Leaf blower to dry your car?

**zcspec** · 02-08-2016 11:14 AM

The routine of washing a car can be very time consuming. It consist of getting your car wet, soaping up a bucket, then starting the process of “washing” your car. Afterward, you would most likely have to use an engineered “super absorbent” chamois to dry your car, followed by a terry cloth to capture all the remaining water spots and such.
Like many before, I decided to try using a leaf blower to aid in reducing the drying process time. Several weeks back, I purchased a compact Ryobi “120mph” cordless blower and decided to give it a whirl yesterday since the weather was beautiful in Seattle.

After washing my car, I broke out the blower and started to “blow dry” my car. My initial impressions, it wasn’t quite what I envisioned. I had pictured my blower easily blowing all the water off the hood, roof, fenders, etc., similarly to what super-sized blower at the dealership did. What the blower did in real world application, was to blow SOME of the water off, leaving smaller, finer water droplets which I had to use my super absorbent chamois to pick up.

Did the blower make drying my car easier or decrease the amount of time it took? In all honesty, there was not enough evidence for me to conclude. I will say though, the blower “pushed” enough water off the surface of the vehicle, thus reducing the amount of times I had to wring out the chamois. Where the blower became most useful, was blowing out water from all the cracks and crevasses of the car.

Hope you guys got a kick out of my strange review of using a compact leaf blower to blow dry my allroad. I’m sure my neighbors did!

**GilliamOS** · 02-08-2016 11:29 AM

Been using one of these for almost 10 years (the same one at that)

Original T-Bar Silicone Water Blade, 11" Soft-N-Dry, Made in USA

**vividracing** · 02-08-2016 11:34 AM

Innovative but I will stick to my air hose.

**jfo** · 02-08-2016 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by GilliamOS

Been using one of these for almost 10 years (the same one at that)

Original T-Bar Silicone Water Blade, 11" Soft-N-Dry, Made in USA

I've used something similar for years. Quickly removes about 95% of the water.

**99r6** · 02-08-2016 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by jfo

I've used something similar for years. Quickly removes about 95% of the water.

I concur.

**dennisA4** · 02-08-2016 11:55 AM

You can just run an open hose (i bend the hose a bit to keep it a calm flow) over the car and it sheets away most of the water.
I do this as my final rinse, then use a big blue soft microfiber drying towel to blot/wipe away the leftover drops. One pass, no wringing. Real easy.
And you are not dragging anything across the surface of your paint.

But yes you can also use a leaf blower to get most of the water out. Will also get it out of the nooks and crannies.
This is a very common method. On motorcycles too because they don't have many flat surfaces so it's hard to get a towel to all the wet areas.

**S4'ed** · 02-08-2016 12:03 PM

I have used the leaf blower to dry-off the car....at the amusement of my neighbors.....I also use the leaf blower to get a lot of the water off the engine after I hose it off.

**Dad A3** · 02-08-2016 12:07 PM

I've been using the leaf blower on the car and an air compressor on the engine compartment for years.
Also use the leaf blower for getting snow off the cars, works like a dream and no fear of scratches.

**dscline** · 02-08-2016 04:39 PM

I also use a leaf blower, and you're right, it still requires a toweling afterwards, but without the constant wringing. And it helps to get the water out of places that otherwise ends up coming out later and leaving water marks. I also use this when I wash my car. It's intended to be sprayed on while the car is still wet, but doing it without the blow dry seems like there's TOO much water, it gets watered down.

**adamazing** · 02-08-2016 04:49 PM

I don't even use water to wash my car.

**14S4GWM** · 02-08-2016 04:56 PM

First you need to make sure you "sheet" the water off before drying. Second get a ceramic coating. Third get the Metra Master Blaster and don't look back. As for leaf blowers you need a high velocity electric one.

Chamois aren't the best thing for your paint and you should be using the two bucket method.
Use this for drying,
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...Picks&refType=

**bluetori** · 02-08-2016 05:40 PM

I am guessing the reason why it didn't come off that easy is because your paint Is not sealed, I use Sonax PNS and when I wash my car it flies off. Once you seal the paint it will be quicker, those master blasters are the same thing for double the price. You will be fine once you seal the paint. BTW do you race motorcycles?

**Hagasan41** · 02-08-2016 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by bluetori

I am guessing the reason why it didn't come off that easy is because your paint Is not sealed, I use Sonax PNS and when I wash my car it flies off. Once you seal the paint it will be quicker, those master blasters are the same thing for double the price. You will be fine once you seal the paint. BTW do you race motorcycles?

You nailed it. A fresh coat of wax or some type of paint sealant is a must for efficient use of a leaf blower. The Ryobi you have should be fine. Give the ride a fresh coat of wax or sealant and watch the water fly right off mitigating the scratches and of course saving time. Quick wipe with a waffle weave towel and detail spray to finish it off. My neighbors get a kick out of my car wash routine. Pressure washing, foam cannon and a leaf blower. The kids love using the foam cannon!

**B G 8er** · 02-08-2016 08:22 PM

Air Force Master Blaster FTW.

**lettuce** · 02-08-2016 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by adamazing

I don't even use water to wash my car.

Same here. I use only the finest tears of B8 S4 drivers taken from after I demolish them at the drag strip.

**van462** · 02-08-2016 08:57 PM

I have the ryobi as well. I use it to blow out around the mirrors and taillights. I also find it does little to nothing on the flat panels

**Jmstrag** · 02-10-2016 01:24 PM

I've been using a leaf blower on the car for a few years now. I have Cquartz coating on my paint so the water blows right off easily. I just have to follow up with minimal hand drying. Makes things so much easier

**kt883** · 02-10-2016 01:46 PM

I Use an "absorbee" chamois type cloth to dry my car but sometimes I used the blow gun on my compressor to help out. As said above I find if you gently sheet the water off the car with calm water flow it helps greatly.