Blow Drying Cars??

[billt460]

I have heard of people doing this before. And came across this video of it being done on an expensive McLaren. It seems to work pretty well. I'm getting tired of towel drying my vehicles. It's labor intensive, time consuming, and then there is the washing and drying of all the towels. This looks like it would be a real help with larger SUV's and full sized pickups. Especially with the roof. Along with getting the water out of the roof rack rails, and various other nooks and crannies, like in between the camper shell and the cab. This looks like it would work really well.

Are any of you guys drying your cars in this manner? Is there a downside? I know high velocity air blowers have been used in professional car washes since their existence. I remember seeing them when I was a kid. I'm in the market for a new power blower, and this would make the purchase far more usable. And I would be willing to part with more money for a better unit.

 

[Traction]

I've been drying off my cars/trucks with a leaf blower for like 25 years. I currently use a cordless 40 volt Ryobi which might not blow as well as some higher powered ones like 120 volt, but the great thing is I can just pick it up and use it anytime on anything, and even take it to the car wash and blow most of the water off right there in the bay. Having a good coat of wax helps a lot, and if hand washing at home, if you take the nozzle off of the hose and use a steady dribble of water for the final rinse you would be amazed at how all the water beads on the wax just sheet up and roll right off leaving much less water to clean off. You still need to use a towel a bit with a blower, but the blower gets it out of all the nooks and crannies, etc. I even clean out the inside of my truck, and garage too, just open the doors, and blow away.

 

[CT8]

i use the blow dryer at the car wash.

 

[czbrian]

I tried it last time and decided it was just easier to use my normal microfiber drying cloths. It seemed like it was taking longer to blow it off because I was just slowly pushing the water around. You can see what I'm referred to in the video at around 1:50 to 1:55 where he is doing the top of the car... the water didn't just blow off that easily and mostly just scattered in all directions. It seems like he just moves on and I didn't notice where he went back to that part of the car. My blower isn't all that powerful though so maybe it works better for others.

 

[VeryNoisyPoet]

Haven't dried an entire car, but used a shop vac as a blower to blast off a few areas. Very helpful in drying engine bays and other areas with difficult geometry where water likes to accumulate.

 

[gofast182]

I use my leaf blower to get the bulk of the water off of the finish as well as cracks and crevices; however, I still go over it with a chamois so I can get any remaining water and apply my drying aid, Meguiar's D156.

 

[gman2304]

I've used my leaf blower to help blow excess water off my motorcycle for years. Lots of nooks and crannies on a motorcycle that are hard to get to with a cloth.

 

[SZR48207]

I do it all the time.

Just be sure to use an electric leaf blower and not a gas powered one. SUPPOSEDLY the gas powered ones might also spray oil mist??

 

[Chris142]

the car washes do it here.

 

[Lyman]

I use my Cordless Ryobi blower. Works great. Its so much easier to dry the wheels than using anything else.
I have a bad knee ever since I broke it and this keeps me from have to kneel down to dry them.

 

[Eddie]

I blow dry my vehicle by driving it. )

 

[Rolla07]

Blow drying it? Usually equals water spots..also i recommend buying a good set of ear muffs. My leaf blower is crazy loud! I also imagine it would take time to do it.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted by Reddy45
I do it all the time.

Just be sure to use an electric leaf blower and not a gas powered one. SUPPOSEDLY the gas powered ones might also spray oil mist??


Yes, can confirm, ask me how I know...

 

[joekingcorvette]

I have read about this in other forums and tried it. I have a 4 stroke blower too. It's a PITA and I don't recommend it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Inked]

Originally Posted by gman2304
I've used my leaf blower to help blow excess water off my motorcycle for years. Lots of nooks and crannies on a motorcycle that are hard to get to with a cloth.


This^

I needed a new Wet/Dry Vac and use the attached blower for both my scoot and cars. I used to get water spots due to the hard water in my area but they are virtually gone since I put in a water softner.

 

[mjk]

I used a hair dryer on a tricked out 79 Gutless Supreme.

 

[aquariuscsm]

That's how I dry my engine bay after I wash it.

 

[Ducked]

I park in the open during typhoons.

Doesn't seem to work, somehow.

 

[dareo]

I hit it with a dewalt 20v blower and finish with a towel or shammy. Blowing the water out of the mirrors and other areas prevents the dreaded after dry drips. I don't try to dry the whole vehicle with the blower as it takes too long.

 

[Stevie]

I use my electric leaf blower, put on my ear muffs and set to 200mph. Save lots of time doing it this way.