Choosing the best engine cleaner
Content
Why do you need to clean the engine?
There are several negative consequences that can occur in the event of a critical contamination of the motor.
- Deterioration of heat transfer. Initially, when designing the engine, part of the heat removal is laid down for the natural cooling of the motor by ambient air. And with the expectation of this, the cooling system is already being designed. The so-called "coat" of oil and dirt reduces the thermal conductivity of the crankcase. Reducing the intensity of heat removal from the crankcase will at least cause an increase in its average operating temperature by several degrees, and on hot days it can lead to overheating.
- The likelihood of a fire. Mud and oil deposits on the engine can ignite from a small spark and grow into a serious fire in a matter of seconds.
- Negative impact on attachments. Oil and dirt on drive belts, wiring, fittings and attachments can cause these components to malfunction.
- The appearance of an unpleasant smell in the cabin. The heated oil on the crankcase creates an unpleasant odor that penetrates into the cabin and causes discomfort.
- Unpleasant appearance of the motor, difficulties in the production of repair work under the hood.
Therefore, washing the engine is not just a cosmetic operation, but an important procedure.
An overview of popular products for cleaning internal combustion engines from oil and dirt
There are quite a few different chemical engine cleaners on the Russian market. Consider the most popular of them.
- Hi-Gear Engine Shine, Foaming Degreaser. One of the most popular means in the Russian Federation. Available in 454 ml bottles. It is a foam emulsion, a mixture of various penetrating dispersants capable of dissolving even old oil deposits. It is applied to a warm engine, washed off with water. Not aggressive towards plastic and rubber. It has positive feedback from motorists in terms of efficiency. More expensive than most other engine cleaners.
- ABRO Masters Engine Degreaser. This cleaner is a 450ml pressurized spray. Consists of surfactants, alkaline dispersants and light solvents. It is sprayed on the engine, after a short wait (impregnation and splitting of mud deposits) it is washed off with water. It has a peculiar smell, which some motorists call unpleasant. However, after a few hours after processing the motor, this smell almost completely disappears.
- Grass Engine Cleaner. Also a popular remedy in the Russian Federation. It is distinguished by its low cost and at the same time good efficiency. It copes well with fresh oil smudges and small deposits of dust. Has a large amount of surfactants in the composition. Effectively removes old deposits. Sold as a ready-to-use product in 500 ml containers with a mechanical spray or as a concentrate. The spray is applied in a non-contact way to the engine, the concentrate is mixed with water and can be applied with contact and non-contact. In terms of the ratio of price and washing abilities, motorists recognize it as one of the best offers.
- Runway Engine Cleaner. Aerosol engine cleaner, available in 650 ml metal cans. Has an average efficiency. With a low price among such products, it copes well with relatively fresh pollution. Not suitable for removing dried oil and dust crusts.
- Foam Engine Cleaner 3ton. Inexpensive and effective tool. It has a subjectively pleasant smell. Efficiency and price are average for the market.
These are the most common products in the chemical engine cleaner category. There are several folk remedies for cleaning the engine from pollution. However, not all of them are safe and accessible to ordinary motorists. Therefore, we will not consider them here.
Which purifier should you choose?
A noteworthy fact: most Motor Cleaners on the market work with approximately the same efficiency. Better than others, according to motorists, Hi-gear and Grass work. However, much depends on the nature of the pollution and the personal, not always objective, assessment of car owners.
For household, one-time cleaning of the motor from slightly abundant contaminants, it is better to use inexpensive foam sprayers, such as 3ton, Runway or ABRO. They do a good job of cleaning light dust deposits or smudges of working fluids that have not had time to dry.
To remove more serious contaminants, it is better to use a more expensive tool, for example, from Hi-Gear. This tool has a more powerful penetrating and splitting ability. But it is not able to cope with chronic raids.
It is easier to remove abundant dirt using the contact method. To facilitate this task, it is better to use a spray or apply a contact (brush or brush) cleaner. In this situation, the Grass Engine Cleaner is an excellent solution in terms of price and effectiveness.
When cleaning the motor from dirt and oil, do not forget about safety precautions. Cover cavities vulnerable to liquids with rags or plastic wrap. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Work in a well ventilated area. And most importantly - always carefully apply the product and think about whether the treatment of a particular area with a cleaner will harm the motor.
