7 Steps To Clean Your RC Cars

RC cars are equally fun to play with for both adults and kids. These mean machines can give you an adrenaline rush unlike anything when taken for a spin both on & off-road. But most RC Car owners are reluctant to take the car out for a casual spin because of the difficulty in cleaning the car afterwards. Being an electronic product, you can’t simply clean it with water and detergent. So how do you clean your RC Car after a good bash?

To keep your RC car in perfect condition, it is important to clean it thoroughly after a harsh time on track. Cleaning an RC car might be a nightmare to some. But did you know that with the right tools and little patience you can clean your RC cars with ease?

In this article, we will have a look at the most effective ways to keep your RC cars clean.

7 steps to clean your RC Car

It is the best to clean the RC cars right after driving it when the dirt can come off easily. In this section, we will have a look at the steps to effectively clean an RC Car:

Step 1: Remove the batteries

Before you begin cleaning your car, you need to remove all the electrical power sources. You don’t want to risk short-circuiting any electrical connections in the car. Use compressed air and a brush to remove dirt & loose debris from the chassis, bearings and electrical wirings.

These loose debris can sometimes get caught between the car’s gears and can cause serious wear and tear. Similarly, the dirt can also reduce the cooling efficiency of the engine heat sink and the motor. It is important that these loose dirt and debris are removed.

Step 2: Remove the tyres and clean

Once you have cleaned the loose dirt and debris from your RC car, it’s time to clean the tyres. Carefully remove the tyres and clean it thoroughly using a low-pressure hose and a toothbrush. Remove the mud & debris from the tyre and clean it with water.

Excess mud & debris on your RC car’s tyres can cause vibrations and reduced stability of the car. This is mainly caused because of the imbalance in weight on the four wheels.

Always remember to cover the breathing holes on the tyres to prevent them from taking in water. Now that the wheels are off, remove dirt and debris from the suspension & steering.

Step 3: Spray the RC Car with a general cleaner

If your RC car and it’s electronic parts are waterproof, you can spray it with warm water and detergent. Using a toothbrush, thoroughly clean the bearings, suspension, wheels & chassis to remove any caked dirt or mud. Ensure that you dry your RC car in sunlight once you are done with the cleaning. You don’t want to let water remain on the chassis or the electronic components.

If your RC car isn’t waterproof, you can use denatured alcohol for cleaning. You can even use alcohol wipes to remove debris and dirt from the chassis. You call also use a toothbrush dipped in denatured alcohol to clean the nuke & corners. If you don’t have access to denatured alcohol, you can use any general cleaners that are available in the market.

Step 4: Let the car dry

Ideally, you should keep the car in sunlight for some time for the water to dry. To get the job done fast, you can use low-pressure air to blow off the water. You can also wipe the car using a soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture.

Step 5: Look for any signs of rust

If you are using an old RC car, chances of finding rust are high. Once the car has dried, look closely for any signs of rusting. If you were to find any, remove it using anti-rust sprays or chemicals. Ideally, you should spray rust inhibitors such as wd-40 on all exposed bearings and metal caps after cleaning.

Let the rust inhibitor dry before reassembling the car.

Step 6: Clean the car’s body

In most RC cars their body would be made out of plastic. Thoroughly clean the car’s body with a general cleaning solution. Use a brush to remove any dirt or debris from the body. Wipe the body with a dry cloth & keep it in sunlight to remove even traces of moisture.

You can even use polish on the body to get a shiny finish. There are a lot of good quality polishes that are available in the market.

Step 7: Lubricate the joints and other moving parts

Now that you have cleaned the car thoroughly, you might have removed the lubricants from the joints too. Lubricate the drive train components & suspension components with WD 40 oil as proposed in the car’s users manual. Reassemble the car after proper lubrication.

Pro tips to cleaning RC Cars

Now that we have discussed the best ways to clean your RC car, we will have a look at some of the pro tips to cleaning the car:

Make it a habit to clean your RC car right after you take it out for a spin. Especially if you’ve taken it off-road. There are chances of dirt & loose debris getting into your car’s gearbox and increase the chance of rusting
Always remove the battery/power supply before cleaning your car to avoid the risk of short-circuiting.
Ensure the chemicals you use to clean your car do not end up in the electric components of your car.
It is advised to remove the tyres & rear wings of off-road cars while you clean them. This will make it easier for you to clean the suspension.
Inspect the bearings of the car before storing it and lubricate them if needed. Ensure that you use certified lubricants for better performance & durability.

Conclusion

A well maintained and clean RC car always gives it’s best performance. Regular cleaning also ensures better durability and life for your RC car. We hope that this article helps you clean your RC cars more easily. You can also check out other RC car care products from our website.