Car Washes
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I'm not sure about the tires but I did succumb to a car wash this winter. My car was covered in salt, muck, and who-knows-what, and I couldn't stand seeing it like that. There are slight swirls on the paint (Ruby Red) caused, it turns out, by improper washing techniques, improper polishing techniques, and probably by the car wash. I've learned more from this guy, The Junkman, about polishing, waxing, washing (two pails, two washing mitts, a foam gun) than from any other source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP-eAddv2sk
I bought a random orbital polisher from Griots, Meguiars 105 and 205, and I'm waiting for a warm day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP-eAddv2sk
I bought a random orbital polisher from Griots, Meguiars 105 and 205, and I'm waiting for a warm day.
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i know that LCA relocation brackets will scrape all the way through the entire wash. not that i have done that or anything. facepalm2.gif
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I have a brushless auto car wash near me and that is the only one I will go to when feeling lazy. Besides the tires, those outside mirrors are big and do not collapse. I once had a automatic car wash rip a side mirror off my car at that time. The one near me is a Marathon station with a drive in car wash where the big overhead rig with a big L shaped arm goes around the car spraying several times. Good wash.
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My general rule is that I do not let anyone or anything wash my car. I've read too many horror stories about traditional car washes and touch-less car washes; and I enjoy washing it. rolsmile.gif
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In my honest opinion if you value the paint finish on any vehicle then you would never take the chance at an automatic car wash. Any piece of dirt or sand or little rock or whatever that got on the rags or brushes will scratch your paint finish.
I am getting ready right now to go wash my car by hand but with the high pressure wand. That is a step down from doing the two bucket wash technique with a mitt or sponge. Then you must make sure you have a good soft MICRO FIBER TOWEL or 2 for drying and I have been told to use a double spray wax on the rag for a lubricant. But don't use the cloth with wax on the windows. And make sure the MICRO FIBER TOWELS that you use to dry the car have the soft edges and not the rough threads that can make swirls in your paint.
I am getting ready right now to go wash my car by hand but with the high pressure wand. That is a step down from doing the two bucket wash technique with a mitt or sponge. Then you must make sure you have a good soft MICRO FIBER TOWEL or 2 for drying and I have been told to use a double spray wax on the rag for a lubricant. But don't use the cloth with wax on the windows. And make sure the MICRO FIBER TOWELS that you use to dry the car have the soft edges and not the rough threads that can make swirls in your paint.
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Touch-less car washes are mostly harmless. I guess there is a chance that a piece of sand or dirt could be shot at the paint, but I don't really see that being likely at all. You take the same risk at home with your own nozzle.
What you should be worried about, though, is removing any wax or sealant you have applied. Those high pressure hoses will strip it right off. You can be sure I'm avoiding any touch-less car wash for at least a few months after applying sealant(especially when using a high quality sealant that's $40+/bottle).
And if you value your paint finish at all, don't use Terry cloth towels. Only high quality microfiber towels should touch your paint if you care to minimize swirls and scratches. There's a lot of misinformation out there about maintating the finish on your car. Head over to autogeek.com and you can read for days. Its worth it.
What you should be worried about, though, is removing any wax or sealant you have applied. Those high pressure hoses will strip it right off. You can be sure I'm avoiding any touch-less car wash for at least a few months after applying sealant(especially when using a high quality sealant that's $40+/bottle).
And if you value your paint finish at all, don't use Terry cloth towels. Only high quality microfiber towels should touch your paint if you care to minimize swirls and scratches. There's a lot of misinformation out there about maintating the finish on your car. Head over to autogeek.com and you can read for days. Its worth it.
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A modern touch-less car wash can do a lovely job and also has liquid wax! Of course, if you have the time, products, shade and physical ability, nothing beats washing your car by hand. It will let you really get to know your car much more intimately and with the soap/foam and all can be a sensual experience and even a Zen practice. I still remember the car wash scene from the classic hit film Cool Hand Luke...
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291 Posts
I ran my 14 v6 through the car wash I worked at almost every week for a year never saw any issues in the paint. The wash is only three years old so it doesn't use the old style cloth brushes which are notorious for holding onto dirt partials which then get dragged across your paint which causes the scratching. Most newer washes are using foam brushes that don't hold onto dirt like the older cloth ones did plus we cleaned our brushes every night with high pressure washers and replace the brushes every year with new ones. The only thing about the auto wash and this goes for touch less as well is that the chemicals used in them are pretty nasty, especially wheel cleaner which is usually an acid which destroyed more pairs of my pants then I can count. If you used those washes often enough as I did it will wear down the wax coating so I had to do hand waxing often which wasn't a big deal since I had free access to a fully equipped detail shop. Since I graduated how every and got a better job I still use auto washes in the winter but hand wash when its warm because its a lot cheaper and better, I just stay away from any car washes that are older and sketchy looking.
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Most car washes do damage to your paint. You are better off not washing it until you can wait for a hand wash by yourself or a hand car wash place. I learned this working at a Car dealership. We were never allowed to run any Porsche or black car through the wash. I'm shocked at how many expensive cars I see with thousands of swirl marks covering the entire car. When I bought my new Mustang and my new Nissan hatchback last year I didn't even let them do the new car Prep and wash . I told them I would wash it when I got home. They looked at me like I was crazy for wanting a dirty new car but I knew there was only one way to have a swirl free car, NEVER let anyone wash it unless completely by hand.
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I am a big fan of washing my car myself.
However, for a DD that sees northeastern roads in the winter, for me it's worth the peace of mind to run the car through at the end of the winter season, ordering the undercarriage wash to blast all the crap off of the car's underside. I really can't get at this too well in my driveway with my own garden hose.
We have a place in town that my father-in-law trusted, and he was a very particular car guy who had nice cars, and he even ran his black cars through.
However, for a DD that sees northeastern roads in the winter, for me it's worth the peace of mind to run the car through at the end of the winter season, ordering the undercarriage wash to blast all the crap off of the car's underside. I really can't get at this too well in my driveway with my own garden hose.
We have a place in town that my father-in-law trusted, and he was a very particular car guy who had nice cars, and he even ran his black cars through.
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335 Posts
i hand wash in spring/summer but no-touch auto in fall/winter. Never had any issues. The no-touch i use is pretty killer IMO.
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Lucile, anything that looks like that gotta be named Lucile.
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