How long to wait to put a car cover on

[firedawg]

Just a question for everyone, I always wait until my car cools down to put the cover on, but I was wondering if this was necessary, I have never really seen it written down anywhere, none of the covers I have ever owned have ever said anything about it or anything. Just wondering if this was absolutely necessary.

 

[Ken]

I'm gonna be interested in the responses to this one too. The thought has crossed my mind now and then.

 

[Willis76]

I always wait until it cools down, sometimes overnight, it's in a garage anyway.

 

[Rain]

do not know an official stance on this, but

if the car has been running the roads, I let it cool overnight in the garage before covering it.
(guess its a fear of the exhaust catching something on fire)

After detailing it - really have not given that much thought. It usually sits in the garage until its time for me to go to the event that I detailed her for in the first place.. then comes home, gets wiped off and left to cool till the next morning.

 

[MARKSC4]

I always wait for it to cool down, and I never put the cover on if the car has road dust on it.

No matter how nice the road is, it always gets covered with a layer of dust. Especially behind the rear wheels and on the tail light area.

 

[firedawg]

a majority of the time I will wait until it cools down for a good while then I will use the california duster, then cover it, but what brought it up was today (and a couple times in the past) I just got back from cruising around and had to leave again soon after getting home, I gave it about 20 minutes to cool off (which was kind of pushing it since I had to leave again really soon) and then dusted it and covered it. fealt like it was cool enough to dust, and it didn't smear like it will if it is too hot, so then I threw the cover on, just didn't put the strap underneath as the catylytic converter was still hot and that is right where the strap needed to be. no part of the cover or anything was on the tail pipes, just above it, and I think the tail pipes cooled down enough that they wouldn't start a fire due to radiant heat. I would love to be able to leave it uncovered overnight, but I don't have a garage, so that would be out

I figured this would get a good conversation going though!

 

[sherry_ridgeway]

hi all
just my opinion..I normally cover mine with the cover after she's been washed and waxed, "witch is often" but never when shes dirty or just been driven."scratches" .from what i understand the heat really isnt the issue as for fires per say, it has more to do with the fenders/hood etc warping and taking longer for her to cool off, if i have recently driven her "depending on the temp" I would wait an hour or so at least....but then again i park mine under a carport during the winter and start her up and let her run at least 2 or 3 times a week during that period, ..just my 2 cents
Sherry

 

[firedawg]

from what i understand the heat really isnt the issue as for fires per say, it has more to do with the fenders/hood etc warping

you know, I never really thought of that!:duh

 

[Silveradojoe]

I always let the Vette cool down before covering it. I will even pop the hood in the summer to let all that engine heat out faster. Generally it's ready to cover within an hour and a half, even on a 90 degree day.
The manufacturer of my current cover recommends letting the car cool off. This prevents creating / trapping any built-up moisture under the cover. Seems to work.