DIY Clean Routine: How to power through and do it yourself!

If you’re an SUV or pick-up truck enthusiast like us, there’s a good chance that you’re into a little bit of DIY or do-it-yourself. 

Yes, getting the professionals to do the job is the recommended way to go when it comes to more complex tasks like changing the oil or other mechanical tasks, but there are also plenty of things with a vehicle that do not require a shop that charges quite a bit for labor. Sometimes all that’s needed is the personal touch; a little TLC from you, the owner. That is especially true when it comes to ensuring your SUV or truck is clean on the outside and on the inside. 

Sure it can get intensive, but it’s a good way to get to know your vehicle better and a good way to spend a couple of hours on a weekend on something productive. Prepare to put some muscle power into it and let’s see if we can accomplish some basic DIY tasks your diesel SUV or truck will surely appreciate. 

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Basic Interior Cleaning & Detailing

Now you may be wondering why we’re starting with interior cleaning, and the reason is this: no matter how hard you try, you are likely going to get wet or even soaked while washing your vehicle. That’s why if you’re going to DIY, it’s best to start from the inside rather than to have to clean the interior while your clothes are wet and dirty. 

You’ll need a few basics like clean towels and just a basic bucket of clean water. That’s really it. You can spend for a car interior-specific cleaner if you have stains you need to deal with, but most jobs are just done with a good towel or chamois or microfiber and plain ol’ water. 

If you have leather or vinyl seats, just moisten a towel and wipe away. That also works on the windows, the plastics and other non-porous interior materials. For fabric seats, you may want to use a brush, and maybe even a vacuum cleaner. You can go further and use cotton buds on the airconditioning louvers and other nooks and crannies that are hard to reach. 

Here’s a tip: take a top-to-bottom approach, as any dirt you encounter will drop down. When you’re satisfied, carefully remove the floor mats with all the dirt and dump the dust in a bin. 

Basic DIY car wash

With the cabin clean, it’s time for the exterior. You’ll need to prepare a bit more and plan your workflow. That becomes especially true the larger your SUV or truck is, how big your garage is, or even how long your garden hose is. 

The things you need to prepare are the basics: a large foam sponge, a good quality car shampoo (preferably biodegradable), a bucket, a garden hose (pressure washer optional), water, and a clean microfiber towel or chamois. If you have tools like a blower, that may come in handy too. 

Hose your car from top to bottom, the goal is to remove as much grit as possible using water; you may even use your hands to gently wipe the dirt off. Don’t wipe so hard as dirt like sand and dust can be an abrasive on your paint. If you have access to a pressure washer, don’t be shy and spray the underside of your vehicle; the chassis, wheel wells, suspension, and other parts underneath the body on frame-based vehicles like an SUV or pick-up truck tend to gather a lot of dirt.

Once you’re satisfied the dirt is off, use the soapy sponge and lather your car from top to bottom, then either left to right or front to back depending on your garage size. You may need to prepare a stool or small step ladder to reach the roof. 

Rinse off your vehicle, and dry with a clean towel. And don’t forget to clean up the dirt that gets dropped onto the garage from your vehicle. 

Diesel Engine Cleaning

If you want to take it further, you can go on and clean your diesel engine bay. Sometimes, it may just need a quick wipe, but if you’re looking at years of dirt, then you’ll have to get more serious. 

Cool it down, and prepare to cover sensitive electronics like the fuse box, relay box, battery, and more. You won’t have to worry about coil packs, as diesels don’t have spark plugs. Still, it’s a good opportunity to reuse some old plastic bags to protect your engine’s electronics. Once you’re ready, you can start cleaning with a proper engine degreaser, then scrub and brush away. Then rinse your engine bay carefully and you’ve now got a spic and span engine. 

There is one area that isn’t going to be easily reached for cleaning, and that’s the inside of your engine. For that, you need Caltex Power Diesel with Techron D.

Over time, diesel engines lose power because of carbon deposits on the inside. These harmful engine deposits that accumulate in the combustion chamber and the valves reduce the performance of your SUV or truck because the combustion isn’t optimal. That means increased fuel consumption, less power, and slower acceleration. What’s even more critical are the injectors, as these very precise components can have unbelievably small nozzles; these are especially vulnerable to getting clogged by engine deposits. 

The solution is to clean it, but these deposits -like the grime on the outside- tend to get stubborn and difficult to remove if allowed to build up even more. This is where Techron D comes in as it accelerates the breakdown and cleanup of these harmful engine deposits to give your engine back the power you’ve been missing. And every liter of Caltex Power Diesel premium fuel comes with a double dose of Techron D to bring back the full potential of your injectors over time for optimum fuel delivery, 100% clean combustion chambers for peak fuel combustion, and 100% restored power. Yes, Caltex Power Diesel helps protect your engine in the long run.

Once you clean your car, your interior, and your engine bay, all you need to do to complete the job is fill up with Caltex Power Diesel with Techron D. Let your fuel do the rest of the cleaning and clearing for you.