Spray washing the gunk off of a car engine and engine compartment was a common practice many years ago. Once reason it was done so often is because it was easy to do. You basically had to just avoid spraying the carburetor. Now that most cars have computers and advanced electronic components that can be damaged by water, it is not done as much. Cleaning the engine compartment in newer cars can be done safely and is a good idea under certain circumstances.
Road dirt, insects and leaves tend to accumulate in the engine compartment, especially if there is any oil or grease present that they can stick to. If your car is leaking oil or any other fluid, cleaning the engine compartment will make finding the source of that leak much easier. And, it will make doing any repairs there much simpler and a lot less messy.
You should clean the engine compartment at a car wash that has a grease trap and not in your driveway. The grease and oil on the engine needs to be disposed of safely. Besides, if you do this on your driveway it will stain it.
Before you start, cover everything that should not get wet such as the air cleaner, filter and intake, alternator and the ignition parts. Plastic bags and rubber bands work well for this. If your car has a distributor, cover that as well. Then make sure all the fluid caps and dip sticks are tight enough to keep water out. Spray the trouble areas on the engine along with the firewall and all the hoses with a degreaser. Avoid using a harsh degreaser and try not to get it on it on the paint as it will remove the wax and possibly the paint. You should use a soft brush or toothbrush to work it loose. If you use a brush with metal bristles, it will leave scratch marks.
Now you can clean it with a gentle spray of water. Make sure you do not spray the engine when it is hot as you could damage some of the parts. Use a gentle spray of water and avoid spraying the parts of the car that should not get wet like the sensors or wiring. You should spray the air conditioner condenser to remove dirt and bugs from it. Do not use pressurized steam since it will be hard to control what gets wet and it may remove some paint. The engine should be warm but not hot when you spray it. Much of the debris will be collected in the drip pan underneath the car. You will need to remove it and dispose of the contents as waste oil.
Afterwards, dry the parts in the engine compartment with a towel and then uncover everything. Then, start the car and let it run for a few minutes to evaporate any remaining moisture.
If all of this seems way above your head, you may wish to have it done by a professional. You should be able to get it done for less than $50.
Karen Campese is the Co-founder and CEO of Cars4Charities, a not for profit car donation center. They have over 1,000 respected charities that you can donate your car to. When you donate your car, you get a tax deduction and help a good cause.
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