Zurichgnome

Just curious to hear how folks what method folks use to dry their cars after washing and why.

I've always been a blotter/wiper -- but my other cars were lighter colors (silvers/whites). Moving to a black car this year and I want to avoid swirls, micro scratches. Thinking of moving to the leaf blower.

Thoughts and insights?? Thanks

No HTwo O

I've been doing the leaf blower method the past 4 years. Works great. For the remaining 2-3% of final drying, I use a high quality waffle weave drying towel.

At the very least, owners should use the leaf blower method to dry their wheels, cross drilled rotors (no more dirty water dump on a nice clean wheel) and calipers.

The less you "touch" the paint (when drying) the better. Less micro maring.

Leaf blow your front air intakes before (dry) & after (wet) each wash. Keeps the radiators cleaner.

*TIP: Prior to washing the car, blow off and/or sweep your driveway, so you are not stirring up dirt/dust on your clean Porsche.

Matt Romanowski

I've seen people put tons of micro scratches in a black car blowing it with compressed air.

I would (and do) use a high quality synthetic shammy. Keep it very clean and wet. With a good coat of wax on the car, it will not leave any sort of micro scratches, spider marks, etc.

Marine Blue

Plus one, excellent advice.

Zurichgnome

Good to hear others are doing it this way ... I have heard the warnings about the leaf blowers driving air-borne particulates toward the finish. But as I would be doing this in a very damp area post-wash where most of the dust is gounded it seems to me a very minor risk, or at least no greater than using a drying towel that may have picked up a bit of dirt along the way.

No HTwo O

My first, and only, reservation about the leaf blower method +4 years ago was, "What will my neighbors think!". Then, I remembered they already think I am a bit crazy and ****, and I decide "**** 'em" and have been leaf blowing my Porsche dry ever since.

Also great for drying the cabrio top on the Boxster.

Marine Blue

I'm fortunate that none of my neighbors can really see what I'm up to so they don't nod their heads when I blow dry the car. But.....one of my neighbors will walk over and chat when I've pulled the wheels off the Porsche to clean the wheel wells and inside the wheels. Nice guy and doesn't give me too much of a hard time.

Thanks for the tip on the cab top, I'll definitely give it a try.

No HTwo O

Oh yes, a properly treated cab top, the water just flys off with the leaf blower.

In fact, when my Boxster was only about 6 days old, and I applied 3 medium coats (almost an entire can) of Ragg Topp protectant. Very easy to do. I've re-applied twice more since 2006. My cocoa top looks brand new. The Ragg Topp Cleaner is also excellent. I usually wash the top in the fall, and then after winter hibernation, before the driving season, I do the Ragg Topp Protatant routine.

ltc

CR Spotless ... Rinse and walk away.

No HTwo O

Funny, no Charlie Sheen references.

uzj100

Have any of you tried Optimum No Rinse? That's all I use and I dry with Pak Shak WW MFs with a combination of blotting and wiping.

TOGWT

[I've seen people put tons of micro scratches in a black car blowing it with compressed air. ]

And the rest of the story? Air, unless it is mixed with grit cannot mar a paint surface, although you could if you drop the blower on the paint

TOGWT

I use an air blower and then blot the surface with a waffle weave towel

Einsteiger

Waffle-weave towels. Compressed air (dialed-down compressor) for those areas that hold moisture.

teamcrossworks

Leaf Blower