Alright, so I finally got around to tackling the engine bay on my car. It was, let's be honest, a complete disaster zone under there. We're talking years of accumulated gunk, oil, dirt, leaves, who knows what else. Every time I had to check the oil, I'd just sigh looking at the mess. It was embarrassing, frankly.

So, this weekend, I decided enough was enough. I went out and bought a can of that spray engine degreaser. You know the stuff, comes in an aerosol can, promises to melt away all the grime. I was a bit skeptical, but also desperate.

Getting Started - The "Preparation"

First thing, the instructions said to make sure the engine was cool. Luckily, the car hadn't been run all day, so that was sorted. Then it mentioned covering up sensitive bits – alternator, air intake, any exposed electrical connections. I did my best, you know? Grabbed a few old plastic shopping bags and kind of draped them over the alternator and the air filter box. Probably not what a professional would do, but hey, it felt like I was doing something right.

I also made sure to wear some old clothes and gloves, because I had a feeling this was gonna get messy. And eye protection! Almost forgot that, but the can warned about it, so I slapped on some safety glasses.

The Spraying and Soaking Saga

Then came the fun part. Shook that can like there was no tomorrow and just went to town on the engine. Sprayed it liberally all over the valve cover, the block, around the manifold, trying to get into all those hard-to-reach spots. The stuff has a pretty strong chemical smell, so I made sure I was doing this outside with a bit of a breeze. You definitely don't want to be inhaling too much of that.

The can said to let it soak for about 10 to 15 minutes. So, I set a timer on my phone and just kind of stood there, watching it. You could see the degreaser starting to work almost immediately, the liquid turning a nasty brown color as it started to dissolve the grease. It was kind of satisfying, actually. I was thinking, "Is this really going to work, or am I just making a bigger mess?" That's always the gamble with these things, isn't it?

I remember my old man trying to clean an engine once with, I don't know, some household cleaner. It didn't go well. Left streaks everywhere and barely touched the grease. So, my expectations were, let's say, cautiously optimistic.

Rinsing and the Moment of Truth

Once the 15 minutes were up, it was time to rinse. The instructions said to use a gentle stream of water. I was a bit nervous about spraying water all over my engine, even with the plastic bags, but I took a deep breath and went for it. Used the garden hose on a light shower setting.

And you know what? A whole lot of that grime just washed right off! It was pretty impressive. The really thick, baked-on stuff needed a bit of persuasion. I had an old stiff-bristled brush handy, so I went back over a few spots, gave them a scrub, and rinsed again. That did the trick for most of it.

It wasn't like a brand-new, off-the-showroom-floor engine afterwards, don't get me wrong. Some stains were still there, probably been there since the car was built. But the difference was huge. You could actually see the metal parts again! All the loose dirt and oily residue was gone.

Final Thoughts and What I'd Do Next Time

After rinsing, I carefully removed the plastic bags and let everything air dry for a good while. I even started the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes to help dry things out with the heat, just like the can suggested. Seemed to work fine, no sputtering or weird noises, which was a relief.

So, yeah, that spray engine degreaser? It actually does a pretty decent job. It’s not a magic wand, you still might need a bit of elbow grease for the really stubborn bits, but it definitely makes a nasty job a whole lot easier. My engine bay looks about 80% better, which I'm pretty happy with.

Next time, I think I'll be a bit more thorough with covering the electrical components. Maybe use some proper plastic sheeting and tape. And I'll definitely wear a mask, because those fumes were no joke. But overall, a success! At least now I won't be quite so ashamed to pop the hood.