The more you drive your car, the more dirt and grime will accumulate in the engine bay of your vehicle. Engines can start looking dirty very quickly, especially if it is leaking fluid or has recently had repair done, and not cleaned down properly. If you plan on selling your vehicle, or just want to take pride in all aspects of your car, cleaning the engine bay is a simple and easy job that you can perform yourself in as little as half an hour.

Step One

The first step is finding somewhere suitable to clean your engine bay. It is illegal to dump contaminated water into city drains, which includes oil, coolant or de-greaser, so you will need to find a suitable location to carry out the clean.

Most self-serve car wash services have a provision to allow engine bay cleaning, or placing a plastic sheet under your vehicle that will allow runoff to be collected in a container and disposed of properly, are simple solutions around this. It is best to allow the engine to sit for a short period of time, to let the engine cool down.

A hot engine will cause the de-greaser and other cleaning agents to dry quickly, and leave unsightly spots all over the engine.

Step Two

You will need certain products to carry out cleaning of the engine bay. These include:

• Bucket
• Scrubbing brush
• Gloves and Safety glasses
• Engine Degreaser
• Plastic bags
• Water, preferably a pressure washer or garden hose
• Spray bottle

Using the plastic bags, cover up any components that you would like to keep dry, such as the alternator, coil and spark plugs. Getting water in these components may cause damage or starting issues, so it’s best to keep them nice and dry. Be sure to remove the plastic bags after you’ve finished!

Step Three

It’s time to start cleaning! Firstly, rinse the engine bay down with the high pressure washer or hose, starting at the back and working your way forward, making sure to cover as much as you can. Have the pressure washer on a lower setting, as having high pressure may force water into connectors and other components, which may cause issues.

Once you are happy with the rinse, mix your de-greaser and water in a bucket, and apply with a scrubbing brush, making sure to work on stubborn marks. Allow the de-greaser to sit for a few minutes, to give it a chance to break down the dirt and grime.

While this is happening, fill a spray bottle with the de-greaser mixture, and spray around the perimeter of the engine bay, making sure not to spray it directly on the paintwork. Once it has sat for a few minutes, grab your pressure washer or hose, and rinse the de-greaser solution off.

If there are any problem areas, focus on them with the spray bottle and scrubbing brush until they are clean. It’s now time to let the engine bay dry. The easiest way is to leave the bonnet open, especially if it is as warm sunny day.

You can also use compressed air to remove the water, if you have access to it. Now that the engine is dry, it is time to remove the plastic bags. You can also buy special rubber and vinyl protectant especially for engine bays, to give the plastics a showroom shine!

Once you feel that you have removed all the dirt and grime form your engine bay, you can feel proud that you have the best looking engine on the street!

Carrying out this cleaning routinely will keep the engine bay looking new, and will help to track down any leaks, and show prospective buyers how much you have taken care of your car.

You’re probably aware that your engine oil serves to lubricate the internal parts of your engine.

All those metal components rubbing against each other can quickly become damaged or worn out if they aren’t properly lubricated.

But did you know your engine’s oil performs other crucial functions too?

Engine oil

• creates a barrier against corrosion on internal metal parts
• reduces heat-producing friction in your engine to decrease its temperature
• cleans and prevents sludge buildup on internal parts
• forms a seal inside the cylinder for better compression

Your oil is critical to engine health, so it makes sense to stay on top of your engine’s maintenance, including checking your engine oil regularly.

Here are 5 tips for keeping your engine oil in good condition.

1. Check your engine oil level at every fuel fill

Vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever and sometimes it can be 1,000kms or more between fill-ups. Vehicle manufacturers have different criteria for normal oil consumption, ranging from 1 litre per 1,000 to 2,500kms. If you don’t check your oil level between oil changes, you could be running dangerously low on oil, or even causing damage unknowingly.

2. Check the visual condition of the oil

New engine oil is a golden honey brown colour and a properly maintained engine will keep the oil brown until near its oil change interval. Once the oil starts to get almost or fully black, your engine is telling you it’s time to change the oil. On diesel engines however, the oil may appear black almost instantly. This is due to the increased carbon content created by the combustion temperature compared to a petrol engine.

It may be difficult to determine the condition of the oil just by looking at it, so if it smells like diesel fuel or looks dilated, it may be time for an oil change.

3. Check the smell and feel of the oil

Engine oil in need of changing smells overpoweringly burnt when you sniff it on the dipstick. It can also feel slightly abrasive when you rub it between your fingers. If it smells burnt or feels gritty, plan to change the engine oil sooner rather than later.

4. Know your maintenance interval

Some engines require oil changes every 5,000kms, while others may require it less frequently at 10,000 or even up to 20,000kms between changes. Other vehicles feature oil life monitors to tell you when the vehicle needs an oil change. Know what your car requires and book ahead for its service.

5. Be aware of the right grade and viscosity of oil for your car

Does your engine need synthetic oil, semi-synthetic, or will conventional oil suffice? Check your manufacturers Use the proper grade of oil for your engine to get the longest life and best performance from your engine.