Gold Dragon

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

Brcmpbl

I never get my 1970 wet. I use this stuff:

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...detailertrade/

72downunder

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.

bluthundr

I clean it with cold well water from a hose and a random rag to sud it up with dish soap.
I do get fancy and use a chamois to dry it though.

00Nassau

I use a California Duster to remove the dust. Then I use Zaino Z-6 spray and a white cotton towel. I have cars that have not been washed in years.

ddawson

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/

7T1vette

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.

Tiger Joe

^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.

Bloodzone

I've not washed car with water in a couple years. I use this stuff. Works great.

For me...its much easier to spray and wipe than wet wash and hand dry. Unless the car gets really dirty I never use water. All of our other cars gets too dirty and must be water washed.

Gold Dragon

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.

Faster Rat

[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.

REELAV8R

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.

Tiger Joe

I'm sorry but you are trying to say that washing the car with water caused the frame to rot? Give me a break!

Gold Dragon

Smoking a few cigarettes won't cause cancer, but over time it can destroy your health. Agree to disagree TJ.

cv67

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

REELAV8R

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.

crawfish333

Rubbing dry paint causes a lot of hazing and micro-scratching.

kingkohlmn

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.

domenic tallarita

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

Iceaxe

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.