Engine compartment remains sparkling clean!

[MikeM.]

I'm amazed. After 3800 miles of winter driving included 5 trips into the mountains with deep, sloppy slush, snow, de-icer, dirt roads, mud puddles, sand and gravel, rainstorms, leaves and needles, etc. the outside of my CX-5 looks like it's just returned from battle with mother nature. Imagine my surprise this morning when I opened the hood to have a look and the entire engine bay looks like a hygienically prepared surgical operating table! Not a splatter of mud or speck of sand to be found. Not even a water spot. Looked brand spanking new. And the oil was as full as the day the car was delivered.

I don't get it. Every other new car I've bought looks like a mess under the hood after such conditions.

Made me happy. And I think this is good news for the long term reliability of the CX-5 since modern cars have so much wiring, connectors, computers, etc. under the hood where road salts and oxidation can have their way with the metals in the electrical system.

 

[ManMachine]

Nice to hear. Please continue to report on this.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

The beauty of having a plastic underbelly tray/cover beneath the engine/subframe. Keep all of the rubber seals fresh around the hood, and the integrity of the wheel well liners and the underbelly tray, and it will forever remain nice and clean.

 

[Nodnerb]

Yeah, an entirely plastic clad underside helps a lot with that.

 

[Gio26NJ]

I noticed this too, before taking it in for the 5,000 mile service I opened up the hood took a look inside and god damn it was spotless. Just a real thin layer of dust but it looked great. Another thing to love about the CX-5. Very happy owner.

 

[Bcdad182]

I noticed that too when I was cleaning my engine. It took me like 30 seconds with the hose and a damp cloth to clean everything up. Just a small amount of dust and a few leaves that found their way in was all.

I just wonder how well the plastic underbody does in deeper snow. Are we going to turn our CX-5s into giant snowboards if the snow gets too deep? Luckily enough we don't get that much snow here and its usually plowed away within 24 hours!

 

[CX-SV]

Good info, MikeM, thanks.

Good to hear the plastic underbody covers help in this capacity. My blue engine cover shows a little bit of dust, but nothing else after 8+ months. Haven't had the CX-5 in snow/slush yet, but have driven in plenty of heavy rain storms.

 

[xtrailman]

High riding cars with under body cladding, including the wheel archers,is usual fare on a modern car.

My xtrail is still clean under the bonnet at near to 4 years old.

Another advantage is being able to crawl under the car.

Disadvantages unable to locate a oil leak should you have one, which isn't likely with a Japanese car.