Road Safety Blog

Should you wash your car’s engine bay?

Perhaps you would like your car to look bright and shiny for the New Year. We all tend to think that vehicles only need to be cleaned on the outside and the car’s interior. But according to fixautousa.com1, an engine bay needs to be cleaned no matter what kind of car. While cleaning, you may stumble on some issues. Read on to find out more.1

Should you clean the engine bay regularly?1

You should clean the engine bay about twice a year if you live in an urban area whereas, in dusty rural regions, it should be every 3 months.

What about washing the engine bay yourself? 1

When applying water in the engine bay, take great care because many electrical and electronic parts are sensitive to moisture and may malfunction after such a clean.

Will a clean engine help a car’s performance? 1

The idea behind cleaning a car’s engine is to improve its looks and not improve its performance. However, during the cleaning process, you may also stumble across some issues that need to be addressed, such as an oil leak or a rubber hose leaking coolant.

Some of the issues you could check regarding a clean engine on the inside are shown below.

Check the coolant level1

The purpose of an engine coolant is to cool down the engine, preventing overheating. However, sometimes the coolant can become polluted with impurities such as oil and look like sludge. When you notice this, replace it with a new coolant as soon as possible. Otherwise, top up if the coolant level has dropped below the indicated mark.

When last did you change the oil? 1

Dirty oil contains minute metallic particles that have an abrasive action on the engine parts. Thick oil is dirty oil. To avoid this unnecessary engine wear and improve fuel economy, have the oil changed regularly.

Commit to prescribed service intervals1

Skipping any service and especially a major service, must be avoided because the risk of engine damage increases. Some essential items checked or replaced in a major service are spark plugs, belts, hoses, and an air filter, preventing dust and pollen from entering the engine. Prevention is better than cure, they say, so follow the different service requirements as shown in the car’s manual, and your vehicle will give you an excellent service in return.

Can anyone clean the engine bay? 1

Certainly not – you must know what you are doing. If you are unsure, consult the professional people who can help you. They will also spot any mechanical or electrical issues with their trained eyes.

Everything in life also boils down to experience. That is why car service professionals advise you about cleaning the engine bay. You may take care of your car’s engine bay, but do you have adequate car insurance for your vehicle? Are you looking for affordable car insurance? Contact PMD about affordable car insurance, which includes convenient and unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce to zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.

Source:

1https://fixautousa.com/blog/do-car-engines-need-to-be-cleaned/

This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.

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