What is the best way to wash a car engine in 2022?

The key to successful cleaning of the engine compartment is the use of high-quality products and full compliance with washing technology. Otherwise, instead of a clean engine, the car owner may encounter a number of malfunctions caused by the presence of moisture or mechanical damage. Breakdowns can also occur as a result of too aggressive action of the active components of the substance on rubber and metal surfaces, so the choice of how to wash your car engine from dirt and oil should be approached with the utmost care.

Should you wash your car engine?

Ask any specialist whether you need to wash your car engine, and you will hear that washing the engine is mandatory if you want to extend its life.
Leaking cooling system fluids, a mixture of fuel and oil, dust and dirt not only reduce the aesthetics of the engine's appearance, but also clog the air ducts, creating a special thermal layer that contributes to engine overheating. Engine washing is generally recommended in the following cases:

1. Selling a car - a clean engine always looks better and gives the car a marketable appearance. Another thing is that if it looks too clean, it may cause unnecessary concern to the buyer, who may suspect that you simply decided to hide engine defects by washing them off the surface. Therefore, it is recommended to wash the engine, but not to rub it to a mirror shine.
2. Major repairs and diagnostics - here it is better to wash the engine yourself in order to save money. For cleaning the unit, a specialist will add a couple of hundred rubles, which you can save by cleaning the engine yourself.

Important: keep in mind that if you do not properly close the wires and cables coming from the engine, compartments with spark plugs and other places through which moisture can get inside the unit, this may cause its failure. It is also recommended to wash the engine only when it is heated to 50 degrees, no more and no less, so as not to cause problems in the future. After washing, you cannot start the starter immediately. It is necessary to let the engine and all elements dry, otherwise the consequences will also be extremely negative.

The process of washing an engine in 2022 involves the use of special chemicals to clean its metal, rubber and plastic elements. We will talk further about which product is better to choose and how to use it.

Why do you need to wash?

Washing a car engine is not only an aesthetic moment. This procedure must be performed for a number of other reasons:

• Road dust and dirt that accumulates on the surface of the motor impairs its heat transfer. As a result, the engine does not operate in its normal mode. This increases the wear of its parts and affects the resource as a whole.
• In the case of oil drips (they can form both under the valve cover and at the junction of the block with the cylinder head), dirt will stick at an incredible speed. As a result, both the engine and its attachments will be covered with a thick black coating. This makes it very difficult to visually inspect the parts. Also, when oil comes into contact with hot engine parts (exhaust manifold), it begins to burn. This provokes a sharp and unpleasant odor that penetrates the interior.

To avoid such problems, you should choose the best car engine cleaner. Below we will pay closer attention to this issue.

Experts' opinion

At the moment, expert opinions differ greatly on how often and with what to wash a vehicle engine. Some are confident that the procedure should be carried out only once a year, while others – once every few years. However, all experts say that the engine needs to be washed. In this case, it is advisable to use special means. After all, road reagents that settle in the engine compartment negatively affect the operation of the vehicle.

In addition, a dirty unit is subject to overheating much more often than a clean one. After all, a layer of accumulated dirt simply reduces heat transfer. Of course, due to the accelerated wear of all parts, the service life of the motor is significantly reduced. Oily stains, according to experts, increase the risk of fire and also have a bad effect on electrical wiring. It is worth considering that a dirty engine is more difficult to maintain. And when selling a vehicle, this condition of the engine simply scares away buyers.

Types of funds

Which car engine cleaner should I choose? You can do this procedure with your own hands using one of two types of means:

• Specialized.
• Universal.

The first product is only suitable for specific types of stains. For example, you need to remove oil deposits that have leaked due to a broken crankshaft oil seal or some kind of gasket. The product will perfectly remove this contamination, but will be powerless against the rest. Universal ones are used for complex cleaning. But sometimes for a high-quality result you have to repeat this procedure again. Which do-it-yourself engine cleaner to choose? Experts recommend using universal drugs. But in advanced cases you cannot do without specialized ones.

Products are also differentiated by type of container. So, there are means for washing the engine in canisters (usually 5 liters each). It is very inconvenient to use them - you have to pour them into another, smaller container. The most suitable option is products in the form of a spray spray and cans. The product is sprayed evenly onto the surface and even reaches hidden cavities.

Types of chemicals for transport

There are several types of engine wash products:

1. Universal. This composition is suitable for removing many types of contamination.
2. Specialized. This product fights certain types of contaminants.

Similar compositions are sold in various containers, for example:

1. In glass containers.
2. Aerosol cans.
3. The bottles are plastic.

The last two types are considered the safest and most convenient. Concentrated gel allows you to prepare a solution of the required concentration, which is proportional to the degree of engine contamination. To choose a good engine cleaner, you should carefully study the composition and also pay attention to the name of the company that manufactured the product. You should not buy chemicals from unknown brands.

What is not recommended for washing?

As already noted, a certain effect can be achieved with the help of ordinary cleaning solutions; another thing is that they are more likely to exhaust the driver himself than to completely rid the surface of dirt. But if this option is acceptable in principle, then diesel and gasoline are even prohibited from being used for such purposes. This is especially true for the second type of fuel, since even the slightest spark will be enough to ignite. Diesel is completely useless as an engine cleaner and is more likely to only make the situation worse.

Effective products for cleaning the power unit and engine compartment

The list contains preparations that are easy to use and with which it is easy to achieve the purity of the components:

Simple Green Crystal

The crystal in the name indicates that this product is crystal clear in both appearance and smell. This sets it apart from Simple Green's other line of cleaning products, many of which are, surprisingly, green in color.

This means that this engine oil and dirt cleaner is very good at degreasing the engine without any colorants remaining inside the engine. Instead, this product is non-toxic, biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-corrosive and non-flammable.

However, it is a very effective degreaser and cleaner that will really help your engine. It's also very concentrated, so you may want to dilute it before applying. This will increase its volume, which, considering the fairly low price, is a very nice feature.

Oil Eater Original

Oil Eater Original is a very “gentle” chemical for washing a car engine. It also does not contain acids, abrasives or petroleum solvents.

This is an impressive list of things that engine wash shampoo will remove. This product is designed for degreasing and it does a very good job of eliminating and dissolving all types of fats and oils.

It is also safe for use in a wide range of non-automotive applications. You can rely on it to safely remove any grease or oil stains from any type of material, from carpets to asphalt. This fact helps make Oil Eater Original extremely versatile. It is very concentrated so you can dilute it to suit any application.

Purple Power Industrial Strength

This is a powerful degreasing car engine cleaner with a wide range of applications. It's non-abrasive, phosphate-free, and biodegradable, but we suspect it may not be as gentle as some of the other products on this list.

For example, hidden in the instructions is the instruction not to use it on plastics or aluminum. This means you need to be very careful when using it. On the other hand, it is a very cheap engine cleaner, making it one of the best value products on the list.

Pestone Heavy Duty

Pestone Heavy Duty is an aerosol cleaner that breaks down dirt and oil in ten minutes, after which it is enough to rinse off with water. When it comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned, the product forms foam. The product helps to cope with oil deposits and dirt, but it cannot remove old deposits; it is a good product for regular engine care.

LAUREL

Laurel is a domestic cleaner that forms foam in the process. Not only removes various types of contaminants, but also protects engine components from corrosive processes. It is provided by the manufacturer as a concentrate, therefore during preparation it is necessary to mix it with water, after which the solution is sprayed onto the surfaces to be cleaned. Exposure time is no more than five minutes. If the contamination is significant, the concentrate is not diluted.

"Liqui Moly"

It is a spray cleaner. Sold in a 400 ml bottle. According to the instructions, after applying the drug, you need to wait 15-20 minutes and rinse everything off with a stream of clean water. The Liquid Moly product copes with fatty deposits, road dust, reagents and oily stains. According to the manufacturer, the product provides 100% results. In practice, the original tool really coped with the task. But when purchasing, you need to remember that under the Liquid Moly brand, a lot of fakes are offered at a reduced price.

This is already a Russian product, produced in Chelyabinsk. It is a concentrated cleaner for universal use. It has a foam composition containing emulsifiers and solvents.

• The concentrate is mixed with water in a ratio of one to three.
• The engine warms up to operating temperatures.
• The air duct, power supply and other vulnerable elements are closed.
• The solution is applied using a sprayer.
• After five minutes, the product can be removed with a high-pressure jet.
• In case of severe contamination, it is possible to use the concentrate without pre-mixing.

Is Laurel the best engine cleaner? This is a highly controversial issue. This tool is mostly suitable for specialized services rather than for the average car owner. The volume of the solution can reach 15 liters.

Cleaner "Consol"

This is a Russian-made product. Also available in aerosol form. A can of 52 milliliters costs approximately 70 rubles. The manufacturer indicated that this composition is safe for many paints, plastics and rubber coatings. There are also some nuances in the instructions that are worth paying attention to. So, you need to apply a DIY engine cleaner to all surfaces that need to be cleaned, and after five minutes, rinse with water under high pressure. But to remove carbon deposits and grease, it is better to use a minimal amount of liquid. This part of the instructions is not clear. It is quite difficult to imagine the combination of a minimum amount of water and strong pressure. Most likely, this requires a Kercher device. If this is not the case, then ordinary tap water with low pressure will do. As a result, the product removes only light stains. Strongly oily areas remain. Road dirt will have to be removed with a brush.

Simple Green

The good thing about choosing an all-purpose car engine cleaner is that you know it will be gentle enough to be used on a variety of surfaces. However, this somewhat understates the capabilities of this cleaner and degreaser from Simple Green, which can be used on a variety of materials.

Among them we find painted surfaces, aluminum, polished and stainless steel, chrome, plastic and vinyl. This means that while you still need to be careful (since this is a powerful cleaner), you have the ability to spray it all over your engine block without worrying about the product getting on a surface it shouldn't.

It has a wide range of uses around the home, making it extremely economical, and the product is non-toxic, so you don't have to worry about waste water getting onto your lawn when you rinse the machine.

Liqui Moly motorraum

You can decide how to remove oil from your engine by looking at Liquid Moly products. The cleaning properties of Motorraum are at the proper level. The product can be used if you need to wash the engine in winter.

Liqui Moly Cleaner

The disadvantage of the product is the lack of Russian-language instructions. From the English version you can understand that the time for acidification of contaminants is 10-20 minutes. The readability of the packaging is mediocre.

How to choose an engine cleaner

We recommend paying attention to aerosol products. They are considered much more convenient than triggers or foam compositions; they allow you to quickly apply the mixture even to the most inaccessible places.

Otherwise, when faced with the dilemma of choosing a means to wash the engine, it is recommended to pay attention to the following nuances:

• Functionality and safety for rubber and plastic parts. High-quality products do not destroy rubber wires, plastic tubes and other synthetic materials. Moreover, they are designed to prevent their destruction and deformation and are fireproof. Also, the product should not harm the human body, since it is often used inside cramped, enclosed spaces - garages.
• Efficiency - a good cleaner for external engine washing should effectively dissolve grease and oil stains, as well as wash away dirt.
• Price/volume – if the price-quality ratio cannot always be found on the modern car cosmetics market, then the cost of the product should certainly correspond to its volume. Firstly, this is important in order to completely and efficiently clean all engine parts, and secondly, if you plan to regularly keep the unit clean, it is recommended to select bulk bottles and jars, so as not to run “for a second one” later and save money .
• Ease of use is another plus in favor of aerosol cleaners. They allow you not to come into contact with chemicals with your hands and penetrate into the most inaccessible places, while manual triggers and liquid foam require constant contact with aggressive substances for human skin. After using such products, it is recommended to immediately wash your hands, or even better, to carry out all work with auto chemicals to wash the car engine using gloves.

Is it possible to make a cleaner with your own hands?

Professional car cosmetics contain active ingredients that are not available to ordinary consumers. Do-it-yourself car engine cleaner is not comparable to store-bought chemicals. But this does not prevent car owners from periodically resorting to improvised cleaners:

1. Kerosene or diesel fuel helps in the fight against severe pollution. Both components have a pungent odor and are prone to combustion; use them with caution. The battery cannot be washed this way! After the vehicle warms up, gray smoke will appear, which will soon disappear.
2. The use of household cleaners is effective for minor dirt and dust. The product contains acids or alkalis that can damage the engine elements.

Dry car engine washing is very popular. The procedure will require a steam generator with nozzles. Dirt can be removed from all crevices without fear of problems with electronics. Hot steam copes with all types of contaminants.

To admire the appearance of the engine, you need to periodically look under the hood and take care of its contents, and a homemade car detergent will help maintain its original appearance. An annual wash will save your car from overheating, help the car function properly and save the driver’s precious nerves.

STP heavy duty engine degreaser

Thanks to the content of strong active ingredients, STP products will remove most stains. Their use is possible not only on cars, but also on tractors. The drug is made in the form of an aerosol, which will protect the car owner from troubles that arise when the Check Engine light comes on.

Car care products from STP

In terms of its effectiveness, the aerosol is as effective as a steam cleaning unit. Even with a thick layer, the product dissolves up to 90% of contaminants. Recommended for frequent off-road trips.

Washing technique

To begin with, it is worth preparing the power unit for cleaning procedures. This is done by isolating areas that should not have contact with water. So, before washing the engine, you need to seal the air filter, battery pack, terminals and other areas with electrical connections with tape and polyethylene.

Next, you can apply the composition. Depending on the volume of cleaning mass, a brush or rag of a certain size may be required. It is usually not recommended to apply a large volume of cleaning mass at once - as you rub with a brush and dilute with water, foam is produced that covers a much larger area. In the question of how to wash the engine, its temperature is also important. The optimal mode from the point of view of dirt removal efficiency is considered to be 50-80°C, but not all preparations support the possibility of contact with hot surfaces.

Useful tips

To avoid having to repair the engine after washing, you need to follow a number of rules. Below you will find the most important nuances, which even car wash specialists are often unaware of.

• The engine should be slightly warm. The optimal temperature is between 15–35 degrees. In this case, on the one hand, you will not damage the motor, on the other hand, there will be no additional difficulties in cleaning up contaminants. If the engine is at operating temperature (80°-95°C) when exposed to colder detergent, the block may crack or become deformed and you risk getting burned. If the power unit is completely cold, there may be a problem with cleaning it from complex contaminants.
• If you use a wet washer, pay attention to the temperature of the water or solution. You need to make it approximately the same as the engine temperature. The deviation should not be more than 10° in any direction.
• If there is an alarm, it is best to turn it off while washing. We also cover the sensors with film. In some cases, after this work, the car alarm may “glitch”; this can be solved simply by restarting the system and disconnecting the terminal from the battery. It is enough to do this once, and the alarm starts working as it should.
• Drivers often forget about the air intake, but it should be covered. During the washing process, water can get there, which means it will get into the cylinders. This will lead to water hammer, and if it’s easier, to the need to change the motor. After a water hammer, the engine cannot be repaired. To avoid such problems, cover the air intake with something.
• If there are complex stains, do not try to wipe them off with gasoline, oil or solvent. This, of course, will help cope with pollution, but you may end up with a car fire; a clean engine is not worth a burnt-out engine compartment.
• Another non-obvious action in preparation. Cover the factory stickers with something. They will probably come off when washed. If your car is under warranty, this may lead to unnecessary questions in the event of warranty repairs. Yes, and in any other case, the information on these stickers can be very useful.
• It is not always possible to blow out the engine with compressed air in a personal garage. Experienced drivers replace the compressor with a regular vacuum cleaner. Just turn it on to blow mode. This allows you to thoroughly ventilate the engine and remove any remaining water.

Precautionary measures

The chemical composition of specialized products is unsafe, so the user must remember some handling rules:

• It is required to protect the respiratory system - use a mask (respirator), wear gloves;
• It is advisable to use sleeves;
• safety glasses required;
• work uniform.

The drugs splash, contact with the skin or eyes is unacceptable, as they provoke inflammation or allergic reactions. Clothes can be damaged by oil stains from the engine compartment.

Some nuances

Engine wash products differ in composition. However, there is no radical mixture that can remove contaminants of any type and any complexity. After pouring out even a whole jar of this composition, you can be very disappointed. In any case, the engine will not look like new. But the instructions write about this so beautifully. As reviews show, all car engine cleaners are similar in principle of action. It is enough to spray the contents on a still warm engine and after ten minutes, rinse everything off with water.

However, in most cases, the manufacturer does not indicate at what pressure to wash off the dirt. The water temperature is also not written. If there is a thin layer of dirt and just a little oil on the surface of the engine, then almost any composition will cope with the task. Contaminants will quickly dissolve, and water will remove the entire suspension. As a result, all surfaces of the unit will be clean.

Heavy and medium stains are much more difficult to remove. In most cases, one container of product is not enough.

Cleaning the cooling system

Over time, the channels of the cooling system become covered with scale and salt deposits. This is explained by the constant heating and cooling of antifreeze.

Washing is performed in the following way:

1. Used antifreeze is removed from the system. Mix distilled water with vinegar. Pour the composition into the cooling system.
2. Turn on the engine for 10-15 minutes. Drain the flushing composition.
3. Fill in new antifreeze.

Folk remedies are not always effective. Chemical compounds help clean cooling channels faster.

Test of foam and universal engine cleaners

Now let's move on to the test. After applying Prestone Heavy Duty to a dirty plate, intense foaming was immediately observed. Considering that this is a foam cleaner, it is convenient to apply. The foam “clings” well to vertical surfaces and is held in hard-to-reach places.

However, after the recommended time according to the instructions was maintained, during which the composition was supposed to remove dirt, and washed off with water, the bulk of the dirt remained on the surface.

As a result, we can only talk about a decrease in the thickness of the contaminant layer, but the final result still does not correspond to what was expected. It turns out that this solution can only be used in case of minor contamination of the engine compartment and preventive cleaning.

• The STP Heavy Duty engine cleaner was tested next. This product is an aerosol, the consumption of the composition is slightly higher compared to foam analogues. However, the cleaning ability turned out to be quite high; about 80% of all contaminants were removed. In hard-to-reach places and areas where the product did not reach in full, a decrease in the layer of dirt was also noted.
• Next, the Liqui Moly Motorraum-Reiniger aerosol preparation was tested. This spray cleaner washed almost 90% of the area of ​​contaminants on the test plate, and in remote areas it significantly reduced the thickness of the caked layer of oil, lithol and sand. We can conclude that the solution works well even if the engine is very dirty.

We also recommend reading the article on how to properly wash a car engine with Karcher. From this article you will learn about the features of washing an engine with a high-pressure apparatus, as well as the subtleties and nuances that need to be taken into account as part of this procedure.

• Next on the list is the Kerry KR-935. The engine cleaner is foam, and before use it requires warming up the engine to operating temperature, that is, it requires application to a very hot surface. In this case, avoid contact with the exhaust manifold, as it may cause a fire.

In terms of effectiveness, this composition did not perform well. The contaminated surface, even in the place of the most active application, is poorly cleaned; the thickness of the layer of dirt in remote areas practically does not decrease. For this reason, this product is only suitable for superficial “cosmetic” cleaning, and not as a solution for combating old dirt. The only advantage of this product is its affordable price.

• The Lavr foam engine cleaner completes the list. Let us note right away that this is a concentrate, which is sold in canisters of just over 3 liters. Before use, the product must be mixed with water in a ratio of 1/3 or 1/5. If the engine contamination is very strong, you can use only concentrate without diluting it with water.

You will also need to have a separate sprayer for applying the composition. Before spraying, the engine must be warmed up to operating temperature; it is recommended to wash off the cleaner with a powerful stream of water from a high-pressure apparatus.

Please note that this cleaner must be applied to a hot engine, not a warm one. According to the manufacturer itself, the composition is fireproof. In this case, the maximum effectiveness of the action is manifested when the product is boiling. This boiling of the cleaner occurs when heated to about 80 degrees Celsius. Boiling will be indicated by active foaming after application to a heated surface.

As for the comparative analysis, it showed that the cleaning properties of Lavr were average, but this solution turned out to be better than others among other foam engine cleaners in this test. It should also be noted that the composition was washed off with water, but not under high pressure. This suggests that pressure washing may well improve the end result.

Laurel

The concentrate is produced where it is packaged in 3.35 liter canisters. The cost starts from 250 rubles. In addition to its cleaning properties, “Lavr” is fireproof and prevents corrosion. The packaging contains detailed instructions that tell you about the nuances when washing the engine: the engine is warmed up to 80 °C and then the product is sprayed.

This increases the chances of removing stubborn stains. The concentrated solution is diluted with ordinary water 3-5 times, but if there is heavy dirt on the engine, you can use an undiluted product. To use the product you will have to buy a spray bottle.

Let's sum it up

As you can see, among the various compositions for external engine cleaning, foam products show average results compared to aerosols from well-known brands. At the same time, foam cleaners, as a rule, are somewhat cheaper, consume less when applied to the surface, and are also better retained on vertical surfaces.

We also recommend reading the article on how to wash a car engine at home. From this article you will learn about the features of washing an engine with your own hands using various available household products. If we talk about fire risks, you should not assume that foam cleaners are safer than aerosols. As practice shows, foam cleaner can also cause a fire if it gets on a hot exhaust manifold.

Finally, we note that regardless of the type of cleaner, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions before use, and also adhere to all the recommendations of the manufacturer of a particular product.

Pingo motor kaltreininiger

The product is used for mild pollution control. Washing parts is recommended on a cold engine. Upon completion of cleaning, a protective film remains on the treated surfaces.

Pingo Engine Cleaner

Due to its mild action, the product does not clean all contaminants, so it can only be recommended for preventive cleaning of engines. By regularly cleaning the units with Pingo, the power unit will remain in good condition.