n‐Dodecyltriethoxysilane (DTEOS) modified NaHSO4/MCM‐41 catalysts (silanized catalysts) were synthesized by different impregnation sequences and evaluated in the liquid‐phase dehydration of castor oil. The samples were evaluated by X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption, SEM, TEM, FT‐IR spectroscopy, XPS, 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, NH3‐TPD, and pyridine‐FT‐IR spectroscopy. The analyses demonstrated that silanization enhanced the hydrophobicity of the catalysts, and the impregnation sequence of silanized catalysts had a significant effect on the NaHSO4 dispersion, surface area, acid distribution, and hydrophobicity of the silanized catalysts. The catalytic activity of the silanized catalysts was much higher than that of NaHSO4/MCM‐41. Among the silanized catalysts, the catalyst prepared by simultaneous impregnation with DTEOS and NaHSO4 showed the highest iodine value of 141.8 [g(I2) per 100 g] and lowest hydroxyl value of 11.3 [mg(KOH)·g–1].