How long to cool down before covering

Leave the rear deck-lid open for a while (20-30 mins) and let the exhaust tips cool off.

If you don't like a thousand micro-abrasions in your paint, then use a quick detailer on the car before you throw the cover back on.

 

Or better yet, if the car sits inside just leave the cover off and blow the car clean with a leaf blower once every 3-4 weeks. Those covers can do some serious damage over time. Even if you clean the car before you put it on, it will still get dirty inside, and that will scratch the car over time.

 

A leaf blower is also a great tool to blow off water after washing. It's also great for blowing dust, dirt and what not out of vents, the engine compartment and other hard-to-reach places. The best part is you don't have to touch the paint to wipe off light dust and water. I use a Makita 36v blower where I cut the tip just above where it angles. Gives it the perfect tube length and keeps the air speed up to mfg spec. Not that you won't ever have to touch the car. Of course it needs washing and detailing, as it is a car in use, but the blower cuts down on how much you have to touch it while doing it. A 200 mph blast of air can do more than move leaves

On the plus side your car does not have to live under a cover where you can't see it

 

Yep - I only put a cover on a clean, freshly washed car

 

Our 4 y.o. took a blue crayon to a white X5 about 10 years ago. What a joy! Car cover would have prevented it I guess. However, if you're worried about random backpack zippers, bike pedals, stroller parts, grubby hands, etc. then I think you just gotta "train them" to be careful and respectful.

Car covers are a Catch-22, the car ought to be clean before covering but when it's that clean...I prefer to see it.

 

+1
I learnt the hard way on the exhaust tip thing

 

If using a leaf blower, I would make sure its not a gas power one. Details guys swear it would put oil onto car. Most recommended master blaster which is quite expensive. Other option is to buy a dedicated electrical leaf blower and then put a small foam filter over the inlet to avoid sucking in small craps and blasting it onto the paint.
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Detachable blower from a Rigid Shopvac (6 hp) works well, especially with the reducing fittings. I bought a Masterblaster on Amazon for $319 and it's the best at 8 hp and delivers heated air. Use it on all my cars

 

The smell alone of a loud buzzing two stroke blower is more than enough to keep me from using one in my garage. I use the European version of this. Exact same spec, just for 230v 50hz use.

Makita 208 MPH 155 CFM 18-Volt X2 LXT Lithium-Ion Electric Cordless Leaf Blower (Tool Only)-XBU01Z - The Home Depot I got an extra tube and cut the tip so I still have the reach but without the angle. Otherwise I just use it without the extension tube. It does have a built in filter btw.

If one wants to spend a bit more, this has less velocity but moves more air. However, I find the velocity really helps.
Makita 18-Volt X2 (36-Volt) LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit, 4.0Ah-XBU02PM - The Home Depot

 

I use a Black & Decker battery powered leaf blower to clear out the garage floor but hadn't thought of using it to dry my car after a wash. Good idea!

 

LOL
11.5698176 minutes

 

........ to annoy your neighbors with.

it's bad enough that the gardeners use them.
car guys also?

WTheck for??

 

Too funny.

I was wondering when this thread was going to take a sarcastic twist.

 

I seriously doubt you would hear me use my leaf blower inside my garage and those 5 minutes would be a huge deal. Same when I wash a car and dry it off outside at the far end of the driveway. It's no more noisy than the average home vac. There's a lot of noises around and a modern cordless leaf blower is probably not the worst. I'm sure my Stihl pressure washer would piss you off even more - or perhaps our gardener using the hedge trimmer, weed wacker or perhaps the law tractor? Trick is to do it at a time where it's no a major bother for others. If I have garden work done at 9:00 am on a Monday, that's perfectly reasonable. People are at work and stuff has to get done as some of us don't have time to cut our grass with scissors and we want a nice looking garden and house, and we also like to take care of our cars. That's WTheck for.

I'm sure you make noise that annoys your neighbors too, yes? Tell us about it.

 

Something (to keep in mind) that might help you decide when to cover, is that condensation forms on the warm side of things when conditions are right to allow it.

 

I turn on a simple $15, 20-inch box fan to assist circulating and evacuating the hot air over the car... think "wind tunnel".

 

This actually works pretty well. Pull into garage after a drive and if you're in a hurry to look at something under the bonnet, a box fan can cool things down quite quickly.

 

I agree, it probably would.
But if you are in way up northern europe, it's unlikely that I will be too bothered ( grin).

You're right, I probably do make noises that annoy the neighbors; cats meowing, bicycle chain running through the cogs as I ride, singing in the shower................

Leaf blowers are definitely a pet peeve of mine. they perform a task that can be accomplished "better" in a quieter, more eco-friendly method IMO.

cheers
maybe we'll cross paths some day when I go to fly in Romsdal Norway, that's relatively far North.