Can You Wash Inside the Engine Hood When Cleaning the Car?
3 Answers
It is possible to wash inside the engine hood, but it is not recommended to do it yourself. It should be done by professionals at a 4S shop. When the engine operates at high temperatures, accumulated dirt and debris can produce unpleasant odors. Improper handling may lead to engine failure or electrical short circuits. Cleaning the engine compartment requires careful control of the water gun's flow, spray speed, and water volume. Pay attention to pipes that must not get wet and take waterproof measures for electronic devices. The engine compartment can be rinsed with water, but the angle of rinsing must be carefully considered. Always rinse from the front of the condenser, not the side, to avoid bending the aluminum fins of the condenser. Bent fins can affect engine cooling and even cause air conditioning system failures. Do not let water come into contact with the spark plugs. If water vapor enters the spark plugs, the car may fail to start. If non-original spark plugs have been replaced, there may inevitably be some gaps around the new spark plugs. It is not recommended to wash older vehicles with water. Over time, the protective piping for the wiring in the engine compartment may deteriorate. If the parking environment is poor, small animals may chew through the wiring pipes. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid water rinsing and instead use an air gun for cleaning.
Just had a new customer at the shop who drenched the entire engine bay with water—this calls for a serious talk. The engine bay isn’t off-limits for cleaning, but blasting it directly with a high-pressure washer is a big no-no! The densely packed wiring connectors are especially vulnerable to water, and with modern cars packed with electronic components—like fuse boxes, battery terminals, and headlight connectors—water intrusion is a surefire way to cause trouble. Cleaning the engine bay is a two-step process: First, wipe off surface dust with a dry cloth when the engine is cold. For areas with heavy grease, spray some engine foam cleaner, let it sit for ten minutes, then gently scrub with a toothbrush. Finally, wipe clean with a damp, well-wrung towel. Don’t cut corners—using a high-pressure washer might save time now, but a short circuit could cost you five years’ worth of car washes in repairs!
Last week, I tried cleaning the engine bay myself and found it much more labor-intensive than washing the car body. Here's the method I used: I bought a can of engine bay-specific cleaner from Taobao for about 20 yuan and a set of anti-static brushes for 10 yuan. After the car had completely cooled down, I opened the hood, sprayed the cleaner on areas with heavy grease buildup (avoiding wiring connectors), and scrubbed with the brushes for five minutes. Some stubborn stains required two rounds of scrubbing. Immediately after scrubbing, I wiped off the foam with a damp towel and finally sprayed a layer of wiring protector to prevent rubber parts from aging. Avoid water at all costs—those tutorials suggesting splashing water from a washbasin are misleading. My neighbor did that last time and short-circuited the ignition coils, costing 500 yuan in towing fees!
