Why clean it?

Are you as anal as I am? I suppose there are all sorts of extreme
levels of cleanliness when it comes to cars, but I hate to work on
dirty cars.. I'm not talking about show-car clean where the underside
of the dash is painted to match, rubbed out, and waxed, but the sort
of clean that cars in regular use should get. There are a lot of folks
who are happy if the steering wheel doesn't get their hands black, the
seat is clean enough to not transfer any filth to their clothing, and
the windshield is clear enough to see through during daylight hours. I
am somewhere between those two, but closer to the former than the
later.

Since I am the one that works on my cars (and motorcycle) almost
exclusively, I try to keep them clean. When I get a used car it
usually takes some time to get it to the point I like. I hate cereal
and M&Ms in the spare tire well, I hate little bits of leaves in air
vents, and since I don't smoke, I hate leftover tobacco products in
the ash tray. But beyond that, I try to keep all the mechanicals clean
as well. Clean bolts and nuts are easier to handle, and the gritty
grease doesn't transfer to all my tools if the car is kept clean.
Tools don't slip as easily and that;s good because my knuckles don't
heal quite as well as they use to.

I am slowly getting my new-to-me 245 back into shape. Today I decided
to clean the door hinges and strikers/latches on the driver's side.
They were disgusting. Years of black accumulations from lubricant and
road grime. Sure, better black and greasy than dry and worn out, but
how lazy is the shop that merely squirts a little of whatever is on
hand in an aerosol can on a moving part and walks away after charging
..25 hrs. labor? Does it take that much time and effort to put a rag
behind the hinge, squirt, then give the hinge a quick wipe after being
lubricated? I suppose it does.

I spent the best part of nearly two hours cleaning the four hinges and
two latches. Using Simple Green, a toothbrush, and a stiff,
short-bristled scrub brush I sprayed, scrubbed, and sprayed. After it
rinsed clean with a squirt bottle filled with water, I blew it all out
with compressed air, the used a "Wash and Wax" product to clean up all
the painted areas on the jambs. A little light lubricant to the moving
parts, a wipe, and the doors are looking and working almost like new.

So why go through all that effort?
1) The hinges will last longer
2) Every time I shut the door and get that smooth motion and solid
latching I get a feeling of pride of ownership.
3) People getting into my car won't get their clothing soiled by the
dirty, greasy latches and hinges.
4) It will be a lot easier to work on in the future.
5) Grease draws dirt, dirt draws moisture, and moisture causes rust.
...and most importantly:
6) It was a lot easier to spot that loose hinge bolt that wasn't even
finger tight!


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

No!

 

I have thought - I know, I'll convert the Volvo to run on LPG
or - I'll convert my jaguar transmission from auto to manual
or - I'll just pop out and lay a new patio

Never once have I thought - I must go and clean my door hinges!

Whilst your attention to detail is most commendable and you have
demonstrated the very highest level of engineering standards, I really think
you ought to get out more!

Steve

 

It's not something I do all the time- that was the point- it's a
one-time thing, and now that they are clean they will be kept that
way. That's the way it should have been in the first place.

Cleaning them also got me to find that loose bolt, which very possibly
saved a damaged door. Certianly, that alone was worth the time it took
to clean them.

I am somewhat retired, and so like to see my money go as far as
possible. I tend to keep my vehicles for quite some time (I am still
riding my 1979 BMW R100RT that I bought in 1981). Keeping things up is
part of getting them to last.

Going to do the other side tomorrow!


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

I'm completely anal retentive about cleanliness, my car needs to be neat as
a pin inside and sparkling outside other than during the winter when there's
no point in even washing the outside because it only looks good for a day. A
spotlessly clean car is easier to work on, stays in better condition, and
just looks and feels new indefinitly. It also causes others to treat it with
more respect, few people will eat a candy bar and throw the wrapper in the
back seat if there's not already a pile of garbage back there.

 

If you keep the door hinges clean and lubricated they'll stay quiet and
they'll last longer. If you ever decide to sell the car these sorts of
details will do a lot to improve the value.

 

I have been working on cars for quite some time (late 60's)-
semi-professionally (part time in college), and for myself before and
after that. I was always the guy who people would come to when "it's
overheating" or "I think I have a bad valve." Even taught an auto
repair class out of my home for a while. One thing I always hated was
working on dirty cars. If you have to open an alternator, rebuild a
carb, to just change a water pump, it is nearly impossible if the car
is greasy and crud-covered. All that grit gets onto the bolts and
wears out the threads as well as making accurate torquing impossible,
not to mention leaks. And what about changing a spark plug? How many
spoonfuls of dirt do you want down in the cylinder? None for me, thank
you.

With the hinges and latches/strikers cleaned, the doors on my 15 year
old 240 shut with a sound that would make any owner proud. I do need
to replace the latch pins on the striker (where the plastic cover is
worn) but the doors still sound great.

Here's another- how can you spot a leak if the engine is covered in
muck? Clean motors also run cooler (although that does not seem to be
a problem with Volvos).

Anyway, the person who appreciates a clean car the most is the person
who has to work on it. It just makes good sense to keep your mechanic
happy- a clean car and a six pack left on the front seat with a bow on
it doesn't hurt! ;-)

BTW- I always read you posts, and have found you helpful and
knowledgeable. Thanks for participating in this group! You are truly
an asset around "these parts."

__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

I too was once like you but my wife and son refuse to bow to my wishes so I
gave up its just not worth the hassles. But a clean car to work for sure is
much nicer .

 

I'm sure clean and lubed door hinges would've made the value of my last
couple of rustbucket 245s positively soar!

 

I duly sympathise Randy. I can't get my wife or the kids interested in
looking after their cars never mind cleaning them. If it's not broken then
don't fix it seems their attitude. Seems like if they leave it long enough
the Dad will sort it. Bloody annoying.

Andy

 

Well it depends on where you live, here cars don't rust out. They might mold
if they sit for a few years but rust beyond a surface dimple where the paint
got chipped is very rare.

 

the difference is negligible on closing; attempting to do a "mint" detailing on
an obviously "not mint" car is a big waste of time. Volvos are great, but they
are still not investments, and they depreciate horribly like any other car.

 

Depends on where you live, I can't think of many non-exotic cars that hold
their value as well as Volvo, BMW is close, and some of the more luxury
cars. No production car is an investment but a not mint car can be made very
near mint with regular and meticulous maintenance.

 

They'd be considered semi-exotic here, which I think actually tends to
detract from their resale value as an old car (relative to their new price).
At a certain age they only fetch about the same price as anything else,
though they might hold that for a few years longer. Nobody will pay more for
an old car because it's in better shape than average... they want cheap
first then the best available, which to most people is the shiniest body.