Dry ice engine and engine bay cleaning
Dry Ice Engine Cleaning
Specialist dry ice cleaning for engines and engine bays on specialist, classic and prestige cars. No water, no harsh degreasers and no grit. Clean, dry and ready for inspection, work or display.
Built on dry ice blasting
Not a degrease and rinse
The usual engine bay clean is a spray of degreaser and a hose. Water finds its way into connectors, fuse boxes and the alternator. Chemicals sit on rubber and plastics. The grime is moved rather than removed.
Dry ice blasting works differently. Compressed air accelerates solid CO₂ pellets onto the surface. The impact and the cold release oil, grease and baked-on road film. Each pellet sublimes on impact, leaving the surface clean and completely dry.
The result is an engine bay you can inspect properly, work on cleanly or present with confidence.
Why dry ice
Why dry ice for engine cleaning
The finish a valet is aiming for, without the water, chemicals or abrasion.
Completely dry
No water near connectors, fuse boxes, sensors or the alternator. Nothing left behind to corrode.
Non-abrasive
Oil and grime removed. Sound paint, alloy castings and factory finishes left as they were.
No harsh chemicals
No degreasers soaking into hoses, seals and plastics, and nothing washed into the drains.
The process
How an engine clean runs
Every vehicle is assessed individually. This is not a valet and not a jet wash.
- 01
Assess and protect
Engine cold. Air intakes, open electrics and original labels identified and masked where needed.
- 02
Configure
Pressure and pellet size set to the surface and the contamination.
- 03
Dry ice clean
Every area worked methodically, from the bulkhead to the inner wings.
- 04
Ready for what is next
Clean and dry, ready for inspection, display or the road.
Coverage
Engine and engine bay cleaning
The engine itself and every part of the engine bay around it, cleaned in place without removing components where possible.
Engine block and covers
Oil, grease and baked-on grime removed from castings, cam covers and manifolds.
Sump, gearbox and subframe
Cleaned from below as part of a full underbody and chassis clean.
Find out moreInner wings and bulkhead
Painted surfaces cleaned back to the original finish, without abrasion.
Wiring looms and connectors
Cleaned dry, so there is no water left sitting in plugs, terminals or fuse boxes.
Hoses, pipes and ancillaries
Rubber, plastics and alloy cleaned without solvents that harden or stain them.
Suspension turrets and strut tops
Corrosion-prone areas exposed so they can be assessed honestly.
Find out moreVehicles we work on
The cars that come to us
We also serve concours entrants, pre-sale auction preparation and classic vehicle traders preparing stock. Anything where the owner cares enough about long-term preservation to do it properly.
Getting your vehicle to us
Two ways to bring your vehicle to us
The work happens at our dedicated commercial unit: Unit 1C, Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4QZ. How your vehicle gets here is your call.
Drive it yourself
Bring the car to us
Book a slot and bring your vehicle to our West Cornwall workshop. A courtesy Porsche 996 Cabriolet is available to qualifying clients for the duration of the work, subject to availability.
Concierge collection
We come to you
Your vehicle collected from your door by our trusted dedicated car transport partner, anywhere in the UK, and delivered back once the work is complete. Quoted with your assessment.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use dry ice around engine electrics?
Yes. Dry ice is non-conductive and leaves no water behind, so there is nothing to get into connectors, fuse boxes or the alternator. Exposed electrics and air intakes are masked where needed before we start.
Will it damage paint, labels or rubber?
Sound paint, rubber and plastics are left as they were. Paint that is already flaking, and loose factory labels, can lift, so we check these first and work around anything original you want to keep.
Is it useful before a sale or concours?
Yes. A clean engine bay presents the car properly and makes it easy to see there are no leaks or hidden repairs. A buyer or judge sees exactly what they are looking at.
Does the engine need to be cold?
Yes. We work on a cold engine, so the car needs to have stood before we start. If we are collecting it, that is taken care of.
Related services
One method, every stage of the job
Automotive Dry Ice Blasting & Cleaning
The core method behind every automotive service we offer.
View serviceUnderseal Removal
Failing underseal removed by thermal shock, without grit.
View serviceUnderbody & Chassis Cleaning
The whole underside cleaned back to dry metal. Not a jet wash.
View serviceCeramic Underbody Protection
Hard, clear, long-term protection for cars on show.
View serviceGet in touch
Request a call back
Get in touch and tell us about your vehicle and the work you are considering. Leave your details and we will call you back to talk it through and get you a real quote.
- A real quote, usually within 24 hours
- No obligation
- Nationwide collection available
Prefer to talk now? Call 01736 804118
