I opened the hood yesterday to jump start another vehicle....and was shocked how totally clean the engine bay was - despite the exterior of the car being absolutely disgustingly dirty. Over a month of driving in snow and slush. I mean it looks brand new there?! (Our washer bottles are 4.5 litres - double US size in case someone wonders why it hadnt run out!).

 

TLX uses a lot of chassis covers, probably why the engine bay stays fairly clean.

 

It's an Acura trademark.

 

Am I the only OCD type guy who takes a bottle of All Purpose Cleaner and wipes down the inside of the engine bay every time he pops the hood to check the oil?

 

No, you're not. I hand wash my car about once a week, weather permitting, and always take the time to wipe down the engine bay.

 

I do the hand wash thing once a week too - although in Ohio at this time of year it can get pushed out to ever other week depending on the temps.

I've been doing rinseless washes in the (unheated) garage but refuse to go out there when temps are below freezing. click -> Optimum No Rinse Wash & Wax seems to do a great job on the car when it's mildly dirty!

 

a little tip: if plastics and rubbers inside engine bay become gray from all purpose cleaners, use tire shine to bring back the luster!

 

A bit chilly here in NC also. I started using warm water about the first of November. Will be washing it today. Highs today in the mid 50s.

 

Thanks! I've got a bottle of Meg's M40 on hand for just such occasions!

I suspect we have have different definitions for "chilly"

 

Engine bay? I haven't even popped the hood open after 4700 miles and 3 months later.

I have free maintenance for that.

 

You should check your oil on a regular basis!!

 

How often do you check?

With Acuras, I usually let it go till next oil change.

Guess I should take better preventive care.

 

Next oil change and warning light for me, and the warning light never came on on my Acuras in the last 12 years (or any of my other cars that I can recall).

 

I'm not OCD at all so I have no idea what you guys are talking about *lol*

 

I recently got rid of a 2006 Passat, and the check engine light was on an AMAZING NUMBER OF TIMES in the 98,000 miles I owned the car. A reliable car is a a luxury better appreciated by the owners of Japanese cars. German car owners seem to believe the panache is all worth it. I have three Japanese cars in the garage, now. All have been bulletproof, so far. Looking to replace one with an Acura, but now I am waiting for the growing pains to be over, maybe next model year.
Vive la difference.

 

Page 438 of manual says you should check your oil every time you refuel! I tend to check my wifes Mazda and my TLX once a month or so.

 

Good for you, seriously! You must be 1 in a 1,000, no make that 1 in 10,000.

 

Wow! I guess I have learned to let the technology alert me. I never check to see if I have a four tires mounted, but the TPMS should let me know. if tires < 4, I am sure will feel something odd.

Even when I didn't lease, I cannot remember when I checked my oil last. It was probably when I drove my last American-made car.

 

I suspect the manual suggests checking it every time you gas-up as a matter of liability - I can't imagine more than a handful would do so. Checking once a month seems like an easy thing to do considering the potential calamity - even if the odds of said calamity are small