It is easy to buff and polish the exterior of a car, but how do you clean the engine compartment? There is will always be grime, oil, and leaves in there that needs cleaning. A beautiful engine compartment shows that you care about your vehicle, and can even boost the resale value. In this quick tutorial, I'll teach you how to properly clean and detail the engine compartment of a car.

Things You'll Need:

• Degreaser
• Brushes
• Plastic covers and tape
• Hose, compressed water (optional)
• Engine protectant

Park your car over a metal pan to collect the oils and degreaser. Do this in an open area with plenty of room. Do not try to do this in your garage; do it outside.

• Step 2

  When you first open the hood, try to brush away any loose tree leaves, loose papers, or whatever other solids away. Use compressed air to blow away the cobwebs or dust.

• Step 3

  Next, start the car up and let it run for a few minutes. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area when you're doing this. Allow the car to warm, but not too hot. You should be able to hold your hand to the engine and not burn yourself. Running it for three minutes is my personal recommendation.

• Step 4

  Next, turn the engine off and head back to the engine compartment. Tape a plastic covering over the air intake in order to prevent any water damage to the engine. Also cover the ignition modes, coils, and battery if it is not already done so by the manufacturer. This prevents water from corroding away at the parts.

• Step 5

  Spray the engine with degreaser. Avoid acid based engine cleaners, and try to keep your work area concentrated inside the engine. Quickly wipe away any degreaser that lands on the paint. The engine should still be warm, so let the degreaser soak in the compartment.

• Step 6

  Rinse the engine thoroughly with a garden hose or compressed water. Be careful not to damage the air intake or battery covers. Once you're done rinsing, inspect the interior and brush away any remaining grime.

• Step 7

  Protect and beautify your engine compartment with protective dressing to the wires, vinyl shielding, and plastic covers. Use protectant sprays over the engine and components, wiping excess protectant away with a dry towel.