So Ive read on here and other sites about using this method to dry your car and hopefully reduce swirl marks. So, I went out the other day, bought on and tried it out. The one purchased is this one: http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...4+5521&pos=n18

To my disappointment, it didn't work well at all. I bought it because it was the smallest and figured that I didnt need anything that large or powerful for blwoing water off a car. Because the water didnt seem to be running off fast enough I got some water sports now; a bunch of little ones all scattered. So I was wondering if maybe this leaf blower doesnt have enough power? Of all the post I saw, I never saw that addressed and was wondering now if that might be a problem. Im assuming other people doing this aren't getting these water spots...?

 

Link didn't work for me... the one I use is a Toro Super Blower vac that I bought specifically because it was very high MPH (215). I have no problems at all with spots; whereever I point the thing the water just sheets or rolls off the car.

The other piece of the puzzle is the condition of your paint protection. Do you have a recent / decent coat of wax on the car? That'll help immensely in sheeting the water off quickly w/o spots.

 

I got the Toro Power Sweep (140 MPH). Im thinking its just too weak. I saw the one you have and thats what I will probably end up exchanging for.

 

I use a Red Max eb7001

http://www.mayberrys.com/redmax/blowers.htm



I agree with Dave...having the car waxed helps big time

 

Good idea, I always forget picking one of these up!

 

You definitely need one with more power. I have a shop vac with a blower and the blower is absolutely useless for drying a car (and it's 6hp). I use it to blow polish dust off cars now and that's it. For drying I use this:

http://hectorshardware.com/tosublvac5.html

(Might be the same one Dave uses - works really well)

Remember, always sheet the water off by using an un-nozzled hose before blowing. It'll eliminate a good 50% of the water you need to blow off.

 

I have a Toro blower as well. Can't remember the model number off hand, but it was $25 from Amazon.com. Makes life much easier, and helps prevents scratches on my GS.

 

I have been using the leaf blower with the Mr. Clean washing system that has a ionized drying agent in the rinse water and it sheets off. I hope this helps

Joe

 

I thought it was not wise to use a gas blower? I heard that a gas blower could blow some of the gas/oil on your car. I have an Echo gas blower but never used it on my car for fear of getting fuel on the car. I use one of those California squeegee things and then a couple microfiber towels and my car is dry in 5 minutes.

 

yeah, it looks the same as Dave's. I guess I will be picking one of these up when I exchange my other.

What is the Mr. Clean thing that was mentioned?

 

haha I do the ghetto alternative to all your ideas... I have a wide open empty street so I just take the car on a "air dry run" as I call it... one spin around the block and my rims and 80% of the car has little to no water on it....

-Tommy

 

The Mr. Clean thing is the "Mr. Clean Auto Dry" system, which is basically an inexpensive foam gun that you use with Mr. Cleans soap and ionized water, the idea being that the water will sheet right off the car when you're done washing and require no drying. I've never used it but the impression I get from Autopia and around the web is that it works, but the preperation time makes it kind of inconvenient, and you can still get some water spots.

 

I just recently started using the leaf blower method and I dont think I will ever dry my car any other way. It works great and fast too

 

California Water Blade from Autozone plus a waffle weave drying towel works awesome, takes less than 10 mins to perfectly dry the entire car.

 

i use waterblade and absorber it drys in not time. I have one of those heavy duty toro blowers but i'm affraid of somthing getting sucked in and shot at my car ( do u think this might happne)?