Summertime is here and many of us have turned to the great outdoors, hanging up our carpet cars and dusting of our offroad or pavement vehicles. Now, more then ever, keeping the motor clean is more important then ever.

The amount of dirt they pick up is astounding, but if you stay on top of it, your motor can last a long time. Neglect them and you'll be replacing it quickly. You've heard it before, "Pay me now, or pay me later..."

The best way to clean your motor at the track is to remove it after every heat or race. This way you are sure to get into every nook and cranny, plus you don't have to worry about the cleaner "eating" your plastic parts.

Remove the brushes and use a comm stick to clean both the comm and the brushes. Then, using a high quality spray motor cleaner, liberally spray out the motor, inserting the included plastic tube into the cooling vents. Keep spraying until the cleaner drains clear again.

Once the motor air dries, check over the brushes to make sure they are still in good shape before putting them back in place. Add a couple drops of oil to each bushing and hook a 4 cell pack for the motor for about 30 seconds. This makes sure that the motor is properly reassembled and also seats the brushes. Reinstall the motor in your car or truck and you're ready for the next race.

Following these cleaning tips regularly will not only help your motor deliver maximum horsepower, but let it deliver it a long time.

End of article. Your comments are welcome.