Why is my Nissan Micra's engine so dirty?

I bought a 56 plate Nissan Micra automatic 5-door 1.2 SE with 10,000 miles on it. The car is great, but one thing has puzzled me: the engine is very dirty when you lift the bonnet. I can't understand why.

Would you choose the pre-2007 diesel Nissan X-Trail over a Toyota RAV-4?

As a parent-to-be, I have found out that the boot of my BMW 320d Touring is not going to be big enough to accommodate anything other than a small pram. I'm therefore looking for something with more boot...

Which fun, cheap car is suitable for my daughter to learn to drive in?

I have about £6000 to spend on a second car that will be fun to drive, cheap to run and suitable for my daughter to learn to drive in. I was considering a Panda 100HP or Fabia vRS, but I think maybe the...

Which car has lowest repair costs - the Nissan Micra 1.5, Ford Fusion 1.4 or Renault Clio 1.5?

I want to buy a used car because I just sold my 2004 Nissan Micra SE, and now I want a diesel car with up to a 1.5-litre engine. Which of the Nissan Micra 1.5, Ford Fusion 1.4 or Renault Clio 1.5 is the...

Are the Nissan Micra, Renault Clio and Ford Fusion chain cam or belt cam?

Can you please tell me which of these diesel engines come with cam belts and which with cam chains: Nissan Micra 1.5, Renault Clio 1.5 and Ford Fusion 1.4. I do about 4000 miles per year.

What do you think of the Nissan Tiida?

I'm not sure whether to trade in my 2002 52-reg 1.5 S model Nissan Almera or spend more on new tyres and brake pads. I visited a showroom and saw a basic Micra, brand new but now obsolete, and could change...

Are any specification changes due for the Nissan Note from September 2010?

Could you tell me if there are any changes being made to the Note, September onwards. My dealer said he thought they might alter the engines, but said they would be the last to know. Anything you can find...

Is the Nissan X-Trail known for turbo problems?

I am looking to buy a '57 or '08 plate Nissan X-Trail and just come across some information that seems to indicate that the turbo has been a real problem. Can you offer any advice on this? I understand...

What would be a good replacement for my partner's Nissan Pathfinder?

Could you please recommend possible vehicles for my partner, who is having to hand back her company car (a Nissan Pathfinder) at the end of the month? She likes the room and power of her Nissan, especially...

Under suspension

I was considering buying a 2.0 litre petrol Qashqai and then someone suggested the 1.5 diesel as it was more frugal on both fuel and road tax. I was a little concerned as to whether the 1.5 diesel might...