Auto Car Wash

Ive always heard that the Touchless Car Washes were bad too due to the jets of water getting water into areas water wouldn't normally get due to the power of the jets. But the ones with brushes seem to leave marks on cars over time, so not sure. Prob better to just wash it in the driveway with a hose.

 

All my cars go to the car wash - the soft cloth type. Because of the economy both of my nicer daily drivers have been with me longer than normal -- My black Porsche goes to the car wash at least weekly in the winter .. still looks great at 6 years. My sedan is silver and the same. I get them detailed once a year and an additional coat of protection at 6 months -- I use Rejex. Better to have them clean.

 

If you are picky about your paint, then my advice on car washes is...don't. Auto car washes will strip any protectant, wax, etc you have on your car because their soap is usually very harsh. If you use touch car washes, your paint will take a beating. If you don't mind this, then they are very convenient. If you like your paint looking good, look into the "two-bucket method" of hand-washing with grit guards.

 

Well .... I have been a bit blessed. I once did a lot of hand washing ... but as my free time became more valuable and my desire for a clean car still strong .......I had to start to go to the car wash. I had a new green SAAB Griffin back in the early 90's that went tot he car was almost every day .... I had a yearly pass. It looked great after two years. I only mentioned the Black Porsche because ... it is black ... and normally i don't keep them more than 4 years .. so this one has been tot he car wash a lot and the car looks great. The damage done by car washes is overstated.

 

I generally hand wash, but on my road trip, ran it thru an soft type with the huge rags that slap the car. Had to get the bugs off. I think you just do what works for your lifestyle, with the knowledge that a hand wash is better than auto wash, and the one with the hard bristles is prob the worst of that kind.

Edit. Also, because you'll be in neutral in the car wash, go in with a full battery charge.

 

Just spent 3 hours buffing out the marks left by a soft-touch car wash on one of my vehicles.
It's only the 2nd time in 5 years that has happened to me, but it does happen.

 

No.

Didn't notice til the sun came out a couple of days later.
I'm not usually all that OC about my cars, anyway. That vehicle was going on the market, though. It's what I traded in for my Prius. I figure shiny paint was worth $500 - so it works out to $170/hr for my work. But with the Pearl Coat on this one... no car wash for me.

 

I park on the street so no way to do home car wash. I take my cars, including the new Prius, to the car wash frequently (twice a month), especially in winter with ski trips. With modern paints and modern soft brush car washes, it's not a problem.

I think the frequent car washes are best vs. leaving the dirt on as the dirt is abrasive can have chemicals in it. Most of the ruined paint jobs you see are people who didn't wash the car frequently.