car wash By puddle jumper (Read 759 times)

[puddle jumper]

Would it be to damaging to take a scoot to a car wash? I don't have a hose at home and its winter and I've got to get the salt off of it cause its already showing surface rust on the exhaust. I'll bucket wash it if I have to but i'd rather not have that mess

[kz1000st]

The problem with self-serve car washes is the wand is pretty high powered. China scoots have sensitive electrics and if you go blasting in the wrong place you could end up wetting some connection and having to take it apart and find it and dry it out. Not to mention washing off oil and grease from unsealed bearings and cables. I know it's a pain but it would be safer to bucket wash.

[ootscoot]

Also suggest scrubbing the exhaust with steel wool to remove rust and spray paint with hi-temp paint (made for BBQ's)

[puddle jumper]

that is what I figured about the washing and yes I'm gona used a high temp spraypaint.

[oldchopperguy]

I've been washing my Xingyue 150 at the local spray car-wash now for three years with no problems. As mentioned though, I'm careful just WHERE, and how hard I spray... LOL!

I keep the high-pressure spray away from the electric parts as much as possible, and I leave the scooter running while I wash it (a habit I developed fifty years ago while washing Harleys and Brit bikes with that awful cloth-insulated wiring... LOL!). The first time I discovered the then-revolutionary spray-washes, I cleaned my BSA 650, only to have it refuse to start after the bath.

That old rat had to sit in the sun three hours before it would fire up! Since then, I've left the engine running during washing and have never had a problem since.

The spray wash is great for removing that salt, as well as road-grime and oil, belt powder and brake residue from wheels, CVT cases, engine blocks, etc.

I never blast directly into the cooling fan, or the dash/instruments where open electrics may reside. I have had no trouble in three years, and have been happily surprised that the idling engine never has even "burped" during the wash process.

I also enjoy the ability to "hot-wax" the thing before final rinse... A good wipe-down with one of the big paper towels then makes the little scoot shine like factory-new. Even the rubber parts and seat get a fresh appearance.

I've been washing my bikes at the spray-wash now for over a half-century with no problems, but I advise common sense as to just where you blast hard to remove real filth, and go easy around sensitive places.

Hope this helps...

Leo in Texas