How to Degrease a Motorcycle Engine

Over time your motorcycle engine will get greasy and grimy and will need to be cleaned to keep your bike looking its best. Too much grease and grime on your bike engine may also cause the motor to overheat and can affect performance. You will need to degrease the engine to get rid of the unsightly gunk. Use this simple how-to guide to learn how to clean up your engine and make it sparkle again.

Step 1 - Blow Out Dirt and Dust

Connect the air nozzle to your air compressor and blow out any dirt and dust from your engine area. If you don't have a compressor, you can use a can of compressed air as an alternative.

Step 2 - Cover Electronic Parts

Take some plastic garbage bags and cut them into more manageable pieces. Use some masking tape to tape the plastic bag so that it protects any electronics or sensitive areas on your motorcycle engine. You might want to tape over the spark plug or other electrical areas to keep them from getting wet.

Step 3 - Spray on Degreasing Agent

Take your citrus-based degreasing agent and spray it liberally on your motorcycle engine. Make sure to spray in between cracks and crevices in the motor and to use plenty of the degreasing liquid. Don't be afraid of spraying on too much degreaser as the more you spray on, the more effective it will be. Allow the degreasing agent to sit on the motorcycle engine for about 30 minutes before continuing.

Step 4 - First Rinse

After the degreasing agent has had enough time to set in and starts eating away at the dirt and grime, take a water hose with a high-pressure spray nozzle and thoroughly rinse the motorcycle engine.

Step 5 - Apply More Degreaser

Again, spray a generous amount of the citrus-based degreasing agent on the engine of your motorcycle.

Step 6 - Scrub Away Dirt and Grime

While the degreaser is still on the engine, take a scrub brush and start scrubbing the surface area of the engine. You can use an old toothbrush to reach into small cracks and other hard-to-reach places. Continue to scrub the engine until all of the dirt and grime have been loosened.

Step 7 - Rinse and Dry the Engine

Again, use the water hose and high-pressure spray nozzle to thoroughly rinse the motor. Allow the engine to dry completely.

Step 8 - Treat Rubber Parts

Take the rubber protectant and use it to coat any rubber boots, wire covers, or other rubber components on your motorcycle engine. This will clean them and also help to moisturize and protect them.

Step 9 - Clean Up the Chrome

Use the chrome polish to clean up any chrome pieces on your engine.

Step 10 - Take Off Plastic

Remove the plastic and masking tape from the electronic areas of your motorcycle engine.