Why to Not use Drive Through Car Washes

[Cleric]

Okay,

I've always been told to avoid automatic car washes and usually do. Just wondering if anybody actually has any real basis for saying this or is it all just urban (and suburban) myths?

I ask because a lot of high-end (BMW, Acura, Lexus) dealers in my area will sometimes send cars to the local drive through wash. I wouldn't think that they would do this if it damages the paint.

Maybe some are better than others?

I tried a "touchless" one once, but my car was still dirty after.

 

[mikes4runner]

Because they don't do a good job of cleaning your car or truck.

They don't hurt your paint unless something goes wrong and it dents or scratchs your car or truck....and it does happen.

 

[tkr128]

Two words: swirl marks!

Here's a thread from Autopia that should clarify what I mean: Link

Most people don't care all that much about their paint jobs, so it doesn't really matter how it's being washed, a car wash is just getting the car clean to them. But, I like having a car that doesn't look like I took a scouring pad to it and thus, I take extreme caution when washing my car(s). I'm anal, I know.

 

[Cleric]

That's a good link, tkr.

 

[Cliff s]

I live in the Phoenix area and at every car wash they claim to be detailers.
The reality is these so called detailers are illegals that maybe went to the 3rd
grade in school. These guys really make a mess of your car.

The moral: If you want good detailing go to a professional that has a good
reputation and save your paint.

CLiff s

 

[SteveM]

The other reason not to use drive through car washes of any kind is that the soap they use can strip wax (even the touchless kind).

I won't EVER go through a brush type car wash for any reason.

I will occasionally use touchless if I'm going to wax that day.

 

[pat161]

The touchless ones are OK but as stated they don't do a good job and the detergents are very strong. The brush ones are bad and I do feel they scratch cars, think of all the cars covered in winter sand and salt (I'm in MA) adding abrasive materials to those brushes, I've never seen anyone rinsing them down each time and some of that crap definitely stays there. Try to find a self serve place with heated water, and if you go later than most you can generally bucket wash and dry without a problem. I recently found a self serve place that is completely indoors, they have six bays and it is always about 60 in there, they even let me dry and wax if noones waiting.

 

[iFORCE]

Advantages to doing it yourself at a wand wash:

- you can figure out where all your scratches are
- you can pressure wash places where its more dirty
- you can wash your buddies car if you put too much money in
- you can dry your car by hand! very important!


Advantages of using automatic touch-free washes:

- saves times, effort, and drying materials




I always use a wand-wash. Always hand dry the car afterwards... and yes.. drying the car is just as important as washing it. ANother thing.. use pre-soak. gets alot of the road grime off your car and windows. I don't use their brushes.. because people usually wash their wheels with it too.. lazy bums!

Pre-soak car and wheels
Soap
Rinse
Dry by hand (clean chamois and california waterblade)

 

[Bosconian]

One time, there was a broken antennae caught in the brushes of the carwash and I heard this metal piece hitting the sides of my company car. Luckily, it did not do too much damage to the company car, just light scratches.

Moral of the story: You never know what you'll get in one of those drive through carwashes.

Bosconian

 

[Larry]

Car washes are for people in a hurry. They may be trading the car in, soon, anyhow, so who has the time to wait. After all, it's only a car. And most of the damage won't show for a while. Just don't take mine near one.

 

[spyderdoc]

Here in West LA, they have tons of "100% hand wash" carwashes...I use those guys a lot because they actually do a decent job of washing AND drying my 4R. All for just $10! I think there are so many here that the competition is fierce, so they really have to clean the car well, or they'll lose their business to the guy 100 yards down the road....
Mark

 

[MicaBlue03]

Automatic car wash damage

The automatic car washes with brushes do seem to dent/ding/scratch cars with some frequency. I never use them, but my wife used to. She'd been through several a total of maybe two dozen times before one caved in her rear quarter panel, just in front of and above the bumper corner. Couple inches deep, and maybe 8 inches diameter. She had to push a little, but got the place to pay for repairs.

I wondered if this was unusual, and a co-worker set me straight. In a previous life she'd run one of these places and said that occasionally something would get out of adjustment and begin damaging some or all of the cars that went through. It would take a few cars before the problem was noticed. Then there would be a line of cars in the parking lot, all waiting for her to confirm the damage, and record car/owner details. She sounded like this might happen every several months.

It's very hard to get a car clean without using mechanical contact, even if you use very high pressure and harsh chemicals. And if you're going to have mechanical contact, it should be by someone (you?) who will use clean materials and take the time to do a good job. If you care a lot about your finish, I suspect you're either going to find a good person and pay well, or do it yourself. That's my opinion anyway.

 

[ToyotaDan]

i dunno

I used to wash my car all the time, but then I tried the touchless BP systems and they are awesome.. plus they do under carriage really well... so i have been using them for a while... i wax twice a year and then do the touchless mostly... unless i have time to wash myself

 

[Hank]

Took my baby to a car wash only once when I was in a hurry. Took her to a 100% Hand Wash "Premium" Spa in Irvine and paid about $12 for the basic wash. I will never take her to another car wash ever again (unless I'm in a hurry and I'm going somewhere). Here are the reasons why:

1) two guys w/mitts wash her down in under 30 seconds as the conveyor belt moves her down the line (missed several areas)
2) wash mitts were never rinsed during the washing process (dirt/grime adheres to mitt and causes more swirl marks and scratches)
3) saw a guy dried her down with towels, he uses the same towel to dry the rims, then noticed that he missed a spot on the hood and uses the same dirty towel to wipe it down.
4) several areas still dirty after the wash and bugs were still on the bumper.

I didn't bother to tell them to wash it again as they will add more scratches on her.

I usually wash my 4R myself using Mr. Clean autowash kit that requires no drying (spotless self-drying). It works pretty well most of the time (95-98% spot-free, if done correctly). My 4R has Black paint so that's why I do what I do. I would think that drying the vehicle with a towel would strip some of the paint's finish/wax over time and might contribute to swirl marks. Therefore, I think touchless drying is best.

My other cars, I take to the car wash once in a while if I'm too busy to wash them. Car washes are fine if you wash your vehicles often and don't have dark or non-metallic paint jobs (other than white)

 

[Gryphon]

We have a local "hand wash" automatic joint. They used to do a good job, but the last time I went I had to re-wash the 4R...they left mud all over the passenger side.

I usually use a DIY wash bay and I shoot the brush clean with the pressure wand first off. Then I may take it home and do a nice hand wash job. Or not.

My auto wash horror story: I had just sold a Mercury Marquis, took it to the wash on the way to deliver it (they paid me good) and the roller brush ripped the passenger mirror off!!! Luckily the junkyard had one for cheap, but still....grrrr!

 

[CVsGX470]

I take mine through a soft cloth place in C-bus. The place is awesome with all kinds of undercarriage jets and etc. I have a white runner and you can't see a swirl mark on it. I love to wash it myself and will always do this in the warmer months. But to me, the salt on the roads is worse on your paint and under carriage than a few spinning brushes.
CV

 

[vandert]

Broke my &*^t

We had just recieved our vehicle from Florida to Germany and we wanted to clean it off real quick.

We proceeded to go through a car wash with it and it broke the rear wiper off, it's only abs on the arm.

The car wash didn't warn us so they paid for the 140.00 part, I don't recommend it, if it wouldn't have came off it would have bent the motor shaft and it would have been around 1G to fix.

I'll get outside and wash mine from now on

Try it out if you want, but don't whine when it gets broken.

T

 

[General Lee]

I take mine through a soft cloth place in C-bus. The place is awesome with all kinds of undercarriage jets and etc. I have a white runner and you can't see a swirl mark on it. I love to wash it myself and will always do this in the warmer months. But to me, the salt on the roads is worse on your paint and under carriage than a few spinning brushes.
CV

Swirls can be very hard to see on white paint. Depending on how bad they are sometimes you really have to look to see them. Not saying you have them, just pointing out that they are less evident on light colored vehicles.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I prefer "hand jobs".

 

[iFORCE]

I prefer "hand jobs".

LOL.