How do you wash your Vette?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
From: Cologne (Köln) Germany
How do you wash your Vette?
3 methods come to my mind:
1. Hand washing
2. Automatized car wash with soft brushes
3. Automatized car wash with pressurized water ("laser wash")
I personally exclude No. 1 as: i) it may easily generate small scratches when not done carefully; ii) it is time consuming; and iii) therefore expensive when paid for. The "soft brushes" types are nowadays made from man-made and soft leather-like material and I like the result. I have no experience yet with No. 3, but as my Coupe's roof sealings are far from perfect, I fear that water will come inside the car.
Anyway, with Nos. 2 and 3, on the devices I found, one needs to select some coating of the car in order to get the car dried. On the other hand, leaving the car wash with a wet car easily give rise to spots, which, of course, I want to avoid. On the other hand, I do not want to have some dubious coating put on my clear top and on the large glass surfaces.
What do you think?
Thanks, Robert
1. Hand washing
2. Automatized car wash with soft brushes
3. Automatized car wash with pressurized water ("laser wash")
I personally exclude No. 1 as: i) it may easily generate small scratches when not done carefully; ii) it is time consuming; and iii) therefore expensive when paid for. The "soft brushes" types are nowadays made from man-made and soft leather-like material and I like the result. I have no experience yet with No. 3, but as my Coupe's roof sealings are far from perfect, I fear that water will come inside the car.
Anyway, with Nos. 2 and 3, on the devices I found, one needs to select some coating of the car in order to get the car dried. On the other hand, leaving the car wash with a wet car easily give rise to spots, which, of course, I want to avoid. On the other hand, I do not want to have some dubious coating put on my clear top and on the large glass surfaces.
What do you think?
Thanks, Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,139
Likes: 2
From: Whidbey Island WA
Here's everything you've ever wanted to know and some things you don't, about taking care of your car. (#1, done properly is the ONLY way to wash a corvette.... 
)
http://www.autopia.org/forums/index.php
)http://www.autopia.org/forums/index.php
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Several very knowlegeable people hang out in the Car Care Products section of the Forum and they should be able to offer you some very good advice. Good luck. 
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Nesconset NY
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
I got that Mr Clean auto dry from my kids I put Zaino car wash into it came out very nice I only had to hand rub a couple of spots. Pretty good for an after drive clean up. But if I am going to do a full wash I hand wash with new sponges I found a place on the web that sold flattened sponges and I use them once and throw them away 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
wash by hand. replace the sponge (not really a sponge more like a cloth wrapped around a sponge) once a month use car wash soap
and the one time when i was out of town and used a brush it scratched the h*ll outta my clearcoat.
and the one time when i was out of town and used a brush it scratched the h*ll outta my clearcoat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Winchester TN
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi UncleRobb -
I most often use the pressure wash spray method.
Since my Z is garaged most of the time, it does not get as dirty as my other vehicles.
I only bucket wash when it is necessary, like after a road trip or when there are tons of bugs on the front etc.
When I bucket wash, I use warm water (I have soft, hot water in the garage) and I use a sheepskin mitt on everything above the bottom of the door panels, and a cotton covered wash sponge on everything below the door panels.
To dry it, I use either 100% cotton towels, or 100mph blow dry...
did I say that?
best regards -
mqqn
I most often use the pressure wash spray method.
Since my Z is garaged most of the time, it does not get as dirty as my other vehicles.
I only bucket wash when it is necessary, like after a road trip or when there are tons of bugs on the front etc.
When I bucket wash, I use warm water (I have soft, hot water in the garage) and I use a sheepskin mitt on everything above the bottom of the door panels, and a cotton covered wash sponge on everything below the door panels.
To dry it, I use either 100% cotton towels, or 100mph blow dry...
did I say that?best regards -
mqqn
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I use the self serve car wash here in town. It has nice water pressure and a spot free rinse that really does work. I can get up in the wheel wells and under the car with the wand. Not had any scratches to the paint (at least none that I can tell).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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St. Jude Donor '09
I do it by hand ... doesn't take long. Drying takes longer than washing, to get the door jambs, hatch opening, and hood dry. I've tried the leaf blower method and that works well, but it's a lot of trouble to get it out. I use a squeegee instead, followed by a towel.
The outside faucet that I use is also on my water softener, so that works out well for a spot-free car.
The outside faucet that I use is also on my water softener, so that works out well for a spot-free car.