Winter Care For A Camaro

[01Y87]

I guess by living in the South for a dozen years I'm spoiled - I can actually go outside and hand-wash my car even in January. I'm very particular about how my Camaro looks and I always hand wash it and every week.

But now it looks like I may have to take a job offer that is up north - possibly in Michigan. I'm going to live in an Apartment and it likely wont have a carport. This complex does not allow hand washing even in the summer. I know that winter driving in Michigan means salty, dirty, nasty cars and it'll rarely be clean. Coin-op power-spray washes really dont get it CLEAN, and they forbid buckets and hand-washing, and the drive thru car washes are going to eat thru my budget.

I do not have enough money to store it in a garage over the winter and drive a "beater". The '01 Camaro will have to be a daily driver.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to keep a car clean thru a northern winter? How do some of you do it? I was thinking of buying in Home Depot a power-washer and renting a storage garage for it, and drive over there when I want to wash my car and I could then possibly use a bucket although the water might freeze, but at least I wouldn't have to keep plunking down quarters for the power-wash. Or maybe rent a storage unit/garage and get a little space heater, and power-washer, and then be able to wash it "indoors"?

Cold weather and snow doesnt bother me as much as the thought that my camaro will be filthy and nasty for several months.

[KnightFire]

My car has been a daily driver (until last year) and was in Ohio, Maryland, Colorado...well you get the idea

The best things you can do are as follows:

Build a good foundation of Zaino

Every chance you get rinse it off to remove salt/grime etc

You don't necessarily need to hand wash it every time...just keep
it free from salt and road grime, so when a nice day does pop-up, you can hand wash it and not have to spend a day doing so, unless you wish to.

Do NOT use a power washer on the finish of the car...under the car is fine...maybe even hitting the rims with it...but if you power wash it, you WILL scratch the clear coat!

Find a buddy with a house or place that allows hand washing for those nice days during the winter.

This is what I've done for the past 10 years and my finish still looks pretty good



KnightFire

[00 Ragtop Z]

I take mine to the power wash (normally a no-no) and spray teh underside realllllly good every couple weeks. I also do the body but on teh low pressure setting, never 'pulling the trigger' for the high pressure (except for teh painted wheels and tires). I rinse out teh wheels wells thoroughly every couple weeks also using the high pressure setting.

Your car will survive the winter-- I have lived in midwest and north central (except for 3 years in sunny Tampa) and my cars have survived well with little damage and only a little visible undercarriage rust.

Good luck--look at the bright side --in this economy you still have a job and aren't having to sell your 'baby'. Lots of other folks aren't so lucky.

[01Y87]

curious, I've never heard this before. Why does the "power-spray" wash scratch the paint? or, i mean, how does it scratch it?

The only way I'd be able to rinse it off is with the "power spray" thing but perhaps at low power would be good? unless I bought my own power washer which is less powerful than the commercial ones.

[KnightFire]

Originally posted by 01Y87
curious, I've never heard this before. Why does the "power-spray" wash scratch the paint? or, i mean, how does it scratch it?

If you have no other choice then its better than nothing when getting the crud off the car in the winter...but I would use it as a last option.

Pressure washers push the debris/dirt across your paint with a lot of force...its much better to use a gentle stream of water to remove the loose dirt then use a sheep skin mit to pull the dirt away from the paint as you wash it.

At least thats how I do it...you can get away with using a pressure washer a few times, but I garuantee that you'll scratch the clear coat in doing it...enough Z5 will fill the scratches, but their there the less.


KnightFire

[00 Ragtop Z]

The easy way to understand is to stick your hand or arm about 2-3 inches from the nozzle head on high power and see what it does to your skin. (Really, don't do this unless your a bit of a masochist) It will scour the skin righ off.

Before I got my 92 camaro RS re-painted a few years ago, I took it to teh power washer and used the hi power spray head held about 1-2 inches form the body to remove the loose paint (absolute truth). Now, I admit that teh paint was old, but it literally took teh paint off.

Sure, if you hold teh spray head 2-3 feet form the body surface there will be little damage, but getting teh spray head any closer will most definitely damage teh clear.

[89GTA]

I don't think the snow is all that bad, it's that crappy ash they throw all over the roads that eats through cars like it does roads.
Grr.

PS: I have always used meguiers car wax for my car, but am looking to use Zaino. Should I somehow remove the current layer of wax, and then use Zaino? Which product do I use,
Z-1™ Show Car Polish Lok
or
Z-2™ Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes

Thanks for any help.

[00 Ragtop Z]

Ask the Zaino experts, but I beleive step one in a Zaino application is a double bath with something like Dawn dishwashing detergent to remove every trace of wax and grease form teh finish.

me? I use Meguires Carnuba wax, and have been more than happy with the protection, easer of use, and consdierably lower cost than Zaino. To each his own.

[Tundrahog]

I live in an apt. I have two F-bod's. Both are garage kept. Its a little extra a month, but well worh it.

I wash my cars in the garage, or on in the parking lot. I went out an bought a 3 gallon sprayer. The ones you use for gardens. Fill with water pump it for pressure. Works great. One bucket for soap and washing. Then use the sprayer to rinse. Great for engine bay cleaning!