
Polishing your vehicle’s posterior until it shines like glass and then leaving its engine bay untouched is like hopping in the shower and not washing your ass. Just because no one can see under there doesn’t mean it isn’t filthy as hell, and the longer you wait between scrubs the worse things are going to get down below.
Although hitting the car wash or scheduling a weekly car detailing routine is common practice for most people, drivers tend to forego cleaning their engine bays for a few reasons.
The typical excuse you hear is that they don’t want to damage any crucial components, and being that engines are typically an “out of sight, out of mind” part of the vehicle, it shouldn’t really matter anyway.
If a car engine runs fine without being hit with an engine cleaner once a year, why worry about things like stubborn dirt, carbon deposits, and grease building-up around the valve cover?
There are quite a few reasons why you should scrub where the sun doesn’t shine. On older vehicles, having a filthy engine bay will only make identifying a fluid leak all the more challenging.
Heavy layers of grime, road salt, engine fluids, and rust have also been known to expedite the deterioration of rubber components like vacuum lines and hoses. There is also the risk of corrosion, which can shorten the lifespan of crucial powertrain components and cause bolts to seize.
Many mechanics actually suggest cleaning your engine bay regularly, as it helps make their job all the more easy when it comes time to turn wrenches.
That said, there are some dangers associated with cleaning a vehicle’s engine bay, as well as a few myths.

Ever driven in the rain before and wondered if all that water that’s being pushed into your vehicle’s grille or kicked-up off the asphalt is going to damage your motor?
Modern automobile engine bays, and the components contained therein, are designed to withstand a certain amount of water penetration.
With a few precautionary steps in place, it is possible to safely spray-down your engine with water, an approach that expedites the cleaning process significantly.
Another myth is that spraying cleaning chemicals under your hood will damage sensitive components. Unless you have an exposed air filter or there’s an unplugged electrical connector, dousing your engine bay with an automotive degreaser is not going to hurt anything.
That being said, there are some precautions that go with using these grime-removing man-made chemical concoctions.
Levels of care offered and the pricing that goes along with these services varies greatly, so be sure to research your local options thoroughly before letting someone clean your engine.
Some pro detailing shops offer engine degreasing as an “add-on option” when scheduling an appointment.
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