Should I go through one of those automatic car washes?

R

redlinegts85

New member
Ok, so here's the thing. I usually would NEVER, EVER take my car through an automatic car wash or have anyone else touch my car, but I think I've found one that cant really do much damage.



Basically, I'm really busy with school and work right now and my car is really dirty. I don't have time to wash it so I was thinking about taking it down to the car wash for a quick wash. The auto car wash that I'm talking about does not have ANYTHING touch your car (I hate those ones that have those huge drape things smack your car). In this car wash, a little tower just moves around your entire car and soaks it with soap. After that it power rinses it, and then dries it. The only thing that touches my car is the soap, water, and air. No brushes, etc. Would this be safe to use? It basically just gets the light layer of dirt and dust off your car to make it look somewhat clean, but for $5 it is a pretty good deal (I've already taken my work truck through it and it does pretty well).



For $8, it also does a "color polish" and "clear coat protectant" step; should I also do that or just the basic wash?



Thanks guys.
 
I find that they spray water at such high pressure that it grinds the dirt on the car into the paint, specially on the lower half of the car, and it doesn't always do a good job. It works in a pinch during winter, but I wouldn't do it during the summer.
 
We have one of those near our house and I've run the Blazer (and service loaners) through it before. Works OK for what it is and yeah, it can be better than nothing when you simply can't do a proper wash.



My wife runs her A8 through one in TN when she visits her family, and it works OK too.



Neither of those washes strips the LSP or anthing like that. They don't get the wheels all that clean unless they've been freshly sealed, but other than that I don't have any complaints.



I get the medium-priced wash with some shine-it-up [stuff] that sounds like your $8 wash. Doesn't do any harm (I'd wondered about streaking on the windshield) and I figure it's like getting an extra rinse.
 
As stated it's better than nothing. Since it only does a so-so job I see no reason to spend more than the basic wash.
 
Our station has a touchless-tunnel wash, basically the same thing you know but runs on a conveyer. Like most people have already said, it's better than nothing. If you still keep your car properly waxed, they work better.



The only thing to keep in mind, however, is how it cleans your car by "just spraying water and chemicals" without actually touching the paint. There are some very harsh chemicals at work and you almost have to be a chemist to operate the wash and mixtures properly. They can cause etching in the clear if not rinsed completely, you can especially see this on wheels. Those radial streaks that run from the lugs? Yeah, that's etching from the acids in the wash that didn't get rinsed completely.



I use the touchless wash for my detail clients when they just want a hand wash, but I only select the middle option with no spray on wax or sealant (it really doesn't do much). I prep it by hand, use a pressure washer to pre-soak, and towel dry it and quickly dress the tires. This all takes maybe 20 minutes. Its a good way to keep your car in good condition if you don't have the utility or time to wash it by hand.
 
Accumulator said:
We have one of those near our house and I've run the Blazer (and service loaners) through it before. Works OK for what it is and yeah, it can be better than nothing when you simply can't do a proper wash.



My wife runs her A8 through one in TN when she visits her family, and it works OK too.



Neither of those washes strips the LSP or anthing like that. They don't get the wheels all that clean unless they've been freshly sealed, but other than that I don't have any complaints.



I get the medium-priced wash with some shine-it-up [stuff] that sounds like your $8 wash. Doesn't do any harm (I'd wondered about streaking on the windshield) and I figure it's like getting an extra rinse.
Click to expand...

NCW on Dickerson Road?
 
todd@bsaw said:
I use the touchless wash for my detail clients when they just want a hand wash, but I only select the middle option with no spray on wax or sealant (it really doesn't do much). I prep it by hand, use a pressure washer to pre-soak, and towel dry it and quickly dress the tires. This all takes maybe 20 minutes. Its a good way to keep your car in good condition if you don't have the utility or time to wash it by hand.
Click to expand...



Why do you run it through the tunnel wash if your clients want a hand wash?
 
todd@bsaw said:
I use the touchless wash for my detail clients when they just want a hand wash,
Click to expand...





WOW is that a joke

If I payed you for a hand wash and you did that, there would be hell to pay!:argue :hairpull
 
clnfrk said:
Why do you run it through the tunnel wash if your clients want a hand wash?
Click to expand...

Heh... worded that a little wrong.

Most of my detail clients get their vehicles picked up at their office and brought to my shop for a weekly car wash. Their vehicles actually do get hand washed (prepped) before I send it through the tunnel. My two detail bays are usually in use when the wash clients call. An actual 'hand wash' that I offer is an extra $10 and does get a full wash by hand.

Just thought that needed a bit of explaination.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top