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Cleaning Methods - How to

Cleaning Methods - How to

Old 09-24-2012, 09:28 AM
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Looking for some ideas on the easiest way to get a spotfree car after a mudfest race. Describe how you clean your car after a race like this, what preventative measures you take, things that can be done etc.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:39 AM
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1) Do not let the mud dry out!!!
2) Pull all electrionics out of car.
3) rinse with high pressure washer or high pressure garden hose.
4) scrub down with a mixture of simple green (50%), denatured alcohol (25%), and water (25%), use a paint brush to get into the hard to reach areas.
5) rinse with high pressure water
6) Blow off car with compressed air
7) spray down car with nitro wash/motor cleaner/ automotive brake cleaner
8) rinse with water again
9) blow off water with compressed air until 100% dry
10) apply MAXIMA SC1 silicone plastic polish all over car and use a paint brush to get into hard to reach areas.
11) blow off SC1 with compressed air
12) oil external bearings
13) install electronics

like new Finish every time!

Last edited by nv529; 10-28-2012 at 10:08 AM.
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:40 AM
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Take apart and clean big stuff with toothbrush. I use pledge on all after a race as it will help cleaning it the next time
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by OberSquared
Looking for some ideas on the easiest way to get a spotfree car after a mudfest race. Describe how you clean your car after a race like this, what preventative measures you take, things that can be done etc.

Thanks in advance.
What i do is if the car is covered in dirt/mud, blow off/knock off what dirt i can with a air gun and tooth brush. Then i strip the car down and simple green and blow the car off. This gets the car clean, then i mist the chassis with wd-40. Then blow off the excess and wipe down the car.

If the car is just dirty with dust and a little mud, i blow the car off. Then i take a tooth brush with little wd-40 on it and wipe it down. Cars look brand new afterwards with out a mess..

This is just what i do, i am sure there are many other ways people go about cleaning there cars.
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:41 AM
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I use a toothbrush and water to get things clean initially, then air dry it with a compressor. After the chassis is clean I use my toothbrush again with a light amount of WD-40 sprayed on it and brush all of the parts that will normally get gunked up (shock bodies, shock shafts, rear arms, steering assembly). Usually that will allow a quick brushing using an automotive detailing brush and a blast of air to keep it pretty clean throughout the race day, and it will be detailed again in the down time before the next race day. For the chassis I use a protective sheet on each of my vehicles that keeps it from getting grooves in it that attract dirt.
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:48 AM
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Well if you have a waterproof SCT, then all you have to do is pull the motor, use a mild all purpose cleaner and spray the truck down with it then house it off with a garden house. Then wipe off the access water after that when the truck is dry I just WD-40 all the screw tops this will keep them from getting rusty. You have a clean truck. At the end of the racing season I pull everything apart clean the tranny inside out and I re-grease the tranny. Change any part that needs changing.
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Old 09-24-2012, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by nv529
1) Do not let the mud dry out!!!
2) Pull all electrionics out of car.
3) wash with high pressure washer or high pressure garden hose.
4) scrub down with a mixture of simple green (50%), denatured alcohol (25%), and water (25%), use a paint brush to get into the hard to reach areas.
5) rinse with high pressure water
6) Blow off car with compressed air
7) spray down car with nitro wash/motor cleaner/ automotive brake cleaner
8) rinse with water again
9) blow off water with compressed air until 100% dry
10) apply MAXIMA SC1 silicone plastic polish all over car and use a paint brush to get into hard to reach areas.
11) blow off SC1 with compressed air
12) oil external bearings
13) install electronics

like new Finish everytime!
Quite the process, do you really do that many steps?

This is why I asked, there are several different methods already.
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:01 AM
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If you plan on running your car within the next day or two after cleaning do not spray a ton of WD40 all over, that stuff can take days to fully dry and will attract a ton of dirt when wet.

Use products like Kal-Gard Prep and Shine or Maxima SC1 Plastic polish. They were originally developed for the motocross industry to help repel dirt away from plastics. If you apply them correctly (let fully dry) your car will remain cleaner between runs verses untreated plastic.

It's kind of like Rain X or Turtle wax for your RC car.

Last edited by nv529; 09-24-2012 at 10:17 AM.
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by OberSquared
Quite the process, do you really do that many steps?

This is why I asked, there are several different methods already.
yes I do!
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:06 AM
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I just remove the electronics, saturate it with simple green, let sit for about 10 minutes. Blast it with a pressure washer, then air compressor dry. Coat everything metal with WD40, then relube the bearings. Car looks brand new, nothing rusts.
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:10 AM
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Mosty just whack it against something hard and put it away.
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Grandturk
Mosty just whack it against something hard and put it away.
Rode hard and put away wet...
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:17 AM
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For your diffs I would try this. I have started using this method and it not only has saved me time but also in cleaning supplies. The Naptha can be re-used over and over as long as it's not too dirty.

Just get a empty glass jar, pour the Naptha in and dump the strainer into the solution.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...y-Diff-Dunkers


You can get these on ebay for 2.00 shipped.
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by skengines
For your diffs I would try this. I have started using this method and it not only has saved me time but also in cleaning supplies. The Naptha can be re-used over and over as long as it's not too dirty.

Just get a empty glass jar, pour the Naptha in and dump the strainer into the solution.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...y-Diff-Dunkers


You can get these on ebay for 2.00 shipped.
Very interesting idea! So do you take the diff apart and put the parts in there to clean? Or do you do it whole? Probably doesn't matter..(?)
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Old 09-24-2012, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by nv529
yes I do!
I think I might try this method. Basically - Rinse, soak, scrub, rinse, solvent rinse, rinse, soak, dry - CLEAN! Seems steep at $9 a can for the SC1 tho.
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