You probably heard that some people use WD40 to clean their car engines and you wonder if WD40 will do damage to your car engine. Wonder no more.
You can clean your car engine with WD40 without damaging it. Cleaning your car engine will WD40 will protect the metal parts from rust. It will aid you in removing grease and grime from the engine parts. However, keep in mind that WD40 is a liquid and you should stay away from spraying it directly into the electrical components.
There are many ways you can clean your car engine
. I would like to share my experience with you and tell you which ways actually work.
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How To Clean Your Engine With WD40
You don’t have to be a mechanic to clean your engine with wd40. Make sure you follow my steps and you will have a shiny engine in no time.
1. Get the correct type of WD40
Not to exaggerate, but there are over 20 types of WD40. It is very important to get the correct type of WD40 if you are going to clean the engine bay. Why is this important? Well, in the engine bay, you will find all kinds of electrical wires, contacts, sensors, and whatnot. These electrically powered components are very sensitive. However, there is a WD40 design especially not to harm the electrical contacts.
So, either go to your local auto equipment store or order a Multi-use WD40 on amazon.com.
2. Prepare the required items
Although it seems simple, it’s important to have all your cleaning supplies laid out right next to your engine. That’s going to make it a lot quicker to clean the engine and a lot more enjoyable because your products are going to be right there for you to use. It’s also a good idea to put on some gloves to protect your hands from chemicals and oils and put on some safety glasses just in case some dirt splashes on your face.
3. Let the engine run for about five minutes
Open the hood and let the engine run for about five minutes. In this five-minute period, the engine will get just warm enough to loosen up the grime and gunk a little bit. This will help the WD40 to clean the engine even faster.
4. Isolate the power source – the car battery
Start off by isolating the power source which is the battery by disconnecting it. If your battery is easily removable, please remove it because it will be easy to clean the area beneath the battery. But if you cannot remove the battery, make sure you disconnect the positive and negative leads and isolate them from the rest of the car.
Everybody’s biggest concern when cleaning their engine bay is getting water in something that you shouldn’t and then it shorts out. But, with the battery completely disconnected, there’s no electric running through any of this so you can’t short anything out. There’s a lot less to worry about and then when we’re done cleaning and detailing the engine we can make sure everything is dry and then reconnect the battery and we’ll be good to go.
Even though we disconnected the battery there are still some components that we don’t want to get wet. Sure you can get a little wet, but you don’t want to get them soaking wet for example. We have the alternator, and distributor(some cars have two distributors). Follow your spark plug wires and press down the caps to make sure they are forced all the way down.
5. Dry clean the engine
Start by using the brush and vacuum cleaner together, and kinda throw the dust into the vacuum cleaner with the brush. You want to brush off as many surfaces in the engine bay as you can. This process is pretty quick and it only takes about five minutes and it’s definitely helpful. If you have any rust on your metal engine parts, you can use the metal wire brush and take the rust off. That’s all it takes to dry clean the engine.
6. Spray the plastic parts with WD40
Most vehicles, especially modern ones have a lot of plastic parts/covers. These plastic covers and parts are made black and might appear clean at first. But, if you wipe them with a white towel, you will see how dirty they are. So, start by spraying them first. After you spray the WD40, wipe it with a clean towel.
7. Move on to the metal parts
Next up are the metal parts of the engine. These can be especially dirty from oil, coolant, dirt, and debris. Removing thick grease areas will allow your engine to cool down faster because the grease acts as a layer of insulation between the engine and the cold air around it.
To best clean the metal parts of the engine, you might need a brush to agitate the grease. So, start by spraying the WD40, and try to wipe it with a towel. If there is still dirt present, spray it again with WD40, but only this time use a brush.
8. Let the engine dry
After cleaning the engine with WD40, it is very important that you let it dry. Depending on the weather conditions, the drying process can take up to two hours. During the drying process, make sure to keep the hood open and not start the vehicle.
Is It Worth It To Clean The Car Engine?
Cleaning your car engine is absolutely worth it, although it may seem like a daunting task. Considering how much time and money you’ve invested in your vehicle, taking the time to regularly clean its engine can save you hundreds of dollars over the lifespan of the car.
By inspecting and removing any buildup of dirt, debris, and oil deposits that can accumulate over time, you can help keep your engine functioning efficiently. With the right products and tools, not only will your car look better inside and out but it will also run more smoothly and last longer.
Keeping your engine in good condition can make a world of difference when it comes to the longevity and performance of your vehicle. But how often should you really be cleaning your engine? Generally, most experts recommend cleaning it every 10,000 – 15,000 miles or so. This allows you to get rid of any build-up from oxidation and combustion, as well as remove any dirt, grease and grime that may have accumulated over time.
