Washing 2008 Viper for the first time . . .

[rcl4668]

Yes, I know; it's a dumb anal question but here goes anyway:

I'll be washing my 2008 Viper for the first time shortly and was wondering if it was a problem to have water cascading through the open hood vents directly on the engine. Should I cover the engine with a towel or am I just worrying for nothing?

On my 2006, the hood vents had a series of channels on the underside of the hood vents that seemed designed to move the water away from the engine. The 2008 just has open holes with black mesh and no such channel system.

/Rich

 

[wallbanger]

i guess u're gonna have to be the pioneer on this one.. So how many miles on u're car rick....ALSO do u remember the time frame from when u're car went into D1 status until delivery?

 

[big-n-italian]

i think you are making history be being the first person to wash an 08. let us know what happens!

 

[CitySnake]

This is funny. I was planning to never allow the car to get dirty beyond the capability of a cali duster!

 

[REDSLED]

DO NOT let water go through the holes in the hood. You will get a check engine light and your ABS light will go on............................

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I'm pretty sure Dodge new the 08's would get wet. I always open the hood and hose down the engine.

 

[Malu59RT]

DO NOT let water go through the holes in the hood. You will get a check engine light and your ABS light will go on............................

This is probably a joke.

I have already washed the car 6 times. 3 passes through a manual car wash, and 3 times hand washed. I have had no issues with any lights, and I haven't covered anything at all. I have 800 miles on the car (since Feb 4th!). The water as far as i can tell, does not touch the airbox/plenum area, as the dealer sprayed a detailer on those parts, and those haven't been affected. I've also sealed the paint and put Souveran on it. I'll tell you its annoying to have the water drip from the mirror two days after it's been washed and leave water spots.

Jason

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p.s. Pardon the mess in the garage, it will be Viper worthy in 2 months.

 

[ryan94rt10]

hey jason

if you want to stop the "2 day later mirror drip" go down to your local sears and buy a leaf blower and use it to help dry the car...i do this with all my cars and can dry two cars with the same towel!!! it gets all the water out of the hard to get places!

 

[Malu59RT]

hey jason

if you want to stop the "2 day later mirror drip" go down to your local sears and buy a leaf blower and use it to help dry the car...i do this with all my cars and can dry two cars with the same towel!!! it gets all the water out of the hard to get places!

Hey Ryan, I actually have a leaf blower (gas) and never bothered to get it out of our tool shed, but I'll probably give that a try. I typically take the car out for a quick blast up to 70 after drying the car, and then come wipe it again, and in my other 3 cars, I don't have this issue, but the Viper is special It's like having a kid, you can't get mad at it, no matter what it does

Jason

 

[DII]

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I guess I'm the only tire shine addict here huh? Damn those tires look good!

 

[MikeR]

DO NOT let water go through the holes in the hood. You will get a check engine light and your ABS light will go on............................

So I guess you cant drive it in the rain either.


Anyways...... You will be fine, if your anal, put towels under vents and then wipe it down after our done. I always end up popping hood anyways and do a quick wipe in all cracks and crevices.

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks for the responses. Maybe I'll put some towels down but that will be it.

Wallbanger, I believe it took my car about 2 weeks to go from D1 status to completion.

/Rich

 

[Westxsrt10]

I just did my first wash was last weekend...it needed it after a 620mi trip home from the dealer..No water to speak of got on the engine.



____________
08 Viper gts blue coupe
05 SRT-10 RC Ram

 

[SBMIANO]

a leaf blower sounds good but I use my compressor and a small gun handle to blow water from the had to reach area's works great. My neighbors think I'm nuts.

Scott

 

[Malu59RT]

I just did my first wash was last weekend...it needed it after a 620mi trip home from the dealer..No water to speak of got on the engine.

Where did you pick yours up from? Mine came from AZ, and I think it's identical to yours.

a leaf blower sounds good but I use my compressor and a small gun handle to blow water from the had to reach area's works great. My neighbors think I'm nuts.

Scott

I would love to purchase a compressor sometime in the future, but I would have to wait until I actually have time to use it.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

a leaf blower sounds good but I use my compressor and a small gun handle to blow water from the had to reach area's works great. My neighbors think I'm nuts.

Scott

I just take a spin around the block.

 

[Got Venom]

Taking a spin around the block throws dust and dirt up all over the rear end, which you will grind into the paint job with a towell. You will definitely notice with a dark color. One other thing nobody obviously mentioned, is never get cold water falling on a hot or warm engine. things can crack and warp with the big temperature differences of cold water on hot engine parts.

 

[Black Moon]

A leaf blower works great. I even use it to 'dust' my house but I'm single. I can do crazy **** like that and noone complains. Works great for cleaning the garage as well

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Go with Malu59RT's advice and just wash the baby. We wash everyone that leaves here and no problemo at all on the new Snakes.

Just don't apply a high pressure wash to your top if you have a convertible ----- do it from a bit of a distance. Go wash and be happy.

 

[wallbanger]

Best part is spraying the water into the hot exhaust