- 05/08/2015
- 1 Min Read
- By: Alex Fiehl
4 Ways to Make an Engine Bay Stand Out (P80 Volvo)
It's all about the details. No matter the level of modification a car has, a dirty, worn engine bay is never a pleasant sight. This condition says a lot about a vehicle, even if it is pushing over 100 horsepower more than stock. What I respect isn't the level of raw modification performed, but the level of care taken to achieve an overall package. These items may sound simple, but they can take years off of a car's appearance and create a level of detail that will impress.
Washer fluid cap
If you've got a Volvo S70, this little guy is either broken, lost, or heavily discolored. When I got my S70, I filled my shopping cart full of little details like this not only because they were cost effective, but they fixed little issues that the previous owner just wasn't concerned about.
Keep it clean
A dusty engine bay is easy to remedy. Modern vehicles hardly need any precautions taken for moisture under the hood, so it's usually a matter of lightly spraying down the engine with a detergent solution, and misting it off with the hose. An engine bay is exposed to rain and moisture just like the rest of the car, so a light mist with the hose isn't going to hurt anything. Pressure washing is obviously not advisable.
A gentle rain from the hose is all it needs.
Spark plug cover screws
These little guys corrode and rust, sometimes even stripping out the T30 torx head. Replacements restore the cam cover's dark appearance.
Volvo Torx Screw - Genuine Volvo 986009
Genuine Volvo Battery
It's no secret that there are only a handful of major battery manufacturers in the United States, and that Volvo batteries are made by Interstate. Aesthetics-wise, though, an actual Interstate battery will look like a junkyard pull when installed into a clean Volvo engine bay. Blue-label batteries aren't much more expensive than competitors, and they look like they are supposed to be there.
About the Author: Alex Fiehl
Alex
is FCP's Blog Editor and a Desktop Engineer from Endwell, NY. He has over 9 years of experience working on a wide array of import makes, but has found his home with European cars. With a Volkswagen and Volvo at home, the garage is always busy.
