Why is my engine filthy dirty?

Yes we have had a lot of rain in southern CA lately, but I was surprised at how dirty the engine compartment is. The top of the plastic cover looks like it's been outside in a muddy rain! I've never had a truck that did that in my 50+ years of driving. Is this just a design "feature" or is there a seal missing somewhere?

 

All that water/moisture/dirt/mud/grime gets splashed up into the engine bay from underneath when you're driving around in the rain, especially when it's been raining as much as it has been out here lately. It's normal. Probably just not used to it because we haven't seen this much rain here in years.

 

Check out your wheel wells, if it's anything like mine then the liner has huge voids in it that allow all that water/mud spray to go right into the engine bay.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World! It's a place of wealth in knowledge. I too live in California, and I will admit, I have noticed a lil more rain that the usual in this state. How dirty are we talking here? I suppose that may be why Toyota installed a engine bay cover. It is removable, just takes a 8mm socket wrench if I recall off the top of my head. You can pull it right off, and rinse! All clean after. If you have more dirt in the engine bay, perhaps taking it to a reputable detail shop that can professionally clean it for you. It's what I would do if it bothered me.
Good Luck!

 

I have the 2.7 and my little "home plate" engine cover is always covered in dust. Even if I wipe it off, less than 10 days later the film is back. With the design of these trucks there must be a lot of air swirling underneath the hood (more than other vehicles), so it deposits dust on everything, and the engine cover stands out because it's black and front & center. So I noticed it but it doesn't really bother me. Also, not sure if it has anything to do with the rain because mine gets dusty regardless. I drive mostly on pavement in the Sacramento CA area.

 

"Why is my engine filthy dirty?"

Perhaps your truck was not raised properly with parents that taught it how to behave properly?

 

I just cover the battery, fuse box and alternator with plastic bags and run the hose over the entire engine bay (light spray) for a few minutes, takes care of most of the mess. I know some people don't bother with covering up anything but it just gives me peace of mind.

 

Look at the bright side, you can actually clean a Tacoma engine bay. I spent many years driving Ford F-150's and washing one of them under the hood - even if you tried to wrap critical electrical components - was the kiss of death. My trucks always looked prefect on the outside, but under the hoods - I never touched them after learning my lesson the hard way.

 

What engine bay is not?

 

My engine bay is a complete shit pit. I was looking at it one day, remembering all the problems I had with a past vehicle after spraying it down, so I just shut the hood. I am at peace with my shit pit.

 

A trick we use to do on engine cleaning was mix 1 quart motor oil and 3 quarts kerosene in a gallon jug and use a air spray gun with a suction attatchment and fog the whole engine then wipe down with rag made everything look new.

 

I bet it smelled great when you fired it up after doing this

 

Believe it or not it wasnt bad, after spraying it on and blowing it down and wiping it down the smell went away quick. You smelled like it after doing about 6 or 7 cars in a row. The smell kind of growed on you.

 

Try placing some sort of blocker behind the grille to block the dirt from the engine..