After an epic trip to Big Bend. I have a little bit of maintenance to do on the Jeep. The interior and paint was first, now it’s time for the engine. The back country roads at Big Bend National Park were dry and dusty. That left the a fine white coat of dust on everything. For Jeepers accustom to wheeling in the desert I’m sure they are used to this. It’s time to clean it up.
Before:
After:
Here’s the process I use to detail my engine.
- Use a leaf blower in and around the engine to remove the dust.
- Cover the air box with a plastic bag
- Spray the engine with water to get everything wet.
- Apply a generous coat of Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner mixed strong at 4:1.
- Use a variety of brushes to agitate the dirt, it’s important to not allow the cleaner to dry so work quickly.
- Spray the engine bay with water to rinse off the cleaner/degreaser.
- Use the leaf blower (or compressed air if you have it) to blow the water off the engine. This prevents water spots and encourages the dirt and grime to leave the engine bay.
- Use a microfiber cloth to dry anything that the blower couldn’t get to.
- Remove the plastic bag.
- Start the Jeep and allow it to heat up to evaporate any remaining water.
- Enjoy your clean engine
