Prevent Rust by Washing Your Engine

Everyone wants to keep the outside of their vehicle looking brand new and rust-free. When your car is uncovered, the car’s paint job, bodywork and engine are exposed to dust, UV rays and other elements looking to do harm to one of the largest investments you will make in your life. The Zerust® Deluxe Car Cover fulfills all the traditional uses of a car cover—protection from water, sun and the elements- as well as up to 5 years of protection as a corrosion inhibitor.

Along with keeping your car covered between uses, regularly cleaning your car’s exterior can help to provide corrosion prevention for your automobile. Rust can work from the inside of your car’s body and show up once it's too late. That is why you also want to make sure you open the hood and clean the engine compartment. Periodically washing your engine can helping prevent rust as well as detect oil or fluid leaks and belt wear. Increase the lifespan of the car and guard against engine corrosion by following these easy steps:

1. Warm Up the Engine, Then Shut Off

   Start the engine and allow the car to run for a few minutes. You do not need to get the engine up to operating temperature, but allow it to run for a minute or so if it is heavily soiled. This will soften the caked on grease and grunge that has built up around your engine compartment. After the engine has had time to warm up, turn it off. You want to keep the engine warm, but not burning hot. If you can touch the engine without burning your hand, the engine is as warm as you need it to be.



2. Cover Openings and Electrical Components, Tighten Caps

   Remove the negative terminal cable on the battery then the positive. You do not want water to enter any of the electrical components or into the air intake/air filter, the distributor, the coil and the oil dip stick/breather. After you have turned off the engine and it is in the process of cooling down, use rubber bands and plastic sandwich bags to cover the openings of these compartments and the electrical components. Also, make sure that the of the oil filter cap, power steering cap, windshield washer fluid cap and battery filler cap are tight, as well as any other caps your engine may have.



3. Spray with Degreaser

   Move the car to an area where the soap and material cleaned off will not cause damage or enter a storm drain. While the engine is still warm and all openings and caps are sealed tight, use high quality non-petroleum based degreaser to spray the engine and engine compartment. Prevent your face from getting hit with degreaser by spraying from the bottom and working your way up.



4. Towel Dry and Rinse

   After completely spraying the engine and engine compartment, you should allow the degreaser to set 3 to 5 minutes, and then take a cotton towel or brush to the really caked on areas. Use plenty of elbow grease to remove the heavily soiled areas of your engine, then respray the degreaser and rebrush components that need more attention. Use a regular or gentle spray setting and thoroughly rinse down the entire engine.



5. Remove Covers, Warm Up the Engine

   Once your engine is rinsed clean, remove the rubber bands and plastic bag coverings from the openings. Dry any large puddles and aluminum parts with a soft towel, but make sure to use paper towels if necessary to thoroughly dry the battery. Once the puddles are dry and the battery is completely dry, start the engine and allow it to warm up to dry the rest of the engine and evaporate any remaining moisture. Most engines with high energy ignitions will run with the plug wires (and distributor) wet, but may misfire or run "rough" until these components dry out completely.



6. Finishing Touches

   Turn off the engine and allow the engine to completely cool off once everything has dried. Then wax only the painted areas of the engine compartment, do not wax the engine. If the undercoated aluminum areas are dull or have white corrosion, use a mild metal polish to help restore the finish. Check the battery terminals for any stray grime. You can clean them by disconnecting the cables and cleaning both terminals and battery posts with a wire brush. Apply a thin coating of non silicone lubricant to all hinges, throttle cables and shocks if necessary. Finally, check all fluid levels and remove any stray baggies.

You have now successfully and thoroughly cleaned your engine compartment and can be assured that you have prolonged the life of your car. Periodically washing your engine can help prevent engine corrosion.

Between engine compartment washes, keep your car covered and engine protected with a Zerust Deluxe Car Cover. This will not only preserve all the hard work you’ve put into your car and keep it protected from dirt, grime, moisture and anything else that happens to land on your car. All Zerust® Car Covers are woven with corrosion inhibiting formula to provide a VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) protection on the surface of your automobile. The Car Cover fulfills all the traditional uses of a car cover—protection from water and sun —but also provides a unique protection against rust and corrosion without intensive upkeep. The rust and corrosion inhibitors will remain active for 5 years after the date of purchase. It is a perfect way to keep your car looking new and keep your engine running smooth.