In this section we will try to deal with cleaning the engine compartment, whilst giving a little advice on general maintainence to your car engine, please note that we are not car mechanics so if you are experiencing engine problems please see your dealer or your local garage.

What you tend to find with most cars (not all), is a very dirty engine compartment, dont get me wrong there is a very good reason that this part of your car is dirty but there are certain things you can and tips to show you how to clean your car engine.

Firstly, please note that if you are thinking of steam cleaning your cars engine bay please be careful because a lot of important components can get damaged, for instance if you have an injection system take extra care. Also as a note of caution ensure the engine has cooled down sufficently so as not to scold or burn yourself when trying to clean.

As a general tip, which should be quite obvious to most people, ensure that your car is serviced regularly and the oil and filter are changed. Try to use an engine cleaning system in your petrol or diesel tank, some of the better ones are shown below. Check your oil levels at regular intervals and please be careful when topping up the engine oil as a slight spill can spread to all parts of the engine bay and make it look filthy, also oil and rubber does not mix well so if your rubber hoses or gromets are constantly getting drenched in oil they can become worn.

                                                 

Anyway, back to job in hand of cleaning the engine bay. If you do spill oil when topping up or it is done at the garage try to clean it up immediately as oil can spread very quickly and what looked like a drop can soon become a small pool. Use an absorbant cloth initially to absorb the excess, then clean with a strong detergent to remove any burnt on oil residue.

Years ago when the inner wings were made from tissue paper it was recommended to spread oil over them to try and prevent rust. This is not required now as the material is much stronger and is rust proofed. I dont think it is advisable to start putting your hands into hard to get at areas under the bonnet, there are hazzards including hot areas if the engine has been running,sharp areas where the metal parts will have been left exposed, and also wires and connections that may be disturbed if the cleaning becomes too vigorous. So try to stick to the parts you can see. It is no real detrement to yor car if you have a little bit of dirt and grime under the bonnet, it is after all an engine bay.