My 2001 Ford Focus has been leaking oil at the rear main seal. I want to clean the engine plate with a degreaser (soapy water) and wipe it down.
Is it okay to spray it with soapy water, or should I leave it?
Motivation for this question
Nervous about accidentally harming the vehicle while acting on the intention of doing something good for it.
Follow-up question:
If it is okay, is there anything else I should do? (e.g. should I rub some kind of protective oil on it, or spray it down with brake cleaner, or do something else?)
Notes
I am going to replace the rear main seal.