Had a guy at a car meet tell me my engine bay was 'too clean'

He said I clearly don't drive it hard enough if I have time to wipe down the valve covers. Meanwhile I've put 12,000 miles on it this year alone. Why do people think a clean car means it's not driven?

2 comments

2 Comments

rivera.susan4d ago

The whole "too clean" thing is weird to me. I had a neighbor once who saw me washing my car on a Sunday morning and he goes, "you must not drive it much, huh?" I had just driven it 400 miles the day before to visit my mom. Some people just have this idea in their head that driving a car hard means it has to be covered in dirt and grime. I actually find it more relaxing to keep things tidy, you know? Like wiping down the engine bay after a long trip is part of the ritual for me. It doesn't mean I'm not pushing it on back roads. Maybe that guy just feels guilty about his own messy car or something.

cameron77017h ago

Is it possible that guy was feeling insecure about his own ride and had to find something to pick at? I notice at meets, the people who talk the most trash about cleanliness are usually the ones with the roughest looking daily drivers. Like they're trying to justify why their car looks beat by making you feel bad for taking pride in yours. My buddy keeps his engine bay spotless and he's out there doing canyon runs every weekend, so the two things just aren't related at all.