It is common for pine needles and leaves to collect at the bottom of the windshield and then fall into the engine bay. Look for small animal nests, particularly as the weather becomes cooler.
You may choose to disconnect the positive terminal as well to remove and clean the battery outside of the engine bay. If you leave the battery in the vehicle, tuck the ground cable to the side to prevent it from coming into contact with the terminal.
Small plastic bags or plastic cling wrap work well to offer protection from water. Refer to your vehicle’s service manual if you are unsure if it came equipped with a distributor or where to find the spark plug inlets.
Don’t leave the engine running for too long, or you may burn yourself when you begin to clean again.
Most degreasers come in a spray bottle to make spraying it on the engine easy and simple. Read the instructions on the degreaser you purchase to ensure you use the best method for the specific cleaner.
Degreaser can remove the shine from automotive paint. Rinse degreaser off painted surfaces as quickly as possible.
If the instructions on the degreaser you chose states a different amount of time, follow the instructions on your bottle. The longer the degreaser sits, the better job it will do. After five minutes or so the degreaser will begin to drip off of the engine.
Wear eye protection while scrubbing the engine to avoid getting degreaser in your eyes. Wear gloves to prevent prolonged contact with the degreaser on your skin. You only need to scrub the engine if it has unusually large deposits of stuck on grime.
If you rinse the engine completely and it still looks dirty, reapply the degreaser and allow it to sit for another few minutes.
Be sure to use a different bucket, sponges, rags and towels on the body of the car. Wax any areas of the car that may have come into contact with degreaser.
Soaking the ends of the battery cables in an anti-corrosion chemical like CLR can also help ensure a strong electrical connection.
Baking soda makes for an effective cleaning solution as well as a neutralizer for the battery acid.
You may choose to remove the components to clean them out of the engine bay, but it is not required. Avoid using steel toothed brushes on plastic as it may cause scratches.
Be careful using brake cleaner in enclosed areas as the fumes can be hazardous. Brake cleaner is extremely flammable, so don’t use it while smoking or near flames.
