Cleaning the Vette without water
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 211
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Cleaning the Vette without water
Wanted to hear about the different ways forum members clean their cars when it's needed. My Vette will be in a garage and only driven on nice weather days. I would prefer not to touch it with water for obvious reasons. Are there any good alternatives. Thanks.
Ray
Ray
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 190
Likes: 30
From: Wollongong Great Southern Land
I use a waterless system, not sure what it's called in the states, Black Daimonf maybe?
its polymer based, spray on from a pump pressurised bottle and microfibre wipe away to a shine, be liberal with it and you won't get scratches. It lifts dirt as you wipe and even stubborn bug crap if you spray a little more on and leave a while
our 72 never drives in the wet, been doing this for 2 years and the paint looks great still. You can also use it on glass chrome all comes up a treat.
its polymer based, spray on from a pump pressurised bottle and microfibre wipe away to a shine, be liberal with it and you won't get scratches. It lifts dirt as you wipe and even stubborn bug crap if you spray a little more on and leave a while
our 72 never drives in the wet, been doing this for 2 years and the paint looks great still. You can also use it on glass chrome all comes up a treat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,737
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Have not washed my car in years. I use water less products.
Current I like the Meguiar's Ultimate Waterless
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...-wax-anywhere/
Current I like the Meguiar's Ultimate Waterless
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...-wax-anywhere/
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
What's the phobia about not using 'water'???
If the car is just 'dusty', I'll use some detailer spray and a clean microfiber towel on it. But, if it got dirt or road crud on it, I wash it. You gotta get the 'chunks' off the paint before you wipe it down with anything.
If the car is just 'dusty', I'll use some detailer spray and a clean microfiber towel on it. But, if it got dirt or road crud on it, I wash it. You gotta get the 'chunks' off the paint before you wipe it down with anything.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 575
From: Pittsburgh PA
^x2.
I don't get it, what are the "obvious reasons" for not using water?
I've got several classic cars in the garage that I don't drive in the rain, but I'll wash them with a bucket of cold water. never done any harm.
I don't get it, what are the "obvious reasons" for not using water?
I've got several classic cars in the garage that I don't drive in the rain, but I'll wash them with a bucket of cold water. never done any harm.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 128
From: Rhine Georgia
I've not washed car with water in a couple years. I use this stuff. Works great.
what are the "obvious reasons" for not using water?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 211
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Had to replace this section of the kick up on the chassis. The guy I bought the car from didn't understand the obvious either. Restoration on a Corvette is extremely expensive and time consuming.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
[QUOTE=Gold Dragon;1594996591The guy I bought the car from didn't understand the obvious either. Restoration on a Corvette is extremely expensive and time consuming.[/QUOTE]
After all the years and money I spent cleaning and restoring the entire underneath of my car, I damn sure ain't gonna inject it with rust-causing water. I guess others are talking about sudsing up their precious paint jobs, which they have to do after driving in the rain or going down dirt roads out in the boonies. Makes me glad I still have the original paint, full of chips and nicks.
After all the years and money I spent cleaning and restoring the entire underneath of my car, I damn sure ain't gonna inject it with rust-causing water. I guess others are talking about sudsing up their precious paint jobs, which they have to do after driving in the rain or going down dirt roads out in the boonies. Makes me glad I still have the original paint, full of chips and nicks.
Last edited by Faster Rat; Jun 22, 2017 at 10:56 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,170
From: Hermosa
I have not washed mine in the conventional sense since I brought it home 7 years ago.
I use a spray bottle with water in it to get off bugs and if some grime is around the wheel wells.
I use a California duster or compressed air to get the dust off.
Then I use microfiber towels with something like mothers detailer or show shine to get remaining dust off.
With a gloss black car it's a battle to not get the paint full of micro scratches while cleaning so it's important to not scrub the dust around on the paint just remove it. Conventional washing WILL scrub the dirt around and create scratches in the paint that later have to be removed.
Every few years I get out the clay bar with the mother show shine and claybar the car. Then wax, buff and detailer. The detailer liquid seems to help knock down the static charge developed during waxing to help keep more dust off the car.
I use a spray bottle with water in it to get off bugs and if some grime is around the wheel wells.
I use a California duster or compressed air to get the dust off.
Then I use microfiber towels with something like mothers detailer or show shine to get remaining dust off.
With a gloss black car it's a battle to not get the paint full of micro scratches while cleaning so it's important to not scrub the dust around on the paint just remove it. Conventional washing WILL scrub the dirt around and create scratches in the paint that later have to be removed.
Every few years I get out the clay bar with the mother show shine and claybar the car. Then wax, buff and detailer. The detailer liquid seems to help knock down the static charge developed during waxing to help keep more dust off the car.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 575
From: Pittsburgh PA
I'm sorry but you are trying to say that washing the car with water caused the frame to rot? Give me a break!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 211
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Geez its just a car go wash it. Some of you guys take this way too far
Its not going to fall apart!!
Age makes things rot for the most part. If you see corrosion and it bugs you time to fix it right anyway.
nothing lasts forever
Its not going to fall apart!!
Age makes things rot for the most part. If you see corrosion and it bugs you time to fix it right anyway.
nothing lasts forever
Last edited by cv67; Jun 22, 2017 at 02:06 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,170
From: Hermosa
One answer for me..Paint. It's expensive takes lots of time and effort for prep and is difficult to get right. Any paint looks good for a year or three come back in 5 or 10 then you know the quality of the prep and application.
My 77 still has the original paint and I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible.
As far as corrosion from water, I worry more about it being parked on a sweaty slab of concrete in a garage than water from washing or rain. High humidity does more damage than any amount of washing will probably do.
My 77 still has the original paint and I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible.
As far as corrosion from water, I worry more about it being parked on a sweaty slab of concrete in a garage than water from washing or rain. High humidity does more damage than any amount of washing will probably do.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 724
Likes: 112
From: Austin TX area
There is no way just water caused that rot. More likely a combination of road grim, dirt, salt mixed with rain water, puddles and how it was stored was the cause.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 320
From: palm springs ca
I spent to much time cad plating hardware to get it wet. I hate rust and only wipe my car with a damp cloth followed by a rag. I also use the spray stuff.
If you have laquer then you have to be careful, but I have a hard clear coat that is nasty hard and you have to want to scratch it.
Dom
If you have laquer then you have to be careful, but I have a hard clear coat that is nasty hard and you have to want to scratch it.
Dom
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,631
From: Draper Utah
I wash my car with soap and water about once every 2 or 3 years if it gets dirty, it's usually the rims and tires that decide when to bring out the soap and water. The rest of the time I use a California Duster to get the dust off and Meguiar's Quick Detailer.
My car lives 99% of it's life under a car cover in a climate controlled garage and is only driven in good weather. The car is driven approximately 2000 miles a year. The car was painted 7 years ago and the paint job still looks as sweet and fresh as the day it was painted.
This is what works best for me, your mileage may vary.
My car lives 99% of it's life under a car cover in a climate controlled garage and is only driven in good weather. The car is driven approximately 2000 miles a year. The car was painted 7 years ago and the paint job still looks as sweet and fresh as the day it was painted.
This is what works best for me, your mileage may vary.