4 Safe Ways to Wash Electric Cars
Washing your car is a form of maintenance that must be done regularly to maintain its quality. Leaving the car in a dirty state will make its components easily damaged.
The car body will also look worn out because it is contaminated with various compounds from the dirt that sticks. But how to safely wash an electric car?
Tips for Washing Electric Cars Correctly
It should be understood that washing an electric car does not necessarily cause a short circuit. The system in an electric car has been designed in such a way as to be safe when washing. So how to safely wash an electric car is also not much different from how to wash a car in general.
Before being sold in the market, electric cars have been tested to ensure that there will be no electrical components that can be penetrated by water. The cables under the car are also safe because they are coated with waterproof material.
So you don't need to worry if you want to wash an electric car. But of course you have to pay attention to the following things:
1. Avoid spraying water in the engine bay
Overall, you can apply conventional car washing methods to electric cars. But you must avoid spraying water on the engine bay.
Actually, this part has also been coated with a waterproof seal. But for spraying that is too powerful, it is feared that the seal will be damaged and the components will become dewy.
The engine bay itself is located on the hood of the car. In this part, there are converter, inverter, and ECU. These three components are very sensitive if exposed to water so you must be careful. How to wash an electric car is by not spraying this part hard with water.
The safest way to clean this part is with engine degreaser and a microfibre cloth. Also, do not spray the degreaser directly onto the engine bay. It is better to spray it onto a microfibre cloth first and then apply it to the engine bay.
2. Wash the car in cold engine condition
You should wash your electric car in a cold engine condition. This actually also applies to conventional car washing. You can check this by opening the bonnet and touching the engine. It is safe not to wash the car after it has been used for driving.
If the car engine is still hot, you should wait a while first. At least 15-30 minutes will make the car engine temperature ideal for washing.
If you wash the car while the engine is still hot, the car will easily become loose and rusty. In essence, it can make car components quickly damage.
3. Safe to wash with a lifter
Lifter is another name for hydraulics used to lift the car when washed. The safe way to wash an electric car can also be done at a car wash.
The use of this lifter will not make the car's electrical components problematic. The components in the undercarriage have also been specially protected so that they will not cause problems.
When washed using a lifter, the undercarriage of the car will be exposed to water thoroughly. You don't need to worry about a short circuit because the undercarriage has been tested to be waterproof. Even when spraying with water, the components will remain safe because they are well protected.
4. Dry the car immediately after washing
When you wash your car at a car wash, the car wash already includes drying until it is ready to use. If you wash it yourself, you need to apply the same thing.
This is so that the water that is still attached to the car does not cause a damage reaction. You can wipe it dry using a microfibre cloth or chamois.
If the water is not dried immediately, it will leave water spots and mould. The form is white spots on the car body. The way to dry it should also start from the top to avoid scratches.
Those are the 4 safe ways to wash an electric car that you need to pay attention to. Broadly speaking, how to wash it is not much different from how to wash a conventional car.
However, there are some points that you should pay attention to regarding some components that are prone to water. If the car already looks dirty, wash it immediately so that it does not lead to damage.