Automatic car washes?

[rebelde33]

During winter, I don't think much of us wash our cars by hand, at least not me. The hose is under the snow we've had for a month already so there's no way to and it's usually too cold to wash a car by hand. I hate having dirty cars so I take it to an automatic car wash. My question is:

Can the paint get swirled from taking it to an auto car wash? I take it to my local Quick Stop gas place that has a car wash but it's all done by machine so nobody touches the paint. It just sprays on the water and soap and when it's done it gets dried by air as you exit. I'm not sure if this way of washing can still instill swirls and scratches even if the car isn't even brushed or dried with a towel?

[Raymond]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I don't trust anyone but myself to clean my car, and I definitley don't trust those high-volume local places. As much as I hate my cars being dirty, I'd rather have it dirty than risk messing it up at a place like that.

[johnd651]

Re: Automatic car washes?

i dont think a place like that will get any swirls on your car. it will only wash off the excess dirt from your car. its not going to give it a through clean like washing it at "home" would. to scratch the paint you need to touch it, but the water at high pressure can cause damage sometimes (ive seen it get under chipped paint before...but if its a clean finish it should be fine). as long as it is touch-free its good enough to clean off the salt from a vehicle

[G Force]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I guess it would then depend on the shampoo they have in the machine.If not of really good quality it could remove polish, sealants and other quality products.

[CWM3]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I have had to use them this winter and I see no issues with regards to my paint. Could there be? Possibly. But I figure I can fix it when it gets warmer.

Until then I am still going to drive a clean car.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Automatic car washes?

You're obviously talking about the "touchless" wash systems. Since nothing other than soap and water touches the paint and the car is dried with huge blowers there should, theoretically, be zero risk of swirls inflicted on the paint.

But.

Those systems use high detergent washes with a neutralizing rinse cycle. They will remove the wax from your car.


Last summer I detailed a Nissan Frontier pickup for a friend's mother. She was due to turn it in at lease end and the only way it had ever been washed was in a touchless wash, and it had never been waxed. It was also parked outside all the time. Well, after washing and claying (man, did that take a long time!!!) the paint showed almost NO swirls at all. Amazing. This vehicle was badly neglected by the standards of most folks here at MOL yet I can only attribute the lack of swirls to the fact that the paint was never "touched". The plastic trim was pretty nasty though!!

[rebelde33]

Re: Automatic car washes?

You're obviously talking about the "touchless" wash systems. Since nothing other than soap and water touches the paint and the car is dried with huge blowers there should, theoretically, be zero risk of swirls inflicted on the paint.

But.

Those systems use high detergent washes with a neutralizing rinse cycle. They will remove the wax from your car.


Last summer I detailed a Nissan Frontier pickup for a friend's mother. She was due to turn it in at lease end and the only way it had ever been washed was in a touchless wash, and it had never been waxed. It was also parked outside all the time. Well, after washing and claying (man, did that take a long time!!!) the paint showed almost NO swirls at all. Amazing. This vehicle was badly neglected by the standards of most folks here at MOL yet I can only attribute the lack of swirls to the fact that the paint was never "touched". The plastic trim was pretty nasty though!!

Well I really only use them during the winter months and I'll wax right after when the weather starts getting better. I do hand wash during the rest of the year when there's no snow though.

[andyp]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I'm not sure if its the same in the states, but in the UK many Automated car wash and self service Jet washes re-cycle the water. They also use really harsh detergents, especially in winter. For those two reasons I wouldn't trust it.

However, over here it never stays very cold for very long, so I think in your situation its justified.

[Tillmanator]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I use the touchless wash occasionally when I don't have time (gasp) to wash by hand. Under the assumption that it is stripping my wax with heavy detergents, I usually at least spray wax it afterwards to put back a modicum of protection. I have not noticed my car getting swirled because of using this wash. It does NOT do a good job of cleaning wheels but it at least makes your car somewhat respectable-looking afterwards.

I would guess my ratio of hand wash to autowash would be for every six hand washes I do, I run it through the autowash at least once. So about every two months, it gets autowashed once. I wax often.

Hope this helped.

[rebelde33]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I use the touchless wash occasionally when I don't have time (gasp) to wash by hand. Under the assumption that it is stripping my wax with heavy detergents, I usually at least spray wax it afterwards to put back a modicum of protection. I have not noticed my car getting swirled because of using this wash. It does NOT do a good job of cleaning wheels but it at least makes your car somewhat respectable-looking afterwards.

I would guess my ratio of hand wash to autowash would be for every six hand washes I do, I run it through the autowash at least once. So about every two months, it gets autowashed once. I wax often.

Hope this helped.

Spray waxing is a good idea. I'll be sure to do that.

[Jeepster04]

Re: Automatic car washes?

Ive used a touch-less car wash once and thats it.

As said, the chances of putting swirls in your paint are little to none but the soap is harsh so expect the wax to be removed.

I just spray it off by hand with rinse water at the coin-op then use the spot free rinse. Works great and its cheaper.

[Danante]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I will only consider a car wash if the car looks hazy white from all the salt. But I would rather just get out my hose from the basement and rinse the car down.
BTW, it’s the beginning of February and I’m getting a bad case of cabin fever that I haven’t really done anything this since November. I didn’t even rake all the leaves because of rain and early snow. Since November it been either raining, snowing, or freezing when I’m free. The few nice days we’ve had have been during the week while I’m working. My outdoor water spout broke and needs to be replaced, and we’re having the house resided. Someone is always occupying my driveway along with the nice thick ice that’s been pounded into the asphalt from the work and the walking. Thank goodness February is a short month.

My wife bought her fathers 2006 Suziki grand Vitara right after Thanksgiving. The only thing I’ve done is detail the inside with Quick Wipes, which did a great job. I can’t wait to wash it, rub out all the paint dings with Scratch X, really clean out the inside, and polish and wax.

I guess this post has been pretty therapeutic. However, tomorrow the temperature is hitting 50 and I’ll be at work.

[BlueZero]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I might get kicked off the site for this but... I use them all the time!

It's too darn cold to wash by hand. Plus I don't always have time to do a real wash. I do realize it takes the wax off after a few times but try to wax more often to make up for it. I figure it's better than leaving all that road salt on.

Like others have said the soap can be pretty harsh so make sure you get rinsed off good. I had a friend that used to own a few gas stations with car washes and he told me the soap if not mixed right could take the paint off. I think he was probably stretching the truth a bit, but it is some pretty strong stuff.

[Cassman]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I'm guilty as well. I have only been able to wash the car 3 times since the middle of December and I have gone to a touchless wash each time. We have had a very snowy winter in the Chicago area and the salt build up is just horrible. QEW'ing salt is a pain in the rear because the salt streaks for me. I don't want to spend an hour QEW'ing twice to make the paint streak free only to have snow and salt sprayed all over it within a day or two. I used Collinite in the fall which is supposed to be detergent proof - although I admittedly doubt anything can withstand the stuff they use in the touchless washes. I will tell you though, IMO people accidentally rubbing against the paint with salt all over it is much more likely to instill scratches and swirls than any damage a touchless can do. So, I will continue to use the touchless every few weeks this winter.

[VonLego]

Re: Automatic car washes?

I charged out into a 45 degree day and put a wash/wax up on my car to hold out until spring. There I was, glad that I used the one bearable day to put some care into the car and the very next day....

Drove through road construction... whiteish dusty muck all over the lower half.