[deehunk]

I like to maintain a clean engine bay and open the bonnet atleast twice in a week.

[Intelsingh]

I open the bonnet every fortnight, more to check the washer fluid than anything else.
Then I get these attacks at random where I take the car to my FNG to inspect everything from the suspension to brake pads.
I keep a log for all intervals (usually get my air filter changed at roughly 7k kilometers) this helps me predict the way my vehicle is behaving. Also, I love to ponder and research on any consumables that seem to be needing replacement in the future. Whether to go stock or upgrade.

[asingh1977]

Once a week. Check fluid levels and for anything loose / leaking.

[Dr.Naren]

It was interesting to read all the replies .

Yes, we don't have to open bonnet every day.. Thanks to modern reliable cars. But this has become a habit for me especially after rodent attack in S-Cross

[SS-Traveller]

Perhaps once every 1000-2000 km. I might do a 1500-km drive and not check under the bonnet at all.

Point is, what do you check after popping the hood? Admire the cam cover, wipe off the dust, or something more serious?

[Varun_HexaGuy]

I pop the hood up over every weekend to make sure that the engine bay is in good nicks as I tend to give all my cars a good wash over the weekends and I do pop the hood up when an unexpected error pops up on the MID which actually happened with me recently (read as mice attack). After that, I'm extra cautious and make sure to start the engine in the evening and idle the engine till the engine bay is heated up.

[Intelsingh]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Point is, what do you check after popping the hood? Admire the cam cover, wipe off the dust, or something more serious?

Post one of the services, the throttle body was left a little loose- due to the oil filter being replaced. Pure ignorance by the chap who would have attended to my vehicle. As a result, there was the check engine light that would warm me at its own whims. The guys at the workshop advised me to get the whole bit scanned, checked and most likely change. That is when I took the risk of taking a VW to a FNG. The guy seemed confident, pointed out to the moisture being formed on the pipe- opened it and after showing me the dust accumulated inside, cleaned it thoroughly. Post that, my car seemed to be breathing more easily.

So for me it's an inspection on any moisture popping up anywhere.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Point is, what do you check after popping the hood? Admire the cam cover, wipe off the dust, or something more serious?

Believe it or not, in my case it is all of the above. The serious one includes checking for cats, kittens so they don't get hurt.

[C300]

I open it once a month for cleaning and quick check on rats. Luckily not much of rodent menace in our apartment.

[kozhissery]

In my case there is not fixed timeframe.
1. When ever I give it a thorough cleaning (not the usual washing)
2. Before going on a long trip or out of town which can be even less than 100 kilometres.

In short in some months I open it more than 4 times and in some months none.

[gopi_rm]

I tank up my car once in 2 weeks to 3 weeks. Every time I do refuel, I will do the following:

• clean the interiors using vacuum
• check tyre pressure
• check engine oil level
• check coolant level
• check brake fluid level

[Durango Dude]

Haven't opened the bonnet of my 12 year old Elantra even once! I just did some barrelling down on half empty roads this morning, dropping my daughter of in her college; after driving an automatic, nothing more satisfying than driving a manual transmission on half empty roads.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by Varun_HexaGuy

I pop the hood up over every weekend to make sure that the engine bay is in good nicks

Plus to that, it is risky to ask the water service people to clean the engine bay. I would risk it on a Skoda/VW vehicle on any day but not other manufacturers. It is better to clean all water sensitive parts ourselves and just get the other things washed at service stations.

[adisan]

Only if required. For example, when I have been told to monitor the coolant level, or to fill wiper fluid. Or when entering some places they require the bonnet to be opened for checking.

[Gansan]

I take the car out only a couple of times a week, and open the bonnet every time before I start it. To see if there is any rat trail inside, nothing else! I also look at the coolant/brake fluid levels, incidentally!