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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 08:13 AM
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Default Washing Tip

I just got my "new to me" 2020 C8 3LT Z51. I had been reading on tips and tricks for car and operation and saw that you could get covers or plugs for the engine cover vents. On Amazon the kit was about $300 Cdn which seemed a bit excessive.
Once I got the car home after a 400km drive in the rain it needed some attention and without these plugs I came up with an option that with car worked quite well.
I used Glad "Press 'n Seal". Just seal off the vents and the opening at the bottom of the glass and voila! As long as you don't hit it directly with your pressure washer it stays in place and keeps the water out of your engine bay.
It's not as ideal as the fancy plugs but certainly works as an option.

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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 10:25 AM
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I just avoid hitting the vents directly with water spray. Some water still gets on motor. I wipe down the motor anyway, so it’s really a non issue.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 10:51 AM
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Great looking C8, love the color with the black accents. I usually place a few towels over the engine and use them to clean up the dust during the drying process. The press and seal is a clever idea. If you made some cardboard templates you could speed up the process in the future and do the cutting away from the vehicle. Unfortunately the hatch drips all over along the sides when you pop it open so water under the hatch is unavoidable. Less is better though.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 11:04 AM
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I like the idea, cheap and efficient. I also liked another idea someone on here proposed of opening the rear hatch and putting a couple of towels down under the vents that would catch any water getting in. Great looking car BTW.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 11:58 AM
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Great idea, beautiful car. What color is that?
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 12:20 PM
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I use a foam cannon without any regard to closing off the vents. Never been an issue. Most of the water just finds its way out of the engine compartment area. I would never spend any money on things to prevent that from happening. The car is designed to deal with water getting in there. Just open the hatch when done and wipe down any residual if you want. My car is ceramic coated and a quick run hitting 60 or so shed the majority of water off the car once washed.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 12:44 PM
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I like to make sure that the windows are closed before I enter the car wash. Enjoy the ride .
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 01:04 PM
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If you are uncomfortable use Duck Tape.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Dale06
I just avoid hitting the vents directly with water spray. Some water still gets on motor. I wipe down the motor anyway, so it’s really a non issue.
Yep, it's always the new or "tobe" owner's that think they will have issues! NOT.

Washed my 2020 C8 for 4 years and my E-Ray now for 8 months. The vents are a non issue and if you are really OCD some water will come in past the hatch seals! Yep some folks put painters tape on the hatch seams when they realized water still came in! Silly.

First dust and dirt come in every time you drive thru those large rear fender scoops! The vents and 3/4 inch gap at the bottom of hatch glass is where engine compartment cooling air goes out! Need to get rid of that dust and dirt.
  • Washing normally, not foolishly putting the hose spray in the Vents will get a few oz of water in the engine compartment (a few oz is good!) BTW some water goes out the drains in each front corner as it does when raining.
  • Need those few oz to help clean. I pick-up those few oz with 1 corner of a large towel after I dry the outside. Use that wet corner to remove dust and dirt including from the engine cover and all flat areas.
  • Then use the ~85% dry towel to wipe off the whole compartment of dust and dirt and a few drops of water left.
  • Total <5 minutes.
Recall someone in 2020 was selling covers but stopped as folks realized it's all their "no experience" imagination!

Last edited by JerryU; Oct 16, 2024 at 01:51 PM.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 5632
If you are uncomfortable use Duck Tape.
I guess you think that's funny. Just move on if you don't have something helpful to say.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 01:40 PM
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I understand the question. When I first got my C8 last year, it seemed incredible that water was just gonna pour down into the engine, as everybody else has said, it turned out to be a non-problem. There’s a little bit of water that gets into the engine but then that’s a good time to wipe the whole thing down anyway. I bought the blocks to use, and I’ve never really used them for washing because I exclusively do rinseless on my car, which doesn’t put any water down the vents, but I do use the blocks when I need to park the car for a day or two outside in the rainy season… I didn’t pay 300. I paid about 150
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by BearZ06
Great idea, beautiful car. What color is that?
Shadow Gray. (Grey?).

They most often photograph blue, .. but can appear black, blue, green, or purple depending upon the light and angle.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Zormecteon
Shadow Gray. (Grey?).

They most often photograph blue, .. but can appear black, blue, green, or purple depending upon the light and angle.
That's what I thought, it's one of those great changing colors along with Night Race Blue, Laguna Blue (66), and Mahogany (76). Hope they bring it back!
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 02:12 PM
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I aim the power washer right through the vents and the glass opening and after washing open the hood and wipe everything down. Every couple of washes I open the hood and power wash the entire engine bay and then blow dry it.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 04:41 PM
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I just put a blanket over the engine area no problemo
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 09:04 PM
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I was advised GM designed the engine compartment to get wet. As noted here after a wash I wipe down the compartment interior.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 10:29 PM
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I have not heard that a lot of water enters the engine compartment during a wash cycle. Some good suggestions above to help mitigate any water in the engine compartment.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 10:55 PM
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Have never covered the louvers on my Ferrari in the almost 12 years I've owned it --50,000+ miles... wipe it down, when so inclined.....
Just passed the 30,000-mile mark in my C8, treat it just like the Ferrari, other than the Ferrari uses dino oil.
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Old Oct 17, 2024 | 11:21 AM
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Just wipe down the engine bay after washing. It only takes a minute or two. No need for special covers or anything.
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Old Oct 17, 2024 | 07:34 PM
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