Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

[Blueline]

Re: Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

I was told many years ago that it is best not to wash your car in the winter. Dried salt does no harm, getting it wet by adding wash water will. I never wash my cars in the winter. Our oldest car is now four years old, and the undercarriage looks almost new..no rust. Reason? I get the car oil sprayed every fall. You can wash the undercarriage all you want, but without some protection, ie some kind of commercial oil rust proofing...it will rust. Just my experience.

[wifpd4]

Re: Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

Blueline,

Your success is more related to your oil undercoating each fall/winter. Average Joe and Average Jane probably don't do that.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

Having spent the first 30 years of my life in Michigan, where the summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold and snowy with plenty of salt on the roads, I know first hand how difficult it can be to keep a car clean during the winter months.

While it is true that the potential damaging effects of salt just sitting on any part of the car will be exacerbated by getting that salt wet, there does come a time, even during the winter months, when the roads are clear and dry and you really should clean it off as thoroughly as possible. While there is no doubt that a properly done undercarriage "oiling" is a great barrier against road salt, not everyone does that. So when you know you're going to be having several days of dry roads in a row, get that stuff off the car - otherwise, it will be sitting there even if just a light flurry comes along and melts, wetting the roads and the salt under your car. There are plenty of times when the roads get wet but no salting was done, and you don't want that salt clinging to unprotected surfaces and getting wet.

But when we talk about getting the salt off, we do mean thoroughly. This isn't just a light spraying under the car with a hose - go to a coin op wash and pressure wash it. Get down on your knees and get yourself a little dirty so your car can get clean.

[Blueline]

Re: Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

Blueline,

Your success is more related to your oil undercoating each fall/winter. Average Joe and Average Jane probably don't do that.

Yes I agree and perhaps it is something Joe and Jane should consider for a about $75.00 a year. Everyone on this site is so concerned about swirls, eye popping shine, bird droppings, etc. on their paint, and spend a lot time and money taking care of the paint/interior , but fail to do the most basic thing farmers have been doing since machines first were constructed with metal, ...oil it. Today's commercial automotive rust protection companies have perfected their product, will guarantee no rust, and it is one less thing to worry about. Heck, I would probably get an oil job if I lived in the south with salt free roads. The product is not only sprayed on the undercarriage but inside all panels keeping moving parts (door locks, PW windows, etc), working smoothly.

[AmanO]

Re: Mechanical touching car wash questions.........

Well said Blue Line. Is that something that a Ziebart or competitor will do?
75$ a year to prevent your entire underbody from rusting seems like a steal.