dry.
Now is the time to detail the engine with a good quality product. Spray the product all over the plastic and rubber parts and then move to the next step.
To avoid the belt creaking, do not use any kind of product on it.
Let the product sit for 5 to 10 minutes after you’ve finished applying it. Clean the surface with a microfiber cloth to remove any residue. That’s all there is to it.
Step-8) Replace the Battery:
Re-connect the battery to the car. First, connect the positive terminal and then connect the negative terminal. Also, remove the plastic from all the electrical components you covered. And you are done here.
Is It Safe to Clean Engine Bay With wd40?
As WD-40 is a multipurpose product that can be used for a variety of purposes, it is totally safe to clean the engine bay. Hundreds of thousands of people have used this product, and the feedback they’ve left is overwhelmingly good.
Can I Clean Car Engine With Water?
Yes, you can clean your engine bay with water. Using water on the engine, on the other hand, is not suggested since water can leak into electrical components, causing a new set of problems. If you are planning to use water, you should avoid using high-pressure water or a power washer, as this can damage the engine. Instead, use a garden hose to gently spray the engine and remove any dirt or debris.
Finishing Up:
WD-40 is an excellent choice for cleaning the engine compartment. Aside from the fact that it’s effective at removing debris, it won’t harm metal or rubber components. The can is small and light, making it easy to transport. Using this product is a fantastic method to maintain your engine bay looking its best for a reasonable price!
Follow the dos’ and don’ts, gather the things, schedule the cleaning, cool down the engine, prepare the engine, apply WD 40, scrub, rinse the engine, dry and detail the engine, replace the battery, and done.
Preventing the engine from becoming overly unclean for an extended period of time is essential for maintaining a healthy vehicle. A thorough cleaning of your car’s engine once or twice a year helps keep it in its original condition.
Thank you for taking the time in reading this article, hope you learned something. Keep visiting for more amazing content related to cars.
Thank you.
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