Mxsmanic wrote:
unicate writes:
Not everyone who works on engines is covered in filth -- some tasks
are messy, but there's a lot to be said about the cleanliness of a
shop. I won't have my plane repaired at a place that's "covered in
filth".

The engine itself usually seems to be covered in grime, unless it's
brand new. I find that to be a major turn-off.

An engine covered in grime is probably leaking a fluid or someone spilled
oil or other fluids on it and didn't clean the spill up. For the most part,
engines aren't (or shouldn't be) covered in grime. (I've owned two Acura
Integra's in the last 20 years and both their engines stayed clean. I had
regular maintenance done by professional mechanics.)

I've had to work on a number of auto engines in my youth (i.e. plenty of
time, not so much money to take the car to a mechanic) and they were rarely
all the dirty. I owned a hand-me-down Chevy Vega once (included by some
people in their "worst cars ever made" lists) and I had to replace cracked
cylinder heads more than once. Really not that messy, even though I had to
take the top of the head off! Of course the tough part of doing those
replacements (besides tracking down parts) was I had to do them in an
uninsulated garage in Minnesota in the coldest days of the winter. Metal
just loves to suck the heat out of your hands! Brrr!

And unless its failed somehow, an aircraft engine had better not be covered
in grime. (There are no dirt roads in the sky. :-) )