Keeping your car engine clean is as important as having a clean exterior. A clean engine can dissipate heat faster and allows you to easily spot cracks, leaks, etc. You can use a commercially available degreaser, however, a homemade car degreaser is easy to make and allows you to save some money.

Homemade Car Degreaser – New Recipe

Aside from the three degreasers listed below, we present another DIY engine degreaser we found to be equally effective. Kerosene, as it is, is already used as a household and hardware cleaning agent as it readily dissolves grease and dirt from metal surfaces. Some of you may hesitate to use kerosene to clean your beloved car’s engine since it is flammable. But it is safe to use on engines as long as you don’t expose it to electrical sparks or flames.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of kerosene
• 4 cups of water
• 2 teaspoons of liquid soap

Procedure

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. The kerosene itself is an effective degreaser, but the liquid soap helps break down sticky grime, engine grease, and hard dirt faster.
• Place the mixed solution in a spray bottle for easier application.
• To clean your engine, park your car in a well ventilated and lighted area. Cleaning on a bright and sunny day can help speed up the drying process.
• Spray a generous amount of degreaser on your engine. Avoid spraying electrical components.
• Leave the solution for a few minutes. Take an old toothbrush and brush away all dirt and grime from all metal surfaces and hard to reach corners.
• After brushing, you can use some warm water to rinse away the kerosene mixture and dirt. Lastly, use a microfiber cloth to dry the engine then let it air dry for an hour before you close the hood.

Other Recipes for Homemade Car Degreaser

We have featured a few DIY homemade engine degreasers before and below is a short summary of each for your reference.

Ammonia-Based

An ammonia-based homemade engine cleaner is made by mixing two parts household ammonia, two parts water and one part liquid dish soap. Mix thoroughly and place inside a spray bottle.

Orange Essential Oil-Based

An orange essential oil based DIY engine cleaner is made by mixing 20 drops of orange essential oil with 1^1/2 cups of warm water and 2 teaspoons of dish washing liquid. Mix thoroughly and place inside a spray bottle.

Vinegar-Based

A vinegar-based DIY engine degreaser is made by mixing 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, ^1/4 cup soap, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and a couple of drops of lemon juice or lemon essential oil. Combine all of these in a bowl and add water.

These recipes for a homemade car degreaser are safe to use and are cheaper alternatives to commercially available ones. However, if you would like your engine to be professionally cleaned, schedule an appointment for DetailXPerts’ mobile detailing services. Our technicians are experts in all aspects of detailing, including engine steam cleaning.

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