To tidy up and clean or not to clean, that is the question.
Whether you’re a dealership-only or a DIY til a die type of car owner, you may find yourself scheduling an appointment for service for warranty work or to get the inevitable recall done.
And, while we’re comfortable with how clean or dirty our car is, you often wonder what the service manager and mechanic thinks of us and our ride based off how clean it is.
More importantly, does how clean our cars affect the level of service done, or does it even matter?
Do I take a quick half hour the day before to tidy up and give my car a quick wash, or do I just roll in as is?
See, I thought it doesn’t really matter.
While there are a handful of female mechanics, the large majority of techs are just a bunch of dudes trying to make a living.
What do they care how clean your car is? It’s not their ride.
Earlier yesterday I came across a Reddit thread from /r/JustRolledIntoTheShop with replies from presumed mechanics who answered the question, “Does a clean car make a difference? Serious question.”
The answers absolutely shocked me because it turns out, it does!
Here’s the thread embedded below with some choice responses.
Does a clean car make a difference? Serious question.
byu/jodypugwash inJustrolledintotheshop
“I treat them like I find them; if it’s clean when it comes in, I make sure it’s clean when it goes out; if it’s filled with trash, I’m not going to worry as much,” said /u/Asatmaya.
“Same with the rest of the car; if it’s clean under the hood other than a single oil leak, I’m going to spend a few minutes and hunt it down; if it’s covered in oil from all different places, I’m just going to note, “oil leaks,” and move on.”
“IDK if I’d say I took better care of a clean car, but I for sure had more respect for the owner and really appreciated it,” /u/NewsBenderBot replied
“If it’s obviously cared for I may try harder to return the favor, my job is the job and will be done to the correct standard, but if i feel like i need a shower after driving it into the bay, you are getting nothing beyond bare minimum,” /u/h8tdis replied.
This comment from /u/datonakarl was one of the best.
“To be honest if you bring me in a mud covered s***box that is only ever in for some critical repair I’m not going to give a f***, I used to but over the decades it changed to “if you don’t care why the hell should I?”
“You turn up in a nice clean car I’ll treat it as such, floor mat, seat cover, guard covers, blow out the dust around the engine and give it a quick once over because you obviously care for your car and I appreciate that effort, it doesn’t have to be fresh out of the groomers, just generally clean, a little messy is fine a biological hazard is not.”
I’d post more, but this blog post would be more of their replies then my actual words!
Scroll through that thread, and you’ll see dozens of similar responses, if the mechanic sees you treat your car with some level of respect and cleanliness, they’ll return the favor in kind by being treating your car the way you treat it.
The handful of things mechanics do say you absolutely shouldn’t do is go crazy with the tire shine and armor all interior protectant.
“Please don’t put tire shine on your tires. Please don’t. Please,” /u/everdladescowboy says
“Please, don’t use Armor All we hate it so much it gets all over you, and it’s not pleasant,” /u/hskinner59 also said.
Contrary to this blog post, tire shine and Armor All is going a step too far and makes their job that much harder to work on. Slick tires make slippery hands, the same goes for an Armor All’d interior if they have to do dash work.
In conclusion, before you bring in your car for service, if your car is dirty inside and out, you should strongly consider emptying out the trash and giving it a quick and easy car wash.
Just spray it down with water, soap it up, rinse, and dry it off.
Not only will the mechanic appreciate your effort, based on these responses, you probably will get better service.
