According to a survey by OnePoll, seven out of 10 Americans believe a dirty car is a total turn-off. While 51% of respondents would go as far as to end a first date early if their date showed up in a dirty car, 23% have even ended the relationship with someone because of their messy vehicle!
Having a dirty car is obviously a dating dealbreaker for many, but how does all that dirt accumulated over t ime influence a car’s road performance and fuel efficiency? Let’s clear up (pun intended) the age-old debate of whether a clean car truly outperforms a dirty one.
Does Detailing Your Car Improve Fuel Efficiency?
Car detailing professionals will swear up and down that not only does cleaning the car give the obvious aesthetic benefit, but it also makes it run better.
There might be a bit of merit to that bold claim when you first think about it. If you have a lot of debris and gunk on (or in) your car, then naturally you’d expect its aerodynamics to plummet. After all, car manufacturers frequently keep an eye on physics when designing the vehicles, and the car should ideally reduce the drag caused by air passing over and under it as much as possible.
However, with the gunk on top, the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle supposedly change. The air is no longer coming in or over the vehicle at optimal angles and speed, which would lead to a worse fuel economy. But as it turns out, a car that’s slightly dirty on the outside doesn’t really guzzle more gas than a clean one.
And you don’t have to take our answer at face value either. The famous MythBusters once actually did test this exact scenario. In their scenario, the same car was tested on a highway track when it was covered in gunk and mud, and then re-tested when the entire car was cleaned. Based on the slightly limited number of tests they performed, the muddied car did end up getting around three fewer miles per gallon than the clean one. But the devil here is in the details, as the test car was practically smothered in mud (picture a car after a snowfall, only with mud instead of snow). At that point, the mud had tangible weight to it which was the actual cause behind the lower fuel efficiency.
The Busters claimed that the myth was “busted,” but that the concept behind it had scientific merit. While getting your car cleaned might not give you better fuel efficiency, it doesn’t mean that a sparkly clean car doesn’t come with benefits, other than a happy date.
The Placebo Effect of Visibility
When your car is clean, you will likely have much better driving experience.
The cause is quite simple, really. A thorough car detailing will clean off the dirt that has accumulated or clouded over the headlights and taillights. They will be able to shine optimally, which means that you get the best visibility during inclement weather or at night. While this might not seem like much, it can help you feel completely in control of your vehicle, which was found to have a positive effect on driving behavior and could reduce how much gas you’re using. This is because you’re less likely to want to drive at higher speeds in poor visibility conditions, but instead drive in a higher gear (or more precisely, the near-constant speeds they promote) which is typically more fuel efficient than a lower one.
A similar concept applies to the car windows. If they are grimy or clouded, you are more likely to become more distracted or miss important information in the surrounding traffic. Not only will this likely force you to drive slower to compensate, but it could also put your life at risk. By taking your vehicle to a local car detailing professional who uses high-end waxes to protect the glass and keep it glossy for longer you can get much more visibility, and peace of mind.
Cleaning the Car Under the Hood
When was the last time you opened the hood to clean out all the debris that was piled on in there? If the answer is “I can’t remember,” then it’s time for some serious engine cleaning. For optimal performance, aim to clean your engine at least once a year, or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. Of course, more is sometimes better. While cleaning the engine and all other parts under the hood might not directly contribute to the car’s fuel efficiency, it does prevent grime from seeping into vital mechanical parts and electronics that keep the car running. It will help minimize the parts’ natural degradation process and optimize engine cooling.
When it comes to cleaning the car engine itself, a bit of engine degreaser and a pressure washer are solid DIY solutions with decent results. But there’s another option, and it starts with a simple search for “engine detailing near me.”
Typically, a company will have higher-quality products on hand and can include an engine cleaning service with a regular detailing job.
Benefits of Using Professional Car Detailing Services
When it comes to keeping your car running smoothly, mechanical maintenance is far more important than cleaning. Even if your car is literally caked in mud, as long as you can see out of the window and the engine runs smoothly, chances are the actual effect of that mud on fuel economy will be negligible. However, that doesn’t mean that you should keep your car that way.
Beyond regular cleaning, a thorough detailing will ensure that your vehicle stays in better shape and that any problems are spotted before they grow out of proportion. Considering that all you basically need to clean your car is water and soap, you might question the value of professional car detailing services. After all, the job shouldn’t take too long to complete and some detailing prices may seem overly high. When you hire a company to detail your car, first and foremost you save time and you get a far more thorough job than you’d likely be able to perform yourself.
Additionally, a professional who cleans cars every day likely has the knowledge, skills, and experience to use the right techniques, tools, and products for your specific vehicle type and condition. For example, go down the rabbit hole of TikTok videos and reels of auto detailers pressure washing every inch of a car. While the extent of the grime in some of those shorts is a bit unrealistic, the results that you will see are not. You’d be hard-pressed to replicate the work of an auto detailing professional yourself.
