RC Drift Car General Maintenance

While RC drift and touring cars are not known for getting covered in mud and filth it is undoubtedly worth cleaning them on a regular basis to ensure they remain in tip-top condition. Fortunately, drifters are on-road cars and don’t get plastered in mud. However, over time, the build up of dirt and grime can affect your cars performance.

We recommend that you clean your vehicle after every time you take it out. Mostly because we just like tinkering with cars! You can get away with cleaning your drift car after every other run. It all depends on the weather and how dusty the track is you have been racing on. Just remember, if you are a professional RC drifter, make sure you car has been cleaned well BEFORE a race event.

Useful tools for top maintenance:

A pack of hand wipes – If you’re messing with you car then you’re going to get your hands dirty.
A Brush – Either a standard paint brush or specialist RC brush is great for removing dust.
A Towel – Emergency towel for soaking up spillages.
Pit Mat – Rubber or plastic pit mats can help prevent lost parts or ruining the kitchen table.
Tooth Picks – Great for scraping dirt out of those hard to reach places.
Cotton Buds – When soaked in white spirit these are perfect for cleaning specific areas of you car.
An Air Compressor – Blast away the dust and dirt with this amazing tool. Also available in a can!

If you’re like us, your drift car body shell is of extreme importance, as we all know looking the part is key to drifting. During your drift career you are likely to scuff your car on many occasions and maybe even crash and roll your car during a race! Your shell will show the marks of these accidents so it’s vital you keep it clean. Most marks will come off with white spirit and a bit of elbow grease. Most dust and dirt can be washed off with a wet towel or a dry brush.

Occasionally you may hit a large puddle when you are driving in the rain. It’s important to remember that your car’s electronics will cease to work when exposed to too much water. Your motor, receiver, speed controller and servos can be costly so avoid placing these parts in contact with water. Should you get any of your electronics wet remove them immediately from the car, use a towel to wipe off any excess water, and place them in a warm, dry environment such as your airing cupboard. Leave the parts there for 24 hours and they should be safe to use again.

TOP TIP: If you will 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 simply stick to the WD-40!

If you are fortunate enough to own an air compressor then cleaning your car can be extremely fun. Remove the body shell and all major components and set to work with the compressor. Just be careful not to blow excess dirt and dust in to parts of the car that can be damaged such as the motor or servo joints.

These simple tips can help you to maintain the performance of your RC drift car. By cleaning regularly you will be able to prolong the life of your parts and prevent any unnecessary accidents caused damaged components