How To Detail Your Engine Bay
If you’re looking how to detail your engine bay, this guide is for you. Detailing your car is not always about the exterior or even the interior but those other places that often get overlooked. The engine bay is one of those areas. It provides a finishing touch that I’m sure most of us will agree with, completes the car even if you can’t always see it. At first the thought of detailing your engine bay can be daunting due to the amount of intricate areas and electricals contained under the bonnet. Most modern cars now are very well protected, but you are right to be on the cautious side. But despite this, engine detailing is definitely worth the effort.
Equipment Required
To detail your engine bay you will need the following items:
- Pressure Washer or Hose Pipe
- Cleaner (Britemax Grime Out or Auto Finesse Verso)
- Detailing Brush (Valet Pro Detailing Brush)
- Dressing (Auto Finesse Dressle or 303 Aerospace Protectant)
- Microfibre Towels (Grey General Purpose Microfibre Towel)
Before You Start
Firstly, make sure the engine is cool. Identify areas to be cautious of, these can include: air intakes, and electrical components. If in doubt cover these areas with a plastic bag whilst cleaning. Areas that you are cautious about can be cleaned carefully with a bit of degreaser on a microfibre towel. Also take a look around the engine bay for any debris like leaves and remove them before you start.
Degreasing
Using an engine degreaser like Britemax Grime Out, liberally spray the product over all areas and allow to dwell for a minute or two before agitating with a Valet Pro Detailing Brush. Don’t allow the degreaser to dry out, if necessary work in smaller areas at a time and reapply if required.
Rinse
From a distance gently hose or jet wash the dirt off the engine bay. Take care around air intakes and electrical components. If you have covered them take this chance to clean these areas with a microfibre towel coupled with some degreaser and then wipe clean.
Dress and Protect
The final stage is to dress the plastics and rubbers around your engine bay. For this we like to use Auto Finesse Dressle. Whilst the engine is still wet from rinsing, we recommend liberally spraying Dressle over all areas of the engine bay. Allow this to soak in for quite some time. You could even shut the bonnet and wash the exterior of the car and come back to it after. Finally, all you need to do is give the engine bay a last wipe down with a clean microfiber towel to restore that factory finish. Just think, next time you need to work on the engine bay how much cleaner and pleasant it will be not getting covered in dirt. Meaning you have to put less effort in to achieve a factory finish on your engine bay.
