Tips for Cleaning Your Car's Engine and Keeping it Longer
There are many reasons to wash your engine at least annually or every two years. You will be better able to tackle routine belt and hose checks if you know you won't be covered in grime, and it will be easier to spot leaks and service components.
How to Clean your Engine:
First of all, before you start remember to protect sensitive engine components with plastic bags, including the air intake, distributor, and electrical parts.
- Use dish soap or other types of degreasing detergents and a bristle brush to scrub the motor and component surfaces.
- Rinse generously. Powerful engine cleaners are available at auto parts stores.
- Follow the instructions carefully. It is advisable to have your engine steam cleaned by professionals.
Also, Clean the Filters:
There are several filters (the main of which are oil, fuel, transmission, and air) important to the preservation of your car engine, and they should be changed according to the owner's manual schedule or as follows:
Oil Filter:
Change the oil filter to almost every oil change.
- It is best to change it every time because the old filter contains almost a liter (a pint) of dirty oil which will remain with the new, clean oil.
- If you are changing the oil yourself, wipe down the filters with an anti-seize lubricant, which can be purchased at auto supply stores.
Air Filter:
Check the air filter every two months and replace it when it becomes dirty or during an overhaul.
- Air filters are generally easier to reach than oil filters.
- They are found under the large metal cover in a carbureted engine or in a rectangular box in a fuel-injected engine.
- Consult the owner's manual for the exact location.
- Extend the life of air filters by blowing them with compressed air.
Fuel Filters:
Despite claims from manufacturers and dealers that some of the newer fuel filters never need to be changed, it is still best to do so once a year.
- A clogged fuel filter will lead to poor engine performance (hesitation and difficulty starting) and is an early warning indicating possible corrosion in your gas tank.
Transmission Fluid Filter:
Change the transmission fluid filter after the first 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) of driving and every 40,000 km (25,000 miles) or two years thereafter.
