NXT and Laser Washes

[betona]

On another board elsewhere, someone posted that one should never use a Laser Wash car wash.

The reason, he said, was "since they don't use brushes, they use a highly concentrated and corrosive soap mixture that will strip any and all wax from your car immediately."

Here in the Great White North, there are times when a Laser Wash is all I can do to get the salt off (I can't exactly get out the hose and buckets when it's 5 degrees outside). I put on a good coat of NXT late last Fall and the couple times I've run my car through, it came out looking really good, all things considered.

I was able to get a coat of booster wax on last weekend when it warmed up (but we're expecting snow again today)

Thoughts? Can NXT win the winter battle with the Laser Wash?

[Teak]

Yes the laser wash probably uses a soap which harsher then what you would use to wash at home or a tunnel car wash due to the lack of brushes or mitts. Is using the laser wash that bad, not really as long as you protected the surface you should be alright. The durability and longetivity of NXT is most likely decreased with use of the laser wash, probably not by much as NXT is reasonably detergent resistant. Exactly how much I do not know, as there is to many factors to consider. Not every laser wash uses the same car wash, cycle durations, dwell times, recycled water, type of local water, for non recycled percentage, water recycling method, pressure of the spray, or cleanliness of wash area. Other factors to consider for wax durability are and the use of the laser wash or car wash, how long since intial and additional application of wax or sealant, coverage of application, how many hand washings, how coin-op washes, how many tunnel car washes, how many dealer washes, weather and environmental issues, type of use the vehicle is subject to, where the vehicle is parked.


Eric

[betona]

Thanks for your thoughts, Eric.

I think I've run through 3 times so far this winter which surely can't be all that horrible. Besides, whatever it did is a lot less caustic than a layer of salt...

[gb387]

Originally posted by Teak
Yes the laser wash probably uses a soap which harsher then what you would use to wash at home or a tunnel car wash due to the lack of brushes or mitts. Is using the laser wash that bad, not really as long as you protected the surface you should be alright. The durability and longetivity of NXT is most likely decreased with use of the laser wash, probably not by much as NXT is reasonably detergent resistant. Exactly how much I do not know, as there is to many factors to consider. Not every laser wash uses the same car wash, cycle durations, dwell times, recycled water, type of local water, for non recycled percentage, water recycling method, pressure of the spray, or cleanliness of wash area. Other factors to consider for wax durability are and the use of the laser wash or car wash, how long since intial and additional application of wax or sealant, coverage of application, how many hand washings, how coin-op washes, how many tunnel car washes, how many dealer washes, weather and environmental issues, type of use the vehicle is subject to, where the vehicle is parked.

Eric

I am not big on going to a local car wash, but your right in the winter you have no option. After a long search in local car washes I have found one that appears to minimize the "damage" to the wax. This particular one is a Ryko carwash and is nearly new. There are some I have used and your vehicle looks like it has a matte finish on it.

I prefer to wash mine with the wand, not the fully auto ones just personal preference. I will say.... I never go to a car wash with attendants, I don't like the way they dry your car. With auto car washes more than likely your car is going to still have some dirt on your vehicle and the attendant is going to smear that around with the sand paper like towel he just dropped on the ground.