washing your 4runner in the winter…

[00void]

…does anyone do this themselves? i like to wash my trucks myself and not take them to the car wash as i feel the job isn't as good. one of my neighbors washes his Acura every other day it seems during the winter, sans hose. i've always been curious as to how it's done (i know it's not rocket science, but…). does anyone else do this? suggestions? ideas/ tips?…

sorry if this topic has been posted before, i'm new, so forgive my ignorance.

 

[TranceKrayz]

for the winter......i mostly take it to touchless car washes so they can blast off the salt and slush with pressure washers and not harm the paint. It's great because they even have pressure washers that get the undercarriage. Occassionally....i'd take it to a trusty hand car wash and have them wash and dry with a chamois only because i don't trust their towels.

 

[momo.75]

I wash mine weekly during the winter. Granted, it doesn't get nearly as cold down here but even when it is in the 20's I'll get out there and clean her up. The main thing it bundling up really good and wearing waterproof boots. The other main thing I have is this lined mit. http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10259 Your hand will never get cold with this. Of course it alos help to be able to pull it in a heated garage for drying.

 

[00void]

for the winter......i mostly take it to touchless car washes so they can blast off the salt and slush with pressure washers and not harm the paint. It's great because they even have pressure washers that get the undercarriage. Occassionally....i'd take it to a trusty hand car wash and have them wash and dry with a chamois only because i don't trust their towels.

hmmm… in my area i don't know of any touchless car washes. the ones i do know of, have those huge roller things that like to crack my license plate covers (another reason i like to self wash). i see my neighbor wash his car with little more than a bucket + mit during the winter… no hose to wash it down with… i should ask the guy, but i don't like him

 

[alpha]

hmmm… in my area i don't know of any touchless car washes. the ones i do know of, have those huge roller things that like to crack my license plate covers (another reason i like to self wash). i see my neighbor wash his car with little more than a bucket + mit during the winter… no hose to wash it down with… i should ask the guy, but i don't like him

hmm.. interesting.. the thing i worry about the most is under the car during winter, and then the paint..

 

[momo.75]

hmm.. interesting.. the thing i worry about the most is under the car during winter, and then the paint..

then stop by a pressure wash place and spray the undercarraige.:

 

[alpha]

then stop by a pressure wash place and spray the undercarraige.:

yeah, i usually just washed my car like once a week or so during the winter.. i didn't have my car up here at college last year, so i didn't worry about it. but i'm gonna have my 4runner here in about two weeks, so i'll have to worry about.. I'll have to find a place nearby where I could do so..

 

[mikes4runner]

touchless or automatic carwashes are a no..no..I have heard horror stories.

What I do is take it to the heated(the ones were you can close the doors)pressure car wash at night when it is not a busy and pressure wash the road salt off the under carriage and then bucket hand wash it myself. I live in PA and after almost 12 years no rust on my 4Runner at all.

I know most car washes say "no buckets" but if you go at night when knowone is there you will never get hasseled.

 

[spyne]

In the middle of winter I bring my wash bucket inside and fill it with warm water. You just have to be sure that the water is only warm, as you can crack the windows otherwise.

Been doing this for the past 20 years without a problem. Except for every once in a while, when it's a bit too cold and I end up with a driveway that looks like a skating rink.

 

[momo.75]

Yeah, you know it might be a little too cold when the water is either freezing on the driveway or on the truck. I have even gone as far as to let the truck run with the heater on and it will keep the body just warm enough.

 

[00void]

In the middle of winter I bring my wash bucket inside and fill it with warm water. You just have to be sure that the water is only warm, as you can crack the windows otherwise.

Been doing this for the past 20 years without a problem. Except for every once in a while, when it's a bit too cold and I end up with a driveway that looks like a skating rink.

i kinda figured it was warm water, just curious to know how to get the suds off w/ out using a hose.

i wish where i'm at in NJ there were those self wash garage's, but alas there are none. i know of a few in Pensy, but unsure if they're open during the winter. plus they don't have (garage) doors…

thanx for everyone's comments/ suggestions… much appreciated!

 

[ish]

ah yes another advantage to living on the west coast, no salt

 

[<<<<]

I would wash mine via towel and backet if I wouldn't freeze my arse off. Gets pretty cold sometimes here in KC. I go to automatic car wash with mine other car. For the 4-R not sure yet if it'll fit inside full auto car wash. If not I'd have to use hand pressure wash. Might want to save bunch of quarters

 

[DaveS]

I tried hand washing a previous car in the winter and even with warm water I found the soapy water froze on the car then I would have to rinse/thaw it off with warm water out of a separate bucket. Only problem then was getting the chamois on it before that water froze solid. I have to admit to caving in to the touchless car wash in the winter just to get the underneath washed off.

Any further deas on this topic would be very gratefullly received however since I do want to hand wash the 4runner whenever I can still.

 

[Cliff s]

Be careful with the pressure washes, they have about
1000 psi of water or more and they can shoot the water
right through the seals that normally keep the water
out of your vehicle.

It is not a good idea to pressure wash your motor
for the same reason. a garden
hose an a product like Simple Green is OK.
It can blow water under your dist. cap(if
you have one) and into the crankcase.

You can also blow water through the
transmission breathers and through the
axle seals. If you have paint chips you
can take off a whole chunks of paint.

Pressure washers have their place,
but use them carefully.

Cliff s

 

[boston_kevin]

touchless washes

Most touchless washes run the PSI around 500-750 which should be fine, even for the paint. The only danger about using a touchless wash (or any public wash for that matter) is if they recycle the used wash water. Some washes filter the used wash water, but the filter pores are large enough to allow salt water to pass through, so when you think you are washing your car with fresh clean water, you are actually blasting your car with nice fresh salt water (probably about the same as a dip in the ocean). Call the car wash company and ask how the filter the water and whether the recycle used wash water.

Hand washing the car when it is about 10 degrees outside is just asking for trouble. I have to turn off all outside water spigots after December because it gets too cold up here.