washing my f355 | FerrariChat

washing my f355

Discussion in '348/355' started by bobby355, May 21, 2009.

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  1. bobby355

    bobby355 Karting

    May 21, 2009
    244
    Silly question, but i'm a new f355 owner and i need to give the vehicle a wash. Do i need to worrry about water/soap gushing into the engine compartment? Thanks.
     
  2. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    no, but I wouldn't be opening the deck lid to hose it off, either.

    I've had 3 Ferraris, spanning a total of 6 years, and never washed one a single time. :)

    California Duster and Meguiar's Detail Mist for me.

    But I never got mine wet and that makes a big difference.
     
  3. MBFerrari

    MBFerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2008
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    Matt B
    I have washed my 348SS a few times with water, but never pour water over or onto the deck lid at all. Just do that with quick detailer.

    MB
     
  4. bobby355

    bobby355 Karting

    May 21, 2009
    244
    What is quick detailer? I don't know what that is.
     
  5. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 285ferrari, May 21, 2009
    Last edited: May 21, 2009
    Water won't hurt it at all---Washed my car 200 times with a hose ---Gotten plenty of water thru the rear bonnet onto the motor--It will not hurt anything. Just don't pop the bonnet and spray directly in there, even though that probably wouldn't hurt it either...

    Water and soap will help lift dirt and dust off the car---Constant rubbing on the car with detail spray will do nothing but scratch and swirl the paint over time. I wash my car with micro fiber mits(2 bucket method), spray the car down with water and blow dry with a air dryer...

    The less you touch the car during a wash/dry, the better chance you have of not scratching the paint....
     
  6. rbellezza

    rbellezza F1 Rookie

    Jun 18, 2008
    2,793
    Henderson, NV
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    Roberto Bellezza
    My 348 has never seen rain therefore I never washed it with water. Each time I come back after driving, I clean the glasses with regular glass cleaner, rims with a degreaser and I go through the body with a California duster, or if is needed, I have a very soft car washer cloth.
     
  7. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
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    James
    +1

    Exactly the method I use.

    I drive my car in the rain, and more to the point I park my car outside in the rain, trust me, that will get the engine bay far more wet that simply washing.

    Wash away brother! :)
     
  8. junglistluder

    junglistluder F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 23, 2007
    3,634
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    Brendan
    +2

    In addition, I place towels over the engine before I wash it. They keep water off all the electricals. The blow dry is crucial. You don't realize how much water is in all the cracks and crevices until you blow it out. High power leaf blower works wonders.
     
  9. h00kem

    h00kem Guest

    Dec 15, 2004
    734
    Texas
    It's a car for God's sake, you can wash it like any car but like any car I don't recommend using a power washer or directly spraying the engine, at least without some very good prep. Good idea on the blower...I use an air hose.
     
  10. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    +1
     
  11. Scaledetails

    Scaledetails F1 Rookie

    Nov 19, 2003
    4,211
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    Stephane

    +2
     
  12. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
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    +3...I simply spray a light mist on the deck lid just behind the rear window to get the soap off, so as to avoid water going direcly into the engine area. Obviously some mist does make its way into the engine, but nothing to get worried about, and so far never had a problem.
     
  13. 483hp

    483hp Formula 3
    Owner

    Aug 17, 2005
    1,428
    www.fca.alberta.com
    #13 483hp, May 22, 2009
    Last edited: May 22, 2009
    +4. Exactly. Spray a fine mist to lift the dust and dirt. A light shower to rinse it off. Then a blow dry to get the water out of the panel gaps and grills. At that point the paint is clean and I use quick detailer to finish it off.

    The paint on a 355 is soft. Never wipe dirt off the paint when it is dry.
     
  14. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    =sum(5+2)*3.445
     
  15. Monteman

    Monteman Formula 3

    Feb 9, 2006
    2,351
    Santa Barbara, CA
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    Monte
    I adopted a suggestion I learned off of FChat and take an old shower curtain and place it on the engine when I wash it.
     
  16. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
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    that is an excellent idea.
     
  17. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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  18. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

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    That is clever. I presume you can also use it to blast dust out of tight to reach spots for the interior (eg. where the dasboard and winsheild meet).
     
  19. 355Aussie

    355Aussie Formula Junior

    Jul 3, 2007
    688
    Sydney
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    George
    I don't let to much water get up the rear when washing. I don't really drive in the rain either if I can but there is a big drive day in Sydney this morning with up to 40 Fcars turning up and it is pouring rain here but we are still going. So I will post pics tommorrow and let you all know if anything happens with the amount of rain here at the moment.

    The guys in the UK always drive in the rain and don't have any problems.

    I think the main issue is the exposed electricals but everything else should be OK with water?
     
  20. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    Am I the only moron who uses a chamois leather cloth to dry my 355????
     
  21. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 24, 2001
    5,469
    Michigan
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    Jerry Wiersma
  22. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
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    Nov 20, 2006
    2,489
  23. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    nope! .......... ;) ............... but looks like I will adpot the air blower method as I have an electric makita leaf blower that should work pretty well :).

    That is a lot of CFM for that little thing ............. it has to be a 'misprint' .............. that is more than the 3000 CFM of a 'top fuel dragster' ...... :p

    http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/top_fuel_dragster.html
     
  24. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
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    I also use a chamois.
     
  25. 96cobrakid

    96cobrakid Formula Junior

    May 24, 2004
    802
    St. Louis, Mo
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    Chris
    I used to detail a 355 regularly, I probably washed it over 100 times. always with water and a chamois. water won't hurt it. don't be scared
     

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