Under the Hood: Using Degreasers to Maintain Engine Performance

There is just something about a clean work truck that is so undeniably satisfying. Whether it is after you received a professional detail or even if you just washed it yourself, it doesn’t take a pro to appreciate a vehicle that is clean both inside and out. Seeing your company work truck clean and polished will bring a smile to most. But when was the last time you looked at your engine?

While the exterior and interior of work trucks get plenty of attention, the engine bay often goes overlooked since it is tucked away under the hood. Out of sight, out of mind, right? However, the constant use of your work-truck or construction vehicle inherently results in the buildup of grease, oil and dirt in the engine bay. This buildup can lead to increased wear and tear, corrosion, reduced efficiency and even overheating.

Luckily, engine degreasers exist to address this!

In today’s piece, we look at what engine degreasers are and the types available. We further investigate the benefits of degreasers and how to use them effectively.

To start, let's unpack what engine degreasers really are.

Engine degreasers are specialized cleaning agents designed to remove grease, oil and dirt from your vehicle's engine. Their primary purpose is to keep the engine of your vehicle and its surrounding parts clean. Correct usage thereof improves vehicle performance while providing an aesthetically pleasing engine bay.

There are two types of engine degreasers, solvent-based and water-based.

Solvent-based Degreasers:

Solvent-based degreasers are produced using alcohol or petroleum as their base. A base of a solution refers to the primary medium in which all other components are dissolved or suspended. These degreasers are effective in removing tough grease and oil, but are harsh on the environment due to their association with the petroleum industry.

Water-based Degreasers:

As the name suggests, these degreasers are produced using water as the primary base. They are more environmentally friendly, but do not let the water base mislead you. These are powerful degreasers!

If you are looking for a powerful water-based degreaser, find WD-40 Specialist Machine & Engine Degreaser in a retailer near you.

Where To Buy

Whether they are solvent or water-based, using degreasers offers various benefits to your vehicle’s engine. These benefits include improved engine performance, prolonged engine life and enhanced aesthetics. Let's delve into how using a degreaser, like WD-40 Specialist_® Machine & Engine degreaser, can improve your vehicle.

Improved Engine Performance:

One of those certainties in life, much like taxes, is that a clean engine runs more efficiently. The accumulation of grease, oil and dirt on engine components lead to overheating, because of the components’ inability to dissipate heat through the buildup. Using a degreaser helps to ensure your engine stays cool and operates smoothly, ultimately enhancing its performance.

Prolonged Engine Life:

By keeping your vehicle’s engine clean, you also prolong its life cycle. Contaminants like grease, oil and dirt cause increased wear and tear, because of added strain on the engine components. This results in the early failure of your engine. Using a degreaser helps remove unwanted contaminants and prolongs the life of your vehicle's engine.

Enhanced Aesthetics:

Engine degreasers also have the added benefit of providing an aesthetically pleasing engine bay. This not only allows you to show off your truck’s engine, yeah we know you want to, a clean engine bay allows you to better spot any potential issues like loose components or rust.

If these benefits sound intriguing to you, why not experience them first hand and grab a can of WD-40 Specialist Machine & Engine Degreaser?

Grab a Can

Preparation:

Grab a can of WD-40 Specialist_® Machine & Engine Degreaser. As always, be sure to follow the safety guidelines on the packaging. Ensure your engine is switched off and cool before proceeding. Applying the degreaser to a hot engine can lead to burns, chemical inhalation and various other safety risks.   

Some safety precautions to take into account include wearing protective gloves and safety goggles and ensuring you work in a well-ventilated area.

Application Process:

1. Cover sensitive areas: Be sure to protect electrical components and air intakes by covering them with cloths or plastic wrapping. This is important, because you might accidentally spray degreaser on exposed electrical components in your engine bay, leading to electrical failures when the vehicle is eventually turned on.
2. Remove any debris: Remove any debris like sticks or stones, be careful not to break your bones, as well as paper or grass that may cause the degreaser to not fully penetrate the applicable areas. Removing debris also mitigates the risk of it causing mechanical issues.
3. Apply the degreaser: Evenly apply the degreaser over the engine. The WD-40 Specialist Machine & Engine Degreaser, with its 5-foot spray reach and foaming formula, allows you to clean even the most difficult-to-reach places in your vehicle’s engine bay.
4. Let it sit: Allow the degreaser to break down the grease, oil and dirt for the time specified. We recommend 5 minutes. 
5. Rinse or wipe off: After giving the degreaser enough time to break down the contaminants, simply wipe off or rinse the degreaser with water to remove it and unveil your new-looking engine.

Post-Cleaning Care:

After staring at your beautiful engine for a few minutes, ensure to properly dry it. This can be done through the use of a cloth, a blower, or an air compressor. Properly drying your engine will help prevent any corrosion or accelerated debris buildup. As we mentioned earlier, your clean engine now allows you to better identify any potential issues. Use this to your advantage by looking for and addressing any loose connections or damaged parts, to ensure that your engine continues to run as smoothly as possible.

Watch our how-to video on using WD-40 Specialist_® Machine & Engine Degreaser for more tips.

When choosing an engine degreaser, there are a few things to take into account.

Compatibility:

Like PB&J, some things just go together. When selecting your degreaser, confirm that it is compatible with your engine type to avoid any damage. WD-40 Specialist_® Machine & Engine Degreaser is safe for use on most metals when used as directed.

Use WD-40 Specialist Machine & Engine Degreaser to efficiently clean engine blocks without disassembly and keep hard-working equipment like tractors and forklifts performing well. It can also be used to winterize boats after seasonal use by cleaning engines, chains and gears. Having this product in your arsenal allows for easy maintenance of work trucks, boom trucks, construction equipment and more.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a can of WD-40 Specialist Machine & Engine Degreaser, and enjoy that new-looking engine!

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