Too Clean or Too Anal ?

[Mud Pie]

Today, while washing my smart, I decided to also clean the engine. I've done it in the past, so it was more dusty than anything else.

I sat on the tailgate with a 1" paintbrush and my vacuum going to catch everything.

My next door neighbor walks over and says, "Are you VACUUMING your engine ?!?"

"Uh, yeah."

"What's the paintbrush for ?"

"I use it to kick everything loose then use the vacuum to suck it all away."

"Unbelievable. Your engine is really clean, though. But no one will ever see it."


Good thing he didn't hang around to watch me put Griots Vinyl and Rubber Dressing on everything plastic....

Now, am I really that anal or do others do this also ?

[rfernatt]

Nothing I'd do regularly, but I do plan to clean it up when I install my new silicone hose since it is quite dirty after winter driving.

[twister2699]

I to have been given funny looks for my depth of car cleaning....all we can do is stick together and hope others will learn...lol

[jetfuel]

...since I have not used my 1" brush...my acid brush...the small tooth brush or the Q tips to clean my Mustang in a while I'll have to say anal..

jetfuel...looks good from here..

[Kermit]

I would ask them if they took a shower today. When they answer "Yes" I would mention "Why? You are just going to be dirty again tomorrow."

I'm just like you on cleanliness (in a vehicle at least). I ALWAYS get the last laugh when it comes time to sell. I normally can sell my car in at least a day and the longest it ever took me to sell one of my cars was a week. I normally get at least blue book, if it was a rare or specialty car I've gotten more.

Keep on cleaning. All is well with it.

[GeekGirl]

nope i buy a new one....lol

[Neonspinnazz]

I can't stand a dirty car! I don't feel right if my car is dirty...I'd feel dirty if it were...

Today I went to work on cleaning out Little Kia's engine bay (my hands were VERY dirty after that 4 hour frustration.), a little WD-40 here, a little scrub there.

So far, the part of my engine that says "KIA DOHC 16VALVE" is mostly clean, the air intake is black again, and my fuse box is something you wouldn't think twice about touching.

My local car wash has an engine degreaser option, what's that for?

[sunnyokanagan]

I think it's a good idea to detail the engine 2-3 times a year. That way, it's not only all purty, but you may be able to discover and set right any little things that are starting to go awry: loose or corroding connectors, little fluid leaks, cracking or abraded hoses etc.

Yes, I know the smart centre is supposed to catch that stuff in their A/B service cycle. But really... no one else will get as intimate with your wee smartie as the owner.

[SmartDigger]

I keep mine clean but......I will lean on anal for the vac and brush in the power plant

[pabille]

More power to you. Mud Pie. I wish I was so meticulous. I just hope you don't have the same broken record neighbor I have who always says, "Hey, when you're done with yours can you do mine next? Hehehe." He better be careful. He may see me with his wife and he'll say, "Hey, when your though with her, can you do....HEY WAIT!"