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What’s the first thing that catches your eye on a car? Is it the lights, the mags, or the shape? For many, the front of a car is the first thing that gets their attention. It’s the face of the car, so everything about it should be the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics. Often, the main feature on the front of a car is the grille. But what exactly is the grille there for, and how do you maintain it?
The Grille’s Function
Not all cars had a grille on them. It wasn’t till the early 1900s that cars started adopting the usage of grilles. Since then, they have become one of the standout features of most modern cars. But what exactly is its function?
- It acts as an air intake
One of the main functions a car grille has is to allow sufficient air into the engine to cool it down. As the car’s main air intake, the grille allows the engine to take in the air while you drive and use it to cool down the engine temperature. This system is more than just a simple air intake, though. Air plays a crucial part in cooling down the coolant that’s dispersed throughout the engine to ensure it stays cool.
- It adds to the aesthetics
Aside from its function in cooling the engine, a car’s grille also adds a lot to its overall look. In most cars, the grille is given a specific shape that matches other models of that car brand. For a long time, grilles were usually rectangular or square, but with the advancements in modern technology, car manufacturers can now design grilles to be different shapes and styles and made from different materials, too.
- Aerodynamics and performance
The performance of a car has a lot to do with how it manages wind resistance. Cars are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, depending on their function. For instance, F1 cars are extremely low to the ground and have a sleek, narrow body to ensure they cut through the air perfectly.
The same design criteria are used for cars with grilles. This will allow the car to perform optimally. Instead of the wind hitting the car head-on, it’s taken into the grill and diverted, meaning the car manages its way through the air better, thus improving performance.
How to Maintain Car’s Grilles
So, now that you know why your car has a grille let’s look at how to maintain it. Depending on what you do with your car or where you drive it, the grill could become blocked or clogged by mud or leaves. While this isn’t very common, it can happen and pose a threat to how your car functions. That’s why maintenance is important. Here’s how you can maintain your automotive grille:
Steps to Clean the Car Grille
Most dirty grilles are usually caused by dust and dirt from rainy weather. If the grille is not cleaned regularly, it can look dull. Make sure you clean the grille regularly, especially during unpredictable weather conditions.
Consider what equipment you’ll need
We’re going to take a pretty meticulous approach to cleaning your car grille, and these are the tools you’ll need to do the same. Make sure you have a toothbrush, scrubbing brush, bucket, car shampoo, and cotton clothes. Everything we have on this list is to help you clean the grille properly and get to those difficult-to-reach places.
Mix the shampoo
Now that you have everything you need grab your bucket and pour the recommended amount of car shampoo into it. Usually, the recommended ratio here is 1 part shampoo and three parts water, depending on the size of the bucket. The reason we’re using car shampoo specifically is that it’s designed to remove dirt quickly without damaging the paint on the grill.
Wash the grille
Applying the mix water and shampoo to the grille is the next step. This isn’t very complicated; simply apply the mixture evenly to the grille. Here’s where you might want to use the toothbrush to get into those areas that are slightly more difficult to get into. We wanted to get soapy water onto the whole surface of the grille.
Scrubbing it clean
Once the whole grille is wet and covered in soapy water, it’s time to get scrubbing. With a scrubbing brush or a toothbrush, gently brush the surface of the grille. Make sure you scrub everywhere you can get to. Be careful not to get too rough while you scrub the grille, though you don’t want to damage the paint.
Rinse it and wipe it down with a cloth
Once you’re confident that you’ve gotten all the dirt, give the grille a rinse so all the dirt can wash off of it. Once rinsed, wipe it down using a cotton cloth. This will help you get rid of any residue or dirt that’s still on your grille.
Other maintenance tips
There are other cases where cleaning your grille with the approach above won’t work, for example, if your grille has fungus on it. Some people would suggest using toothpaste on your grille to kill and clear the fungus off of it. Others would say you should use a mix of white vinegar and hot water. Either could possibly work, but might not be extremely effective. In this case, a product designed to kill fungus would be best suited.
Final Thoughts
A perfect balance between aesthetic and performance, a car grille is a distinguishing feature that sets any car apart from the competition. Designed to keep a car engine cool and ensure it stays aerodynamic, the grille is one of the most important features of a car, making its maintenance important, too. Remember to follow these maintenance tips to keep your car grille in top-notch shape.
