Is it ok to dry a car with a compressor?

**Rsurfer** · 03-10-2017, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by 2black1s

Air compressors are great for blowing water out of small crevices but for drying an entire car there is simply not enough airflow. Like 07rs said, leaf blowers work great. Even then it's nice to have a dedicated one to minimize the risk of blowing yard crap all over the car.

Why would you need a dedicated blower and how do you get yard crap in your blower?

**2black1s** · 03-10-2017, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Why would you need a dedicated blower and how do you get yard crap in your blower?

Leaf blowers used for yard work are subjected to higher than normal dust and debris conditions by the nature of their work. Some of that dust and debris passes through the blower and accumulates over time in the air ports and on the impeller of the blower from where it can break loose and be shot out of the blower. A dedicated blower eliminates, or at a minimum, significantly reduces that risk.

**Guyb** · 03-10-2017, 08:12 PM

Also depending on your compressor you could mist out water or oil which you give you a do-over on the car!

**Znig22** · 03-10-2017, 09:28 PM

If you have a blower it will be sufficient. If a compressor is the only thing available I recommend drying the vehicle with a waffle weave towel and drying aid of your choice, and then using the air compressor in your nooks and crevices.

**LydiaGP** · 03-10-2017, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Honcho

Good point! Even the leaf blowers need hearing protection since the motor is inches from your ear. (I flip the blower upside down while drying the car. It gives me better control over it but it puts the noisy motor right next to my head.)

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I do that to.

Today I went and got a haircut to even out my hair from when the end of my braid got sucked into the impeller.

YMMV.

**2black1s** · 03-10-2017, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by LydiaGP

I do that to.

Today I went and got a haircut to even out my hair from when the end of my braid got sucked into the impeller.

YMMV.

Ouch!

**Mike Honcho** · 03-11-2017, 08:54 AM

Damn!

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**Mantilgh** · 03-11-2017, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by LydiaGP

I do that to.

Today I went and got a haircut to even out my hair from when the end of my braid got sucked into the impeller.

YMMV.

Makes me think of the Flowbee!

Glad you're ok.

**LydiaGP** · 03-11-2017, 10:54 AM

Lol! I never saw the Flowbee before. Looks like an interesting idea!

Thanks! Fortunately it just caught the very end and the guard kept it from getting sucked up further, so it was more of a surprise than anything. I did the "look around to make sure nobody saw that" then untangled it and made a mental note in bold text to be more careful when holding the leaf blower near my shoulder in the future!

To the OP: I use a dedicated leaf blower for crevices and dry the rest with a towel. If the vehicle is well-waxed and I sheet the water with the final rinse it doesn't take that long at all.