Parking Garage Problem - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Thunderhead · 08-05-2012, 08:25 PM

Forgive my ignorance if this is common, but I never new this was going to be a problem.

Several months ago I moved from the state of Washington to just outside of Chicago. When I moved into my new apartment I had the option of paying extra for a garage parking spot. I wanted the best for my Camaro so I took a garage spot. No way I wanted to fight for street parking and just leave it outside exposed to the elements. Since I commute by train daily for work, I mostly drive my Camaro on weekends, by which time this has happened...

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These pictures were taken after not having driven my Camaro longer than a typical week so the dust is a bit more than usual, but still, I never new this much would collect so fast. Is this typical for most garages? How concerned should I be? I enjoy washing it as much as I have been (it hurts to see her like this), but I'm annoyed that its being caused by something I felt would help protect and prevent this kind of situation.

DefianceDan · 08-05-2012, 08:38 PM

Yeah....it's weird, but I had the exact same thing happen to me when I parked for a week in the Detroit airport garage.

damneighborkid · 08-05-2012, 08:55 PM

Doesnt seem to happen here in Florida. I'm stumped on this one too. Best bet is to get an outdoor cover. Especially if you're leaving her for a week at a time.

heRS · 08-05-2012, 09:00 PM

Why not put a car cover on her for the week while you're not driving? Pull the cover off when you're ready to go and put the cover back on it when your weekend is over.

Overflow · 08-05-2012, 09:02 PM

I completely agree with the car cover suggestions.

Thunderhead · 08-05-2012, 09:40 PM

"I wouldn't let rain fall on that." Why is that? You mean just in general, or specifically when it has all the dust on it?

Sadly, this is a recurring problem, not due to construction. Looking at other cars in the garage they too have similar dust problems, although it would seem their owners tend to drive them more often than I do since the buildup is less than mine. I'm unaware of any local hose I can use. I've been taking my Camaro to either a friend's house or my folks' house on the weekends and manually washing it. I enjoy washing it, I'm just sad it needs to be done so often. Other than the buying a car cover option, I'm not sure what other alternatives exist. Parking is scarce where I live so I don't feel I have alot of options on the table.

CUPRA · 08-05-2012, 09:53 PM

Dust will be the main problem in the picture, but also, if you get a lot of rain, the garage structure gets very wet, not only from the elements, but from cars passing by.

Check above the car, you might find limestone/limescale leeching from the ceiling, which can cause this to happen to your car. Just a thought.

5cents · 08-05-2012, 10:05 PM

I think I'd learn to live with the dust, it's better than leaving your Camaro outside, where it would be exposed to the elements and possible vandals. My Camaro sits many times, for a week or two in my home garage, it gets dusty, but no where near that bad.

Personally, I think car covers do more damage than they do good. I would be especially worried if I had a dusty situation such as your's. With a car cover you would have to be very careful when removing and installing the cover. If dust gets into your cover, it could cause damage in the form of fine scratches to the paint.

Is that dirt type dust, or cement dust from the parking garage ceiling?

I use a California Duster on my Camaro:

.

daveagogo1 · 08-05-2012, 10:11 PM

Car cover. And yes this happens in most garages. Happens to our SUV as well every time we park it at the cruise terminal garage for a week here in FLA.

Pro Stock John · 08-05-2012, 10:15 PM

dust every other day or car cover.

I do the former. I dust every day before I drive it for work.

LimaCharlie · 08-05-2012, 11:15 PM

Get a car cover or get a car duster and use it regularly. Just be happy your car is out of the sun/rain and away from curious eyes/hands on the street.

fisherssmoke · 08-05-2012, 11:20 PM

Is that a garage with walls or carport, seems like a lot of dust for indoors.

two_wheel_mayhem · 08-05-2012, 11:51 PM

That would suck, the majority of that dust is probably from people driving around the garage. And it's been a very dry year.

Seek a higher level spot like the last floor before the top.

crateish · 08-06-2012, 10:03 AM

Dust, pollution, bird droppings, etc.

Common in parking decks.

08-05-2012, 08:25 PM	#1
Thunderhead Drives: 2011 1LT RS Camaro, Cyber Gray, M6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 6 View My Garage	Parking Garage Problem Forgive my ignorance if this is common, but I never new this was going to be a problem. Several months ago I moved from the state of Washington to just outside of Chicago. When I moved into my new apartment I had the option of paying extra for a garage parking spot. I wanted the best for my Camaro so I took a garage spot. No way I wanted to fight for street parking and just leave it outside exposed to the elements. Since I commute by train daily for work, I mostly drive my Camaro on weekends, by which time this has happened... These pictures were taken after not having driven my Camaro longer than a typical week so the dust is a bit more than usual, but still, I never new this much would collect so fast. Is this typical for most garages? How concerned should I be? I enjoy washing it as much as I have been (it hurts to see her like this), but I'm annoyed that its being caused by something I felt would help protect and prevent this kind of situation.

08-05-2012, 08:38 PM	#2
DefianceDan VroomVroom Drives: 2017 50th 2SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 497	Yeah....it's weird, but I had the exact same thing happen to me when I parked for a week in the Detroit airport garage. __________________ 2017 H50 2SS MX8 F55 NPP CF5 RN2

08-05-2012, 08:55 PM	#3
damneighborkid Drives: Black 2012 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 169	Doesnt seem to happen here in Florida. I'm stumped on this one too. Best bet is to get an outdoor cover. Especially if you're leaving her for a week at a time. __________________ -Damneighborkid I hereby certify that I am certifiable.

08-05-2012, 09:00 PM	#4
heRS Raised by Wolves Drives: IBM 2010 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 5,980 View My Garage	Why not put a car cover on her for the week while you're not driving? Pull the cover off when you're ready to go and put the cover back on it when your weekend is over. __________________ Tori click the sig pic to view my build thread

08-05-2012, 09:02 PM	#5
Overflow Space Shuttle Aficionado Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 30,899 View My Garage	I completely agree with the car cover suggestions. __________________

08-05-2012, 09:40 PM	#6
Thunderhead Drives: 2011 1LT RS Camaro, Cyber Gray, M6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 6 View My Garage	"I wouldn't let rain fall on that." Why is that? You mean just in general, or specifically when it has all the dust on it? Sadly, this is a recurring problem, not due to construction. Looking at other cars in the garage they too have similar dust problems, although it would seem their owners tend to drive them more often than I do since the buildup is less than mine. I'm unaware of any local hose I can use. I've been taking my Camaro to either a friend's house or my folks' house on the weekends and manually washing it. I enjoy washing it, I'm just sad it needs to be done so often. Other than the buying a car cover option, I'm not sure what other alternatives exist. Parking is scarce where I live so I don't feel I have alot of options on the table.

08-05-2012, 09:53 PM	#7
CUPRA Drives: '21 Bronco OBX/'18 Jeep GC Altitude Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,413 View My Garage	Dust will be the main problem in the picture, but also, if you get a lot of rain, the garage structure gets very wet, not only from the elements, but from cars passing by. Check above the car, you might find limestone/limescale leeching from the ceiling, which can cause this to happen to your car. Just a thought. __________________ Order Placed: 04/30/22 Order Accepted: 10/18/22 TPW: 11/07/22 Built: 11/18/22 VIN received: 11/19/22 On a Train: 02/27/23 ETA: TBD 2023 Camaro 2SS Convertible/M6/Shadow Grey Metallic/Adrenaline Red Interior/Carbon Flash Wheels/NPP

08-05-2012, 10:05 PM	#8
5cents Dave Drives: 2011 Camaro SS - Black/CGM Stripes Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 437	I think I'd learn to live with the dust, it's better than leaving your Camaro outside, where it would be exposed to the elements and possible vandals. My Camaro sits many times, for a week or two in my home garage, it gets dusty, but no where near that bad. Personally, I think car covers do more damage than they do good. I would be especially worried if I had a dusty situation such as your's. With a car cover you would have to be very careful when removing and installing the cover. If dust gets into your cover, it could cause damage in the form of fine scratches to the paint. Is that dirt type dust, or cement dust from the parking garage ceiling? I use a California Duster on my Camaro: . Attached Images

08-05-2012, 10:15 PM	#10
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	dust every other day or car cover. I do the former. I dust every day before I drive it for work. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

08-05-2012, 11:15 PM	#11
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	Get a car cover or get a car duster and use it regularly. Just be happy your car is out of the sun/rain and away from curious eyes/hands on the street. __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

08-05-2012, 11:20 PM	#12
fisherssmoke Drives: Black SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Indy Posts: 254 View My Garage	Is that a garage with walls or carport, seems like a lot of dust for indoors. __________________

08-05-2012, 11:51 PM	#13
two_wheel_mayhem Would rather be riding Drives: No car no more Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,750	That would suck, the majority of that dust is probably from people driving around the garage. And it's been a very dry year. Seek a higher level spot like the last floor before the top. __________________ No dog in this fight anymore. 5th Gen owner 2009-2016.

08-06-2012, 10:03 AM	#14
crateish Drives: 45th Anniversary 2LT/RS Coupe Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 534	Dust, pollution, bird droppings, etc. Common in parking decks. __________________