Dry Washing the GT


Kayvan

GT Owner
Jul 13, 2006
4,782
BigDan40, Beach-GT, KJRGT, Ed Simms, Gulf GT and Davisp dry wash their cars:

ie, using a damp-chamois/100% cotton towel with light soap to lift dust; then chamois/microfibre damp with clear water; dry with micro-fibre

I have not washed my car since delivery July 2006; its gets driven on sunny days, and lives under flannel cover. Taking on/off the cover essentially lifts up any dust; I have wiped down the wheels and windows.

I am considering buying 2-3 100% cotton bath towels at K-Mart for $5/each; soping them water to wipe down the car with light soap, then wipe off wet microfbre towels & finish with dry microfibre. Will pitch towels after or use to clean wheels later.

My paint is glass/wet paint shiny per the photos I posted & I dont want to wash for no reason.....

Am I nuts or will I be sanding down my paint with these towels, even if i rotate/re-fold so its always use new towel on paint?

Sorry for this ridiculous/anal post...but I cant wet down this GT :ack
 
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BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
Ed Sims is a big fan of "dry washing" as well. I prefer to wet wash using the foam gun Jason recommends.
 

SFLGT

Well-known member
Dec 29, 2007
205
FtLauderdale,Florida
I would not use cotton bath towels on anything. Use only microfiber towels on the paint.
 

Gill Jr.

GT Owner
Aug 7, 2007
117
Orange County, CA
I usually use a detail spray with microfiber towels for a quick dusting. If the car is too dirty for this process I use the spotless water system I purchased at Costco. I will purchase a leaf blower soon to minimize having to wipe the car down during drying.
 

Gulf GT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 9, 2006
1,539
California
Water has never been on my car yet.
 

Kayvan

GT Owner
Jul 13, 2006
4,782
Water has never been on my car yet.

Pls provide your approach; I think alot of folks are closet dry-washers
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
Water has never been on my car yet.

We had 5 GTs in are group heading to Rally III and all of us got more water and hail than any hose can dish out while on Nevada Hwy 95!
 

STUNTS

FORD GT OWNER & LITTLE TIMMYS DAD!
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 5, 2006
2,438
SoCal
We had 5 GTs in are group heading to Rally III and all of us got more water and hail than any hose can dish out while on Nevada Hwy 95!

Did it look like this???
 

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Triheart7

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 3, 2007
2,581
Northern California
(Actually, Black Ice...we were 6 GT's)

When the hail and rain hit us on the way to the Rally, the highway actually looked like that for a few min. A truck coming into town looked just like that. Fortunately we were able to hide under the gas station overhang during the worst of it.
 

Awsum GT

GT Owner '18
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 17, 2005
4,003
Carmel & Cntrl Ca
Remember MANY 100% cotton towels have nylon thread which causes swirl marks on your paint... great towel set... check this link out.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product...basic&keyword=towel&sortby=newArrivals&page=1
 

junior

GT Owner
Mar 9, 2007
1,152
So Cal
There is no harm done if you use 100% cotton towel. Here's what the legendary Sal Zaino says about towel, I have no afiliation with Zaino, but I often find his tips and tricks very helpful:
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=TOWELS&Store_Code=Z
:thumbsup
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
(Actually, Black Ice...we were 6 GT's)

When the hail and rain hit us on the way to the Rally, the highway actually looked like that for a few min. A truck coming into town looked just like that. Fortunately we were able to hide under the gas station overhang during the worst of it.

Oops, I forgot one.

Of information value to many on this board is one of the GTs in our group used Hoosiers with more tread grooves cut into them. He reported that he drove though the heavy downpour without any traction issues at the legal speed limits! I am not advocating street use of these tires, however with the additional tread grooves, they did perform better than most would have predicted.
 

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tmcphail

GT Owner/Vendor
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 24, 2006
4,112
St Augustine, Florida
I am not advocating street use of these tires, however with the additional tread grooves, they did perform better than most would have predicted.

I'll take that step and advocate R6's, then again I am biased just a hair !!!
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
I'll take that step and advocate R6's, then again I am biased just a hair !!!

Yes, but what did you use to drive to the Rally? I rest my case.
 

tmcphail

GT Owner/Vendor
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 24, 2006
4,112
St Augustine, Florida
Yes, but what did you use to drive to the Rally? I rest my case.

Slight difference in a vehicle used to cross the united states and back as to one driven locally. My R6 bias stands Clinton :banana.
 
Aug 25, 2006
4,436
Did it look like this???

Yes it looked exactly like this however you need to add the flippen hail that ultimately became sleet and snow like completely covering not only the ground but also a great portion of the gals which is likely why BlackIce lost sight of one of the six in the group.

Now as for dry washing the gals; I understand the practice on a gal that never leaves a control facility however if she is driven on a road trip such as to Sin City where we spent 10 plus hours each way to dry wash the exterior does nothing for all of the recessed areas which often times collect more dirt and bugs when compared to the exposed surfaces.

I have heard from many folks including customers that they feel that washing a gal with water allows for areas on/in which water becomes trapped and I respect their feelings however in the end I feel better spraying water and getting all of the crevasses cleaned and then I methodically dry her down.

Takes care

Shadowman
 

Superfly

HERITAGE GT OWNER
Mark II Lifetime
Jun 23, 2008
2,210
Edmonton, Alberta
Did it look like this???

Wow!! :eek Were you filming for a movie or just for yourself? Do you have any vids of that you can post? Looks like an absolute hoot!! :cheers :thumbsup :banana
 

Kayvan

GT Owner
Jul 13, 2006
4,782
Who makes the best Microfibre towels: Griots, Sonus?

I asume the Wal-mart, kmart variety are poly/polymide blend, only to be use don metal, trim or interior, rubber
 

Superfly

HERITAGE GT OWNER
Mark II Lifetime
Jun 23, 2008
2,210
Edmonton, Alberta
Who makes the best Microfibre towels: Griots, Sonus?

I asume the Wal-mart, kmart variety are poly/polymide blend, only to be use don metal, trim or interior, rubber

I don't know who makes the BEST ones (maybe Jason [Autospa]) can chime in, but I've had great success with the costco ones. They're cheap and they seem to work well.
 

Awsum GT

GT Owner '18
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 17, 2005
4,003
Carmel & Cntrl Ca
I hear rumors floating around that Jason's AutoSpa has some issues to work out. Kind of glad he never found a way to come to California from some of the things I have heard.