# Best way to wash an engine bay **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** maintenance, engines\ **Created:** [April 9, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804 "2025-04-09T17:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidwilliam79x\_192784](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@davidwilliam79x\_192784](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davidwilliam79x_192784)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/1 "2025-04-09T17:22:29Z")
What is the best way to wash an engine bay?I have seen multiple videos where people wash them using water but is it safe?So many sensors,eleltrical components and alternator.If a bit of water is present wont they short and cause havoc. I have seen people wash them with the car battery and without.We cant remove the car battery right?That’s what our mechanic said when he was replacing our battery.He had a battery backup which he attached to the wires when replacing the battery. Some people remove the plastic covers when washing but arent they there to prevent water from getting in? So many questions … ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/2 "2025-04-09T17:29:49Z")
You are in India so what ever this vehicle is could influence the answer . Some vehicles are most easily damaged than others. I would just let a detail shop clean the engine bay . ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/3 "2025-04-09T17:30:47Z")
Get some engine cleaner. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/5/5/55485b3323d87086a909b7d48f26c0862b95e20c.jpeg) Go to a coin operated car wash. Spray the cleaner all over the engine. Take the spray wand and wash the engine cleaner off. Most electrical connectors under the hood are weather pack connectors. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/6/e6026ece3f86092e5aac41fcf0241173ccf829a5.jpeg) I’ve washed engines off using this method for years and never had a problem restarting the engine. Tester ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/4 "2025-04-09T18:09:10Z")
Yeah I use gunk. You want to cover electrical parts and be careful of those high pressure sprayers. I just use the garden hose with hot water. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/5 "2025-04-09T19:08:25Z")
Honestly, unless you have a bunch of really problematic oil leaks, etc… I think the best approach is Don’t. Not worth the potential problems/damage. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/6 "2025-04-09T19:14:12Z")
Yeah, once in a long while I just use some paper towels and windex to get what’s visible, do you have a particular need to do this? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/7 "2025-04-09T21:57:48Z")
I have a small sprayer the hooks to the compressor and can draw solution from a bottle. I dont use it much but can deliver a more focused spray. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/8 "2025-04-09T21:59:12Z")
I do much the same as Texas but I use spray detailer . ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/9 "2025-04-09T22:06:07Z")
I regularly wipe down everything I can reach with a microfiber cloth moistened with quick detailer spray. It all looks quite clean even after eleven years. When you’re cleaning the engine, always be aware that the cooling fan might turn on. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/10 "2025-04-10T00:18:39Z")
Unless I have a leak that’s hard to identify, I just don’t clean an engine/engine bay. For one thing, why? For another, yeah I’m a little paranoid about spraying fluids all around on those connectors. I get that they’re supposed to be weatherproof and all of that. But … ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/11 "2025-04-10T00:42:44Z")
Sometimes things happen under the hood where a mess is created where you need to clean the engine/bay before you can start the repair. A blown radiator/ heater hose or a blown power steering hose. That kind of thing. Back in the day, you would remove the air cleaner and put a plastic bag over the carb and blast the engine/bay down to remove the mess. With todays fuel injection and weather pack electrical connectors, you’d have to be a complete idiot to mess things up. Tester ---
**Author:** ![davidwilliam79x\_192784](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@davidwilliam79x\_192784](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davidwilliam79x_192784)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/12 "2025-04-10T15:02:43Z")
Good idea… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/13 "2025-04-10T15:58:28Z")
I’ve started using brake Kleen too to spray off grime. Not cheap and doesn’t go very far but does a good job. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/14 "2025-04-10T16:06:11Z")
With the amount of plastic being used under the hood these days, you’ve got to be careful with brake cleaner. > **[Will Brake Cleaner Damage Your Plastic? What You Need to Know](https://autotoride.com/will-brake-cleaner-cause-damage-to-plastic/)** > > Have you ever reached for that can of brake cleaner, thinking it’s the ultimate solution for cleaning your car? Well, you’re not alone! But here’s the question that might be on your mind: Will brake cleaner cause damage to plastic? If you’ve ever... Tester ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/15 "2025-04-10T16:32:36Z")
I was thinking what Tester said about the brake cleaner. It’s even more expensive, but I’ll generally use electric parts cleaner. It’s about as effective as brake cleaner and shouldn’t harm plastics. ![Untitled-1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6e4ddf47f1036241433b872f2285014511da890c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/16 "2025-04-11T14:46:20Z")
I like your idea. I used to wash my engine regularly. But after one mechanic told me that my rough running engine was due to water getting in the electronics I stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-way-to-wash-an-engine-bay/199804/17 "2025-04-11T15:09:07Z")
![johnathan_winters](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/9/b9311b8255396486ffccc8d7530df503057770c7.jpeg) Tester