Wash them all you want, but cars are dirty. Don’t think so? Work on yours and you’ll see. Grease and oil might keep your car running smoothly, but they’re a pain to clean up. Degreasers can make any job easier by letting you sluice the grime off the parts before you work on them, and helping you clean up afterward.
Multi-purpose degreasers come in handy spray cans and can be used to clean engines, parts, and painted concrete floors. Along with a stiff bristle brush they can clean up oil spots on concrete driveways, too.
Engine cleaning is the most common use for degreasers. Start by parking your car where the run-off won’t flow into sewers or onto areas where animals might drink it. Get a pair of heavy rubber gloves and some safety glasses to protect your eyes against splashback.
Warm up the engine for a few minutes, then shut it off, disconnect the battery, and cover all open air intakes and exposed electronics with plastic bags held in place with tape or rubber bands.
Spray degreaser on the engine, working from top to bottom. Avoid getting any on painted surfaces. Let the degreaser sit for a while to do its work, then rinse it off with a steady stream of water––a spray nozzle might splash degreaser on painted parts.
Uncover the intakes and electrics, hook the battery up, and you’re ready to roll.