Engine washing
In the engine compartment, oil and grease combine with dust, creating a layer of dirt covering the engine and other parts. This is a drawback mainly of an aesthetic nature. It can be solved, washing the engine with special means. More important than maintaining a nice appearance is to wash the engine compartment in early spring.
Salt sludge promotes corrosion
In winter, salt sediment is collected in all nooks and crannies, Slots, at the edges, on the radiator and in the electrical wires. Salt crystals bind moisture and facilitate corrosion. Washing of the engine compartment can only be carried out in place, where the oil separator is installed. It is best to go to a self-service car wash for this purpose. After washing, check, whether there is enough grease on the throttle levers, gas and clutch cables. Relubrication should be made up if necessary.
Next steps to wash the engine
1 The engine should be cold, so that the cleaning agent does not evaporate quickly and does not lose its impurity binding properties.
2 Turn off the engine and ignition.
3 Protect the battery before spraying cleaning agent into the engine compartment, ignition system components, alternator and other sensitive places with cloths or foil. If you don't, ignition and electronics may be disturbed.
4 Start washing from the inside of the bonnet. Soak it with plenty of water, then shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Do not forget about the edges and nooks and crannies, there dirt accumulates particularly intensively.
5 Wash the radiator with pressurized water especially carefully. Remove insect debris with a protein dissolving agent. This can be, for example,. dishwashing liquid. Rinse the cooler with water alternately from one side and the other. Do not use a sharp brush to wash, because you will destroy the delicate structure of the radiator.
6 Try to reach all the bends with the jet of water, beams and other unprotected places under the engine compartment cover.
7 First, spray the more stained areas in the engine compartment with a cold cleaner. Wait for the agent to work and rinse everything with a strong stream of water.
Spray contaminated areas with engine cleaner. Wait two minutes. Wash off the softened dirt with water with an overpressure device, by selecting the "flush" program. If you use a garden hose, set a strong point stream. Too gentle rinsing is insufficient with strong dirt.
8 Use a compressed air gun to remove residual water from the engine compartment, which is available in self-service car washes. Do not bring the gun too close to the area to be drained.
Protective varnish for the engine
To prevent dust from settling quickly in the engine compartment, it is worth covering the block and surfaces around the engine with a special protective varnish resistant to high temperatures. A regular spray or maintenance wax is sufficient for the remaining surfaces in the engine compartment.