Touchless Car Wash

[KYG]

With all this salt on the road, its hard to constantly keep your car clean. Leaving salt on your car isn't good but are the chemicals used by the touchless car washes too strong on the car and is the water pressure too hard on the car as well?

 

[Rolls Royce]

I have my doubts about touchless car washes for that very reason. I prefer to give my vehicle a scrub down myself using alot of the eco-friendly cleaners. I do realize that this is hard to do in the winter. My advice would be to run it through the gas station car wash once or twice until summer, atleast the salt won't build up on the bottom.

 

[Krustee]

Leaving salt on your car isn't good but are the chemicals used by the touchless car washes too strong on the car and is the water pressure too hard on the car as well?

I prefer to give my vehicle a scrub down myself using alot of the eco-friendly cleaners. I do realize that this is hard to do in the winter.

I have a couple cars with expensive paint & I would definately NOT recommend taking anything other than a junker to the "Touchless" car washes.

What they use to remove the grime from your car is a mild acid.
Ask them & they will deny it till Slick Willy grows a conscience but I have a friend who was going to buy one of those car wash sites & when he met with the sales rep & asked about the formula of the wash it was a mild acid.

If you have wax on your car you can pretty well bank on it being gone after a trip through one of those "touchless" typhoons.

Also, for those who say;
"I prefer to give my vehicle a scrub down myself"
I strongly suggest you do NOT touch your car finish with anything until it has be POWER WASHED first to remove as much road grime as possible.

For those who have a show car finish on your pride & joy you do not even touch it with a cloth after it has been power washed as there is still a fine layer of mineral & chemical deposits that you can barely see but feel if you know what to feel for.

I always use a product to remove the grime then if I'm gonna polish I use a clay bar to remove anything left.

Road Trip Grime Destroyer:
http://www.autogeek.net/surf-city-garage-road-trip-grime-destroyer.html

"Simple Green" works well too. I have been using it for a while now and am quite happy with it's performance.
Plus, another great aspect of it, is that it is not harmful to the environment or animals.
Just spray on let sit a few minutes and spray off. I use the "firehose" nozzel and make sure you get it all off especially on the tires. I scrub the sides of the tires with a brush and simple green and it gives them a brighter shine.

Once you have claybarred your paint then you can polish without swirling the grime into the paint & ruining your finish.


Here's a good site for car care:
http://www.autopia.org/forum/index.php

Keep the sunny side up dudes!

 

[oppai]

You know there is mild acid in the rain right? And in the air? Asbestos from brake pads etc etc. Touchless is just fine for paint but you also need to do a proper clean and wax from time to time.

 

[Krustee]

You know there is mild acid in the rain right? And in the air? Asbestos from brake pads etc etc. Touchless is just fine for paint but you also need to do a proper clean and wax from time to time.

How much muriatic acid is in the rain there brainiac?

The acid in rain is mostly nitric & sulphuric caused by gaseous pollutants from factories, automobiles etc.

http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/acid-rain/1

The muriatic acid in the Touchless car washes is designed to remove grime from your car & the unfortunate impact is it eats the wax coating from your last wax job.

Wax seals the paint on your car & protects it from the elements as long as the grime is not too corrosive to degrade it.

Muriatic acid happens to be decent at breaking down wax.

Acid Rain… and Your Car’s Finish
Posted on December 1st, 2008 by admin
By Frank Canna

Not only can air-borne elements in our environment be hazardous to our health, they can also be hazardous to your car. Below is a brief explanation of the key environmental factors and their impact on the appearance of your car. Of course, acid rain is at the top of the list.

Emissions from chemical plants, fossil fuel burning power plants and the internal combustion engine are being transported into our atmosphere on a daily basis. When these deposits find their way to the surface of your car, in either a wet or dry state, they rapidly become similar to both sulfuric and nitric acids. When this type of contamination is left on the surface of your car for any length of time, these acids can literally begin to etch into the painted surface and cause irreversible surface damage.

According to the EPA, acid rain is not the only culprit that brings acids to earth. Acid can also be found in other forms of precipitation, such as; snow, sleet, hail, mist and fog. High levels of relative humidity and exposure to morning dew can also impact the painted surface of your car. We all know that relative humidity is basically a measurement of the amount of water content in air. As the water content of air increases, so does the amount of relative humidity.

Likewise, when the relative humidity increases, so does the capacity for acids to be carried to the surface of your car. Morning dew can be another form of contamination having an net effect on the appearance of your car. When combined with acid and salt contamination, morning dew can actually produce harsh chemical reactions that over time can slowly begin to damage the painted surface of your car.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the basic ingredients from which acid rain is formed. They are being pumped into our environment mostly by fossil fuels being exhausted by fuel burning power plants, automobiles, buses, truck and even airplanes. As these emissions combine with whatever moisture is in the atmosphere at the time, they begin to go through several changes. Eventually, the particles become a form of sulfuric and nitric acid. The same acids found in acid rain. These acids stay in the atmosphere until the air gets too heavy and humid. When this happens, water mixed with acid begins to fall to earth as rain. Unfortunately, this is completely opposite of what people think of when it comes to the old saying; as pure as rain water.

Today’s new cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles are painted with a clear coat finish, where the base color coat simply has a topcoat of clear paint applied during the final paint process. The clear coat is basically another separate layer of paint that does not contain any color pigment. Along with the added benefits of producing an increase in the depth of gloss, the additional layer of clear also helps to protect the color coat from harsh environmental factors, such as acid rain and other air-borne pollution.
In order to combat the effects of acid rain, other environmental factors, and keep your car looking like new, your car will need to be thoroughly cleaned, polished and waxed on a regular basis.

Depending on conditions, your car should be polished and waxed at least twice a year and more frequently when it is exposed to extreme environmental conditions.

Keep in mind that simply washing your car only loosens surface dirt. Safely removing the stubborn surface contamination caused by harsh environmental factors is a result of polishing and waxing. Polishing cleans and conditions the surface providing an incredibly high depth of gloss. Wax is then applied as an added measure of long lasting protection.
If you recently purchased a new car you will be able to use less aggressive products, such as either a carnauba or polymer wax. However, if your car is more than three to five years old, you will usually need to use more aggressive products, such as either a cleaner polish or cleaner wax as a separate step before applying a protective coating of wax.
The sad part is, acid rain is not only attacking the painted surface of your car, other things, such as historic landmarks, statues and bridges are also slowly being eaten away by the effects of acid rain.

http://mobilelifetoday.com/health/12/01/acid-rain…-and-your-car’s-finish/

 

[oppai]

It's just paint dude, no need to get hostile.

How long do you plan to keep your car. If it is a collector car with a custom paint job that you will pass on to your child then your point is mildly valid. IF it is a leased car that you trade in after 3 years...who gives a shit. It would take multiple washes to wear down a proper wax job and as I stated you still need to get your car properly cleaned and waxed but it is a good way to keep more corrosive materials off the car (and keep it looking clean).

I have worked in the auto industry since I was 16 and have never seen a car with poor paint that was a result of wash chemicals.

For the average car owner out there touchless washes are your best bet over the winter.

 

[wolverine]

A touchless car wash can be anywhere from $5 to $10.
For about $20 - $30 you can go to a express detailing place like this for a better job than touchless:
http://www.bubbles.ca/Wash Services.htm

 

[Mr Blonde]

all things considered, the OEM paint on your vehicle isn't the greatest to begin with. if you own a GM or a Honda consider your finish on the lower grade of the scale.

the finish on your vehicle is designed to stand up to the elements to a certain point. no matter how well you maintain your vehicle; road salt, rock chips, and UV rays will gradually degrade your vehicle's finish. as your vehicle gets older you'll notice the finish on your vehicle will lose its lustre, or simply begin falling of alltogether.

with the shitty weather we've had lately i would actually recommend a trip through a touchless car wash, the high pressure system they use to clean your vehicle will remove all the salt and dirt that's built up on your under carraige and your wheel wells. essentially, it's the lesser of two evils.

i'm not saying you should be running through these touchless carwashes every week. but at the moment, if your vehicle looks like any of the vehicles on the road right now, it definately merits a visit to one. after that you can get back into your own routine of keeping your ride clean. you can apply a coat of wax or two and a paint sealant in the spring and keep on truckin'

 

[KYG]

How about the automated car washes that aren't touchless but use the spinning bushes? Are they rough or has anyone had any bad experiences with those?

 

[Noob888]

Stay away from the car washes that use brushes if you value your paint. It's really hard on it. The big attraction to touchless is that there are no brushes, however, I find they dont do a good job if your car is reasonably dirty. Even then, I am leary of the blower and the pressure on the paint. Nowadays, cars use a waterbased paint so it's not as durable as the old oil based paint, despite what some may say. Both touchless and nontouchless car washes can break your antenna so be aware of this.

For me, I would only go to an automateed car wash (touchless) to remove the salt and grime from underneath the car, but I doubt they do a good job anyways. I havent seen one with brushes that do the underside, but that may cause problems too. Wash your car yourself and forget about these detail places and even dealerships, they tend to use the same dirty water and sponges/mits on every car.

 

[Krustee]

all things considered, the OEM paint on your vehicle isn't the greatest to begin with. if you own a GM or a Honda consider your finish on the lower grade of the scale.

the finish on your vehicle is designed to stand up to the elements to a certain point. no matter how well you maintain your vehicle; road salt, rock chips, and UV rays will gradually degrade your vehicle's finish. as your vehicle gets older you'll notice the finish on your vehicle will lose its lustre, or simply begin falling of alltogether.

I can follow ya with your given example of vehicles but in my case it's a Benz so the paint is far superior to the American crap.
I had a quote for re-painting it & it was over $10 grand.
I think considering the cost of a re-paint I would save myself quite a bundle just keeping the finish on it in good condition with regular wash, wax & polishes.

As for paint degrading no matter what ...
I don't buy that.
I've owned a LOT of cars - seriously
For all the nice cars I've had when I sold them they looked better than when I bought em.
Call me anal about my cars but there are usually a few people who are asking me when I'm gonna sell my car after they get a chance to drive one of them. (I usually only keep em 3-5 years)
I've actually sold 3 cars for more than I paid after 3 years & in one case 55,000km of driving.

IF you are religious about washing & waxing & do NOT leave your car parked in the sun & elements all the time, you can keep it looking new. I always park mine in the garage.

with the shitty weather we've had lately i would actually recommend a trip through a touchless car wash, the high pressure system they use to clean your vehicle will remove all the salt and dirt that's built up on your under carraige and your wheel wells. essentially, it's the lesser of two evils.

I'll have to agree with you here, it is better to wash the crap off than just let is stay on there & eat away at your paint.

Just make sure you give it a good wash & wax when things clear up.

Stay away from the car washes that use brushes if you value your paint. It's really hard on it. The big attraction to touchless is that there are no brushes, however, I find they dont do a good job if your car is reasonably dirty. Even then, I am leary of the blower and the pressure on the paint. Nowadays, cars use a waterbased paint so it's not as durable as the old oil based paint, despite what some may say. Both touchless and nontouchless car washes can break your antenna so be aware of this.

For me, I would only go to an automateed car wash (touchless) to remove the salt and grime from underneath the car, but I doubt they do a good job anyways. I havent seen one with brushes that do the underside, but that may cause problems too. Wash your car yourself and forget about these detail places and even dealerships, they tend to use the same dirty water and sponges/mits on every car.

Very good points here.

Nobody cares about your car as much as you if your one of those who does care (most don't)

The best thing is to use a high pressure washer to remove the road grime (use a little Simple Green & let it soak for a few minutes if it's bad) then use a fine bristle brush or microfibre terry cloth wash mitt to remove what is left using gentle pressure & spray while you wipe.

Wash again after you wipe it down & then use microfibre shammy or Chamois to dry it off.

Going to the Touchless just to have the undercarriage washed is not a bad idea.

 

[Rolls Royce]

Very interesting actually

Thanks for the heads up. What wax do you use and when? Should it be done right after the vehicle has been dried with a cloth? or should one wait a couple of hours? I know this is off tangent but does Armor All destroy one's dash? I learned NEVER to use Windex on car windows, but what do you guys use? I take pride in keeping my vehicles clean.

 

[oppai]

I think we are all relatively agrees then, moderation is key. You don't want to leave your car with crap on it so it is better to do touchless (over other automated washes and if you can't get to a good hand wash) to clean the car and do regular waxings.

I too have had heaps of cars and they always look better when I sell them and I go to touchless washes three times a month and a proper hand wash 1 time a month. Works for me.

 

[Krustee]

Thanks for the heads up. What wax do you use and when? Should it be done right after the vehicle has been dried with a cloth? or should one wait a couple of hours? I know this is off tangent but does Armor All destroy one's dash? I learned NEVER to use Windex on car windows, but what do you guys use? I take pride in keeping my vehicles clean.

NEVER BUY ARMOR ALL!!!!

More car dashes & other vinyl/plastic parts have been destroyed by this stuff than any other product.

The best protectant to use is this stuff:

http://www.wolfgangcarcare.com/303-vinyl-top-kit.html
http://www.properautocare.com/303-16.html

The entire line of their products are superior to others.

The best wax to use & it's expensive but worth it, is this:

Be sure to prepare the paint with a good cleaner or cleaner wax & then polish BEFORE you apply a good coat of wax.

You can find these at Canadian Tire aka; 'Crappy Tire'

Mothers products are good too:

I too have had heaps of cars and they always look better when I sell them and I go to touchless washes three times a month and a proper hand wash 1 time a month. Works for me.

Going to touchless that often means any wax you put on will be removed so your paint isn't really protected unless you wax after each wash.
What kind of car do you drive?
I doubt you would do that with a $100k car.

 

[oppai]

NEVER BUY ARMOR ALL!!!!

More car dashes & other vinyl/plastic parts have been destroyed by this stuff than any other product.

The best protectant to use is this stuff:

http://www.wolfgangcarcare.com/303-vinyl-top-kit.html
http://www.properautocare.com/303-16.html

The entire line of their products are superior to others.

The best wax to use & it's expensive but worth it, is this:

Be sure to prepare the paint with a good cleaner or cleaner wax & then polish BEFORE you apply a good coat of wax.

You can find these at Canadian Tire aka; 'Crappy Tire'

Mothers products are good too:

Going to touchless that often means any wax you put on will be removed so your paint isn't really protected unless you wax after each wash.
What kind of car do you drive?
I doubt you would do that with a $100k car.

You're still on about this? I have a few cars and saying what they are may give away my secret identity. My above schedule is only during the winter. And if the wax is gone then I have a good few layers of clear-coat to protect my paint underneath that. I never keep a car for more than 3 years (except my baby, but it never see's a rainy day or winter). So this is perfectly fine. Even if I kept it 5 years the paint would be as good as when I bought it. In the summer I wash the car myself but in the winter I do the above and it is NOT detremental to the car no matter how much you want to disagree.

A

 

[bcneil]

Its too bad you can't go to washworld or wherever, and JUST have that underbody wash without the rest of the carwash. I wouldn't mind going through their wash a couple times a week, just to get the salt off the bottom of the car.

 

[Noob888]

Krustee, do you know what happened to Mothers Gold Car Wash? I havent seen it around for over a year.