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Covering the engine vents while washing.

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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 11:37 AM
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Default Covering the engine vents while washing.

When I wash my car I take wide blue painters tape and tape off the engine vents to keep the water out. It's not perfect but it helps a bunch. Does anyone have something that works better? It would be nice if there was a 3 piece set of something to block them off.
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Mar 9, 2023, 02:00 PM
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Four model years into production and still searching for an answer to a nonexistent problem .
Old Mar 9, 2023 | 12:40 PM
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There are companies that make things that wedge in into the 6 spots, and the bottom of the glass, but they are not cheap. You can buy tape for the rest of your life and not come close to their price.

Last edited by SMOKN C8; Mar 9, 2023 at 12:48 PM.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 12:58 PM
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Being an HTC owner, I don't understand this issue.

Don't you have to wash the Coupe's engine anyway, to keep it clean?
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:07 PM
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https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rchid=90114775

Plenty of ideas out there.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:09 PM
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What's easier than a bath towel or two?
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:33 PM
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C8 Engine Bay Covers.
https://www.quintenracing.com/produc...h-covers-coupe
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:39 PM
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No need to cover the vents. just avoid spraying water directly in. I clean the glass and wipe down the engine compartment every time anyways. Takes minutes, not a big deal at all.
Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:42 PM
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[QUOTE=SMOKN C8;1606366276]There are companies that make things that wedge in into the 6 spots, and the bottom of the glass, but they are not cheap. You can buy tape for the rest of your life and not come close to their price.[/Like most Corvette accessories you are correct, they are expensive. I will just get the 6" painters tape and call it a day.
Thanks!
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 01:58 PM
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I put a large beach towel under each side. It’s a fast method and captures all the water that rains in.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 02:00 PM
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Four model years into production and still searching for an answer to a nonexistent problem .
Old Mar 9, 2023 | 02:22 PM
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I just washed mine today for the first time (got it yesterday) and had no issues cleaning up the water. I think using a pressure washer helps, because it's less overall volume than say a garden hose. Once I dried the car off I just popped the hatch, gave the surfaces and the glass a wipe and it took maybe a minute. I was expecting the hatch to spill water all over the freshly dried paint, from various crevices but it didn't. Personally I wouldn't worry about keeping water out, just use it as an excuse to clean in there. Engine bays are also not really considered sealed areas of the car, they're ok with some water. You don't want to pressure wash areas marked not to pressure wash (on all cars) but you can even pressure wash the engine bay. I do get it seems weird to see the water flowing in there. Unless you're only driving on sunny days, rain water is going in there any way at some point. Even on cars without exposed vents you get soap build up in the drainage of engine bays, trunks, doors, etc... it's all got to get washed at least sometimes.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by MFG Grand Sport
When I wash my car I take wide blue painters tape and tape off the engine vents to keep the water out. It's not perfect but it helps a bunch. Does anyone have something that works better? It would be nice if there was a 3 piece set of something to block them off.
Do you stop and tape stuff up if you get caught in the rain?
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 07:49 PM
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Even with the vents covered, water gets in the compartment around the seams. I just open it and dry it. Only a few minutes and the engine and surroundings usually need to be wiped off anyway.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 08:11 PM
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I find rinsing with spray towards the rear reduces the amount of water going in. Really not a big deal. Use a blower and then a quick wipe. Spotless in no time.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 08:29 PM
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I have ridden the salt road several times.
After that, I washed water directly applied to the engine room twice to clean the engine room.
I'm worried, but I'd like to think it's okay because it's designed to run even in the rainy days.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveDMW
Even with the vents covered, water gets in the compartment around the seams. I just open it and dry it. Only a few minutes and the engine and surroundings usually need to be wiped off anyway.
Been washing my C8 coupe for 2 1/2 years and think covering the vents is silly!

First like you say water gets in around the hatch to body seams. I find only a few ounces on the rear flat section on either side of the cabin window. Now I'll not foolish and squirt the hose directly into the vents or the opening on the lower parts of the hatch glass that is also a heat vent!

I spray the car with soap foam device that fits my hose, no compressed air needed. Then use a hand mitt with soapy water washing mostly the lower areas and my side skirts, splitter front grill and rear facia. The I use the dial on my soaping device with a soft spray to rinse. I dry the car. Then I pop the hatch and with the corner of a towel pick up the few ounces of water. Then use that corner to wipe the dust and dirt that comes in thru those large fender vents every time you drive. Do those using painters tape etc just leave the dust and dirt?

After I wipe the engine cover and all flat parts with that wet corner of the towel. I use the bulk of the dry towel to clean all the flat surfaces and engine cover. Takes a few minutes.

I usually find these Threads from folks who don't yet have their car or got it and haven't yet washed it. Or those who started to use tape or those silly plastic covers that only cover the more obvious opening, not the lower opening on the lower hatch glass or hatch to body seams and didn't understand it's a non issue.

Sorry.

Last edited by JerryU; Mar 9, 2023 at 09:15 PM.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 08:55 PM
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I just let the water get in and then wash the engine bay afterwards. Takes about 5-8 more minutes and the bay is clean all the time.
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 09:35 PM
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These are a little cheaper than the Quentin ones https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-washing.html
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Old Mar 9, 2023 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveDMW
Even with the vents covered, water gets in the compartment around the seams. I just open it and dry it. Only a few minutes and the engine and surroundings usually need to be wiped off anyway.
Makes sense and no need to spend money on something to cure what is really a minor issue.
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Old Mar 10, 2023 | 02:59 AM
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^^^
Reminded of my old boss. Brilliant physicists who invented Plasma welding and cutting. He would walk thru our R&D Lab and if he saw an engineer working on something he thought foolish would say, "You're solving a problem not known to exist using a method known not to work!" He was a WWII Navy officer and statement was generally made with a few expletives deleted thrown in!

Last edited by JerryU; Mar 11, 2023 at 04:35 PM.
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