Washing a viper?

[heath1225]

Any special considerations need to be taken when washing this? My main concerns are the hoods scoops, grills, etc and water going places it doesnt need to go. Any advice?

 

[01sapphirebob]

Just wash it and have fun. I wouldn't woory so much about the vents in the hood so much BUT I would definately try to not spray directly into the NACA duct if possible. Otherwise You should be good to go. One thing to point out...These cars love to hold water. It's not uncommom to see water running out of the car two days after the wash

 

[DrumrBoy]

Also avoid pushing water in the rear ducts (by the tail lights); its not the end of the world but if you put a good stream of water in there, you can wet the rear hatch carpet.

 

[Jeffsss]

I use an electric leaf blower to take care of the areas where water likes to sit.

 

[v10enomous]

I usually do every third wash with Meguiar's wash but mostly wash with just water. I dry with a leaf blower. I never really wax and use Meguiar's ultimate detailer when I dry. Water will puddle on the top of the fender wells under the hood grills and it will leave big nasty water spots if you don't wipe it away. The doors may drip on the sills for a while so you may need to go back and wipe that after an hour or so too.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Wash...9&sr=8-9&keywords=meguiar's+ultimate+car+wash

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G144...1397&sr=1-1&keywords=meguiar's+ultimate+quick

 

[Indy]

The most annoying place for water is around the rear trunk's water drains....I always open the trunk and wipe behind the weatherstripping to get as must of the water out, otherwise some will come out when driving and dust will stick onto your rear bumper. A leafblower in that area helps a lot too.

 

[johniew398]

I have always opened the hood and placed a towel over each valve cover just to keep a massive amount of water from being sprayed on the engine. As someone else said I don't spray water directly into the air scoop.

 

[scottmarston]

I have an RT10. I got lazy and now I leave the top off when I wash it! I throw some towels over the seats and dash and simply mind where I direct the water. Wipe up any excess when I'm done. Saves a ton of time...

 

[tim721]

I never wash with water. I use dry wash. Sean Roe introduced it to me years ago, works great. Then again my viper is not my daily so its never really THAT dirty.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Another thing some over look is that you should dab the hood liner dry with a towel after washing or you may get water stains on it over time.

 

[eucharistos]

i cover the a/c heat air intake under the passenger hood speaker grill with a plastic bag, mine always dribbles water onto the floorboard if i rinse with too much water there

 

[eucharistos]

also, looks like you are at the stage where you will be tempted to lube your hood hinges, don't do it or if you do, do it carefully

 

[BlackSnake99]

I haven't touched my car with water in 4 years. Swiffer 360 to remove dust, detail spray and wax. Black Viper and get compliments on my paint all the time. That said I never drive it in anything but dry conditions.

 

[heath1225]

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[agentf1]

I haven't touched my car with water in 4 years. Swiffer 360 to remove dust, detail spray and wax. Black Viper and get compliments on my paint all the time. That said I never drive it in anything but dry conditions.

I use QEW wash for my weekend cars a lot also but have to do a full fledge wash every so often mainly for the wheels. How do you get your wheel barrels clean without water?

I will also do a regular wash whenever it is real dirty or god forbid I get caught in the rain.

 

[BlackSnake99]

I use QEW wash for my weekend cars a lot also but have to do a full fledge wash every so often mainly for the wheels. How do you get your wheel barrels clean without water?

I will also do a regular wash whenever it is real dirty or god forbid I get caught in the rain.

Yeah, I do a 'real' wash if I get caught in the rain as well. I use a 360 Swiffer on the paint until I can first see dirt on it, then it gets used on the wheels. Takes brake dust right off. First on the polished lip, then on the barrel. The barrels on my rims are a fairly rough finish aluminum so I am not worried about fine scratches at that point. Aluminum polish on the lip if it starts to dull.

 

[VYPR BYT 94]

So the swiffer 360 doesn't have any kind of chemicals on it? I'm guessing it just uses static to remove the dirt??

 

[v10enomous]

Sounds like some of you don't drive all that much or have big juicy bugs in your state if you don't need to use water.

 

[BlackSnake99]

So the swiffer 360 doesn't have any kind of chemicals on it? I'm guessing it just uses static to remove the dirt??

Swiffer has no chemicals. I actually called them to double check. They thought I was insane. They do an excellent job on fine dust and dirt with a very light touch. For the grit on the rear of my GTS I hit it with compressed air first.

 

[BlueLIGHTNING]

Lemon pledge best out there. Spray on bugs and wipe in a few minutes, cleans them right off and fills tiny scratches best detailer out there. Learned about it bike forum.

 

[brentsGTS]

Wow you guys are so technical lol. I wash mine like any other car. Soap water and a shamie. Then I have a spray wax/detailer I use on it.

 

[ViperSmith]

I use Optimum Car Wash with microfiber wash clothes.

dry with leaf blower, then finish with nice microfiber towels

i use Optimum no rise when i wash indoors

i use Optimum Opti-Seal to finish the paint every once and awhile. great product.

 

[BlackSnake99]

I use Optimum Car Wash with microfiber wash clothes.

dry with leaf blower, then finish with nice microfiber towels

i use Optimum no rise when i wash indoors

i use Optimum Opti-Seal to finish the paint every once and awhile. great product.

Yeah, but you drive your car in GRASS..... in the RAIN.

 

[eucharistos]

I have an RT10. I got lazy and now I leave the top off when I wash it! I throw some towels over the seats and dash and simply mind where I direct the water. Wipe up any excess when I'm done. Saves a ton of time...

i just started doing this too, but sans the preventative towels, sooo much easier than putting the top on all the time, just like a gen 1

 

[evomind]

Clean water....Soap....Microfiber towels? Trick question?

 

[ViperSmith]

Yeah, but you drive your car in GRASS..... in the RAIN.

And I enjoy every minute of it

 

[PhoenixGTS]

I used to stuff a towel in the air box in the engine compartment as water would get in through the hood grill; run a strip of masking tape to seal the window seals to the side windows as they always leaked (even after being replaced); and stuffed rags into the vents by the taillights as any water in there goes directly inside (and you won't even know if you have a speaker enclosure. Get ready for puddles in top of the front inner fenders. Hated washing my 98 GTS. Leaked all over and it felt like it took a week to get all the water out of the side mirror housings.

 

[heath1225]

I washed it today. I stuffed the A/C intake and covered it with plastic wrap just to be safe, I stuffed the rear vents, and I avoided spraying directly into the grill. I think I did it the best I could.

 

[Policy Limits]

Swiffer has no chemicals. I actually called them to double check. They thought I was insane. They do an excellent job on fine dust and dirt with a very light touch. For the grit on the rear of my GTS I hit it with compressed air first.

U dust with a Swiffer?

 

[Blainne]

I drive my Viper through the local automatic car wash. It works great. Saves time! Sometimes I scrap a bit but its just the under carriage. Noone can see it.

True Story. (Just not me) I cringe every time I see an expensive muscle car taken through an automatic car wash.

There are classes you can go to which teaches you how to professionally wash a car. Some general rules to do it properly:

1. Use the correct wash bucket (Screen on bottom)

2. Correct wash cloth and soap

3. Drying WITHOUT towels!!! Drying with towels (even microfiber) just drags the remaining dirt across your paint. (Cause of micro scratches in your paint...) Best way is to dry using a heat blower. Best way and the easiest. If you really have to follow up for detailing after the blow dry you have to add detailing spray with the micro fiber towel to prevent scatches for the dirt being dragged when u wipe. Not just the towel alone. OR A SWIFFER!!!! A swiffer traps dirt on the cloth.. then you DRAG IT ACROSS YOUR PAINT. Sure using a micro fiber towel you can't directly see the scratches. In the correct lighting you see them!

The cost of all the proper tools to wash your Viper correctly is expensive, but alot cheaper than a new paint job or a professional buff job to buff the scratches out.

The Louisville Viper Club had a class on this. Very informative. Good idea for any local Viper club.