Coin OP Car Wash

[mis3]

I do not have a high pressure water gun and I plan to go to a local coin op car wash to clean the undercarriage. Is there anything I should look out in these places?

[Detailing by M]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

not really. I'll even pull in too one on occasion while on a road trip.
If you get a chance to talk to the owner or maintenance person ask to see there DI water filtration system. The one by my house welcomed me and showed me all his equipment and I was actually impressed and his spot free water was spot free.
I would bring some APC (all purpose cleaner) to get the hard to clean stuff.
You'll be fine as long as you don't use the wash brush on your paint.
Only use the power washer.

[mis3]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

I have a Spot Free car wash near my house. Does this name mean something?

I plan to use the high pressured water on the under carriage to rinse off the salt and dirts. They also provide soap and brush so maybe I will use it to the wheels.

[Murr1525]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

Don't use the brush....

[Detailing by M]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

DON'T USE THE BRUSH! It's been dropped and put through god knows what!
Don't touch your car with anything but the water.
I used to bucket wash there when I couldn't wash at my apt.
I only used there water and maybe the degreaser on my rims and tires.

[hillbillypolack]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

Yeah, using the brush is a no-no.

A guy at work uses a local coin car wash to maintain his Audi even in 30-ish degree weather. A few pointers he gave me are that he just uses the water and doesn't pull the trigger for the full power blast. I have noticed that if I have a good base wax, a simple low pressure rinse is adequate until I can wash it on the weekend.

Undercarriage may be a different story depending on how many unpaved roads you've traveled or where the dirt started settling in.

[davey g-force]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

Agreed about using the brush on your paintwork.

However, if I understand correctly, the OP wants to use the brush on the wheels and/or undercarriage. Not so bad IMO, depending on what type of wheels he has..

[mis3]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

The main purpose to use the high-pressured water is to rinse off the salt and road dirts accumulated throughout the winter in the undercarriage. These coin op car washes have time limit (4-5 minutes) so I would focus on the undercarriage.

Yes, I would like to apply the soap and blush to the wheels only. This is actually not too important because I am changing to summer wheels soon. It's not too difficult to clean the wheels while they are off the car!

[JG_Detailing]

DON'T USE THE BRUSH! It's been dropped and put through god knows what!
Don't touch your car with anything but the water.
I used to bucket wash there when I couldn't wash at my apt.
I only used there water and maybe the degreaser on my rims and tires.

He's right! Who knows what that brush was used for and how many times it was dropped. Only time I go to the car wash is to spray the salt off my car and the undercarriage. Even use the pressure washer for the engine compartment.

[hillbillypolack]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

He's right! Who knows what that brush was used for and how many times it was dropped. Only time I go to the car wash is to spray the salt off my car and the undercarriage. Even use the pressure washer for the engine compartment.

Just go easy around electricals with the pressure in the engine bay. A previous vehicle needed a new ECU which was fried after one of the seals allowed water through the connection.

[mis3]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

not really. I'll even pull in too one on occasion while on a road trip.
If you get a chance to talk to the owner or maintenance person ask to see there DI water filtration system. The one by my house welcomed me and showed me all his equipment and I was actually impressed and his spot free water was spot free.

What is this DI filtration system?
I am thinking that they use just fresh, untreated tap water, which I am okay with.

[mis3]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

I just tried the Spot-Free coin wash here. This location is clean and well-maintained.

It is $4 for 4 minutes with bonus time for each additional dollar. I put in $6 and ended up for close to 7 minutes.
There are many options in the spray like high pressure rinse, wheel cleaner, spot-free rinse (low pressure), soap, etc. I used the high pressure rinse and the water was very, very strong. I rinsed the whole car and used more time for the undercarriage. I also tried the wheel cleaner, the green soap did not do anything to my dirty wheels.

All in all, I am happy with this car wash. Wish I knew of this place earlier in the winter. I may try to do a full wash there one day. Of course, I will bring my own GC wash, MF mitts, etc.

[Show 'N' Shine Car Detailing]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

I use the brush all the time. Works great!

[Detailing by M]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

What is this DI filtration system?
I am thinking that they use just fresh, untreated tap water, which I am okay with.

Deionized water. most of these have them and don't use unfiltered water.

I just tried the Spot-Free coin wash here. This location is clean and well-maintained.

It is $4 for 4 minutes with bonus time for each additional dollar. I put in $6 and ended up for close to 7 minutes.
There are many options in the spray like high pressure rinse, wheel cleaner, spot-free rinse (low pressure), soap, etc. I used the high pressure rinse and the water was very, very strong. I rinsed the whole car and used more time for the undercarriage. I also tried the wheel cleaner, the green soap did not do anything to my dirty wheels.

All in all, I am happy with this car wash. Wish I knew of this place earlier in the winter. I may try to do a full wash there one day. Of course, I will bring my own GC wash, MF mitts, etc.

AWESOME!!!!

I use the brush all the time. Works great!

Your a lire! you really use the brush on your paint? I know you don't do that. Are you talking about the rims, tires & undercarriage?

[Show 'N' Shine Car Detailing]

Re: Coin OP Car Wash

no on everyone else's paint, duh, lol. Tires and rims. Was just kidding about the brush thing, lol