Hand washing tips-a lot of openings...

[BillyRay]

Really the only car that has been a concern with me hand washing is the latest car I bought 12-2006. A 2007 Ford Shelby and when I wash this car I have to take blue painters tape and tape off the hood vents and side scoops I have on the side windows.
When I received this car, the dealership washed the car and all the water spotted all over the engine area!!

My question is I see a lot of openings on the GT and I,am wondering if I should cover some of them with something. Like insert a new sponge or stuff in a damp shammy. Boys any washing tips you have encountered??
I already see the rear fins have water spots so when I get this area clean next time I will 2" blue tape before washing....BRay

 

[shelbyelite]

Ask your daughter HANNA MONTANA! :lol

 

[HHGT]

Greetings and welcome. I used to wash the car more frequently and I wash her once or twice a year anymore. Use soft water and yes cover all the opening int the engine bay. Spend a lot of time on all the nooks. You'll get a ton of suggestions on which products to use. Jason here on the forum is a supporting vendor and provides many tips. Make sure you take your wheels off and wash and wax them - you'll need a puck and a long low profile jack.

Good luck and enjoy.

Sam

 

[KMCBOSS]

I never wash my FORD GT, or 07 SHELBY GT500 or BOSS 302 for that matter. Just California duster - run a damp microfiber cloth over it then a quick detailer. Ed

 

[AJB]

I always wash the GT and my other cars and MCycles with copious quantities of water at all times. I try to 'float off' all the particles of dust and grit. I try to never move a particle on the painted surface when it is dry.
Just my opinion and technique.
I use Turtle Zip wax with lots of suds, lots of water rinse and spray detailer and dry with terry and microfiber. Never taped off any vents / openings but I am careful not to blast water into them either..
AJB

 

[Kingman]

Take a cotton towel and wipe down the engine afterwards.

 

[HHGT]

BTW - if you have a garden leaf blower, rig up a plastic funnel with duct tape on the tip and use it to blow dry the all the hard to get to places including all the jams.

 

[Jason's Auto Spa]

If you're going to tape off the vents, I would do it from the inside verses outside to eliminate the risk of applying tape to a dirty/gritty surface marring the clear coat. I didn't see what side you taped them from, but I am just throwing it out there.

What I use for the vents are Slick Stixxx, I am a distributor. Info here (See side menu bar). Spritz a microfiber towel with a water/distilled vinegar mix (25% vinegar/75% water) and wrap it around a slick stixxx attachment and it turns the whole vent thing into a one minute job. You should be able to find a spray bottle locally for less than a buck at Target or just order from US Plastic Corp online if you want a more durable/larger one.

Hope that helps :thumbsup

 

[SteveA]

If the car is real dirty I'll wash and rinse it first, then use a rubber tipped air hose on the vents, mirrors, air intakes, louvers and engine bay and then a very soft clean towel. IMO the car cleans up very easy, in fact my other cars and truck usually take more time.

 

[Waldo]

When I wash my GT, I will open the clamshell and place several bath towels over the entire engine compartment. Close the clamshell, wash the car, and then remove the towels when complete.

R/
Waldo

 

[w. mitty]

I never wash my FORD GT, or 07 SHELBY GT500 or BOSS 302 for that matter. Just California duster - run a damp microfiber cloth over it then a quick detailer. Ed

+1

I've used this method (minus the damp cloth) exclusively on my exotics for the last five years, and so far, I have noticed far fewer hairline scatches and swirlmarks. I will only wash an exotic with soap and water when it has mud on it, or in other words, NEVER. Plus, the tap water in Arizona and Utah is miserabley hard.

Use the California duster, and then spray generous amounts of quick detailer to lubricate the surface. Rotate the microfiber cloth often. I use the yellow ones available at Costco. By the way, I buy the Meguires detailer in a one gallon container from my local body shop supply store, and spray it through a previously emptied quick detailer container.

I hate to wash with water because the body lines and openings are almost impossible to get comletely dry without compressed air.

 

[usmcfred]

Just as a general car washing suggestion ... a few years ago, I discovered the CALIFORNIA WATER BLADE. It's a 12" soft, medical grade silicone squeegee sold by Griot's and many other auto accessory vendors. After thouroughly rinsing after washing, using the CWB removes 80-90% of the water before it has any chance to spot. Then, finish drying with a clean 100% cotton towel that has been washed WITHOUT ANY FABRIC SOFTENER in the rinse cycle. I used to go through three drying towels for a car the size of the GT. Now after "blading" which is very fast and easy, I use one large towel to dry any residual water left behind.

Truly a great product that really speeds up the washing, rinsing, drying task.

usmcfred

 

[Superfly]

As long as we're making car washing suggestions, I've recently picked up a CR Spotless Washing system from Costco (can I say that? - Bony, you may edit if necess). It was about 3/5 off as they're blowing them out at the Costco in Canada (for some reason it's like 1/2 the price of Costco USA). I haven't used it on the GT yet (still haven't washed it), but I have washed my BLACK 911 turbo with it and the hype is true, you can leave it to air dry IN THE SUN with NO WATER SPOTS!!! Speed it up with leaf blower if you want, or just let it sit. Pretty cool really. I tried it on my dark blue allroad first (didn't want to deal with water spots on my 911) and it was amazing.

My $0.02 anyway.

 

[Gill Jr.]

As long as we're making car washing suggestions, I've recently picked up a CR Spotless Washing system from Costco (can I say that? - Bony, you may edit if necess). It was about 3/5 off as they're blowing them out at the Costco in Canada (for some reason it's like 1/2 the price of Costco USA). I haven't used it on the GT yet (still haven't washed it), but I have washed my BLACK 911 turbo with it and the hype is true, you can leave it to air dry IN THE SUN with NO WATER SPOTS!!! Speed it up with leaf blower if you want, or just let it sit. Pretty cool really. I tried it on my dark blue allroad first (didn't want to deal with water spots on my 911) and it was amazing.

My $0.02 anyway.

I have the same system. It was $300.00 at my local Costco. Works really well. Most times I just use the system to rinse the dust off and then follow up with a quick detailer. I also use the yellow microfiber towels from Costco. They are inexpensive enough in bulk to just use once and then throw away.

 

[tpraceman]

They fit into any quality car wash......don't they?.:rofl

 

[BillyRay]

The towel idea is real good!!!!!

Ths is GOOD

 

[roketman]

THE LESS YOU TOUCH YOUR GAL THE BETTER !! THIS ALSO WORKS WITH THE WIFE !! I USE THE FOAMER SPARY GUN THAT I BOUGHT FOM JASON.ONCE I FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE IT ,I FELL IN LUST WITH IT !!!
FOR DRYING I USE AN ELECTRIC 200MPH LEAF BLOWER .THIS WORKS GREAT . THAN I GO OVER THE CAR WITH ZANIOS Z5 THAN Z8 .TAKES SOME TIME BUT IT COMES OUT AWESOME ! MY 02 I MUST ADMIT I HAVE BEEN REEDUCATED IN CAR CARE AND NOW I SEE THE LIGHT OR REFLECTION !
CHECK OUT http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-de...12-gt-supercar-50-hours-paint-correction.html
I NOW KNOW I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM !!! CAR LUST !!!

 

[MAD IN NC]

wash them once a year - Zaino Z5 then Z2 for 2 coats!

then for yearly maintenance Z6 or Z18........:cheers

ROCKETMAN I GOT A HEADACHE READING YOUR POST - IS THIS GT JOEY?

BTW.......... after looking at the Avatar - nope no Duck as GTJOEY but it looks by color you own the "Smokey and Bandit" FGTX1

 

[fjpikul]

Doesn't it ever rain where you guys live?

 

[cobrar1339]

Doesn't it ever rain where you guys live?

Only 6 times a year on Thursday nights and twice a year on Tuesday afternoons. Mine is a weekend car. :biggrin

Once upon a time I lived in the Midwest. That rain can sneek up on you.