While RC Drift and Touring cars aren’t known for getting covered in mud and grime, it’s certainly worth cleaning them regularly to ensure they stay in tip-top condition. Fortunately, the bums are road cars and don’t get dirty in the mud. However, over time, a buildup of dirt and grime can affect your car’s performance.
We recommend that you clean your vehicle every time you take it out. Especially since we like to play with cars! You can get away with cleaning your drift car after every other race. It all depends on the weather and how dusty the track you’ve been racing is. Just remember, if you’re a professional RC drifter, make sure your car has been thoroughly cleaned BEFORE a racing event.
Useful tools for superior maintenance:
A pack of hand wipes – If you’re messing around because then you’re going to get your hands dirty.
A brush – Whether it’s a standard brush or a specialized RC brush, it’s great for removing dust.
Towel – Emergency towel to absorb spills.
Hole Mats – Rubber or plastic hole mats can help prevent parts from being lost or ruining your kitchen table.
Toothpicks – Great for scraping dirt out of hard-to-reach places.
Cotton swabs – When soaked in turpentine, they are perfect for cleaning specific areas of your car.
An Air Compressor – Blow away dust and dirt with this amazing tool. Also available in a can!
If you’re like us, the bodywork of your drift car is of the utmost importance, as we all know that looking at the part is key to drifting. During your drift race you are likely to scrape your car many times and maybe even crash and roll your car during a race! Its shell will show the marks of these accidents, so it is vital that you keep it clean. Most marks will come off with turpentine and a little effort. Most of the dust and dirt can be washed off with a damp towel or dry brush.
From time to time you may hit a big puddle when driving in the rain. It is important to remember that the electronic components in your car will stop working if they are exposed to too much water. Your motor, receiver, speed controller, and servos can be expensive, so avoid putting these parts in contact with water. If any of your electronic devices get wet, immediately remove them from the car, use a towel to wipe off excess water, and place them in a warm, dry environment, such as your ventilating closet. Leave the pieces in there for 24 hours and they should be safe to use again.
TOP TIP: If you’re going to be racing on a wet surface, spray the chassis and other parts of the car with WD-40. This will waterproof your car and prevent mud from sticking. Don’t do this on a dry dirt track though, as the dust will just stick to the WD-40!
If you are lucky enough to have an air compressor, cleaning your car can be extremely fun. Remove the body casing and all major components and put it to work with the compressor. Just be careful not to blow excess dirt and dust onto parts of the car that can be damaged, like the motor or servo joints.
These simple tips can help you maintain the performance of your RC drift car. By cleaning regularly, you will be able to extend the life of your parts and avoid unnecessary accidents caused by damaged components.