So, just got my MINI, really happy, but...

I noticed bugs stick to the radiator. I get to thinking , I could use a toothbrush to clean them off... Is there something a little faster/less gross that I could use? And should the radiator be warm or cold?

C'mon, I know some of you do this, it can't just be me.

John

 

i use duct tape and patience.

 

Don' believe him, Patience isn't that kind of girl.

maybe blotting them with some sort of tape? or flypaper, better yet those sticky mouse traps...

 

Well, to be honest, I haven't really taken care* of a vehicle this obsessively since this is my first new car (and car I paid for). Don't get me wrong - I worked on my bug. But not to the same degree.

I just thought of a google search, and found this product:

http://www.fullercommercial.com/Hard...31/default.htm

Hmmm. My dad has one of those. But something is telling me - that little voice of reason - that this brush is designed for oil/steam radiators, and not automotive.


John


*I've had it for 5 days. Maybe It'll wear off.

 

Use a pressure washer but be very careful of using too narrow of a tip and getting too close or you'll damage your radiator. The higher the pressure and the narrower the tip the further back you want to be. Start too far back to be on the safe side. For cleaning a car, 2000 psi, 3 to 4 gph with a 25 degree tip will work perfectly. Too much money for one of those? A tooth brush is pretty cheap...

 

Hey, if you get a nice collection like I did, all you have to do is pick them off, put pins through their wings and put them up on your bug board. Very colorful and great for conversations.

 

I have to deal with a lot of bugs. I go to a wand wash and spray them off through the grill. Whats left I use a bottle brush. They tend to be pretty crusty, so they come off like dust.

 

I use a shop vac, but there are areas I can't get to.

 

Let them dry-out, then use a Dyson to suck them out

British vacuum cleaner for a British car, gotta love the Dyson.

This thing sucks!!!

In a good way...

Chris.

 

Shop vac sounds the best way - least messy on my end. There was a torrential downpour today, cleaned most of the MINI off, so I won't have too much to do to it tomorrow except vacuum the interior and clean the bits that still have dirt! And then the radiator...

Can you get Dyson vacuums in the US? I read about them in an issue of ID a few years back (or should that be vac ?).

Thanks!

John

 

Hell yes!

Dyson has been in the US for about two years now - great machines, but seriously expensive.

Worth the $$$ IMHO



Chris.

 

haha, my mom didnt like her Dyson, so she gave it to me for use in the garage!!! it does a good job cleaning out the carpeting inside and also does a good job as a wetdry vac for cleaning the paved floors!!!!

as far as cleaning the bugs go, just go the the $.25 wash and hit the with the pressure washer, its the easies way to do it.