Is it alright to wash my car just after I have driven it for about 15 minutes? The engine compartment is obviously very hot as are the brake calipers and the exhaust tips. Is there any drawback to doing this? Will it mess with any products I use or dry soap too quickly? I know washing the car in direct sunlight is discouraged. That is why I ask.

Thanks!

 

You generally want to wait for the car to cool off a bit before washig it. Hot calipers, exhaust tips etc. might not take well to soaps and cleaners. I would never use a wheel gel on hot wheels and brakes. Use your better judgment.

 

Hell, I'll just wait until the morning.

Once, I washed my B55 in the sun and some soap dried on the car. It took some major scrubbing to get it off.

No reason to risk it.

 

There nothing wrong with washing the car after being driven. Just remember to avoid the wheels and getting them wet. I would wash the exterior first, rinse a little bit longer to cool down the paint panels. Dry the exterior, then begin doing the wheels. Your wheels should feel body temp to the touch.

 

I would definitely recommend washing the car after driving before I would recommend washing the car "while" driving.

 

What character you are Washing while driving would at least save time on the drying process.

 

And this is why I love 6Speed. Innovative solutions at every turn.

 

I have washed after driving a few times, I just wet down the car to cool it for an added period of time.
Water has an incredible capacity to absorb heat and your car will cool quickly as long as you don't care how much water you waste, which I don't really recommend, conservation yadda yadda...

Think about it like a hot pan you just made eggs on, you put water on it and let it sit and it has cooled back to room temp in under 30 seconds...your car will hold heat a bit more as it is larger, but it's at a lower temperature so it will cool off quickly nonetheless.

 

Your hood will be warm and it will evaporate the water and soap quickly so it's hard to wash without soayp lubricated surface, causing minor scratch. I learn my lesson the hard way by not applying to my soap to brush down the ride, which fine scratching the paint on a family members Cayenne. Bad job I did.