Are Gas Station Carwashes bad???

I think that it's perfectly fine to run your vehicle through a touchless car wash, but don't dry it unless it's totally 100% clean. There's not too many touchless car washes out there that can clean 100% of the dirt off your vehicle without using friction. If dirt is still on your vehicle after the wash and you dry it or wipe it down, it will cause damage. If your vehicle just has light dirt and/or dust, it should come out fine, but if it's been rained on and has any kind of road film on it, you won't get totally clean. When I worked at a touchless car wash, we adjusted the settings (temperature/pressure/ratio of chemicals) daily to accurately reflect the conditions that were present on most vehicles. We had a fined tuned facilty and put out a clean car, but unfortunatly most gas station car washes and usually not properly maintained. Gas stations should concentrate on selling gas and candy, not washing cars. Most of the time they just see car washing as another source for income and don't concentrate on delivering quality.
 
I agree with what you all are saying and I also think some of this may be being blown a tad out of proportion. If my car gets rained on HEAVILY or has been exposed to some horrendous salt/sand mess, then yes, I would drive to the underground garage at my job and get out my buckets and begin cleaning them off. However this is only under extreme situations. For the most part, I washed/clayed/polished/waxed my car last month. Over the last few weeks, it has rained lightly and I have also seen some dust accumulating on the hood and roof. I think a blast of the soapy water would be great at removing the surface contaminants and would help to keep my car looking at it's best. True, I can QD every other day but again, it's cold outside!



To be honest, I have used these gas station washes for YEARS even before there was a World WIde Web and have never seen any type of marring or diminishing of my paint jobs. Now, these were all TOUCHLESS washes. I never did get warmed up to the idea of scrubbing a brush back and forth on the surface of my paint - YIKES!!!!



ANyway, here's a quick update. I went outside and checked on my car. There were several dried up water spots that I quickly wiped down with my MF towel and my QD. I splashed some Armor-All on the tires and all that took 3 minutes. Car looks awesome.



Now, my #26 may not last as long as I would like but would switching to a car wax with a higher Carnauba content last longer??? I was looking at the Zymol website and a few of their waxes contain 50% to 60% Carnauba. Although they are pricier, would these last longer on my paint to withstand those Brushless Washes??? Or am I better off waiting for a warm sunny day and applying some type of longer lasting Sealant like Liquid Glass or Klasse SG?????



Sorry for the long posts. I like to write - lol...
 
For me, (and probably for alot of other people) the joy in detailing my car comes from being outdoors in the warm weather and fresh air. It is also satisfying to see the results, and maintain it for a period of time. I would probably be less enthusiastic about it if it was freezing outside, or if I knew that as soon as I drove the car, it would get filthy again.



This is the case with winter. You might say that you care enough about your car, or enjoy detailing enough to endure the elements. And you might even do it once, or twice. But I don't think there is anyone who is going to go out in 20 degree weather and wash their car every week. Especially when the benefits do not last. Even if you make it through the cold, the car is just going to get covered with salt again tommorrow.



So lets be serious, and lets be real. Are you really going to go into the gas station and ask the 17 year old at the counter how often the car wash filters are changed? Even if he can give you an answer, will you trust him?



The fact is, a touchless car wash is better than nothing. And it won't do any damage that can't be polished out in the spring.
 
Ghaleon0721 said:
For me, (and probably for alot of other people) the joy in detailing my car comes from being outdoors in the warm weather and fresh air. It is also satisfying to see the results, and maintain it for a period of time. I would probably be less enthusiastic about it if it was freezing outside, or if I knew that as soon as I drove the car, it would get filthy again.



This is the case with winter. You might say that you care enough about your car, or enjoy detailing enough to endure the elements. And you might even do it once, or twice. But I don't think there is anyone who is going to go out in 20 degree weather and wash their car every week.
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That hits it perfect. Oh, and even with warm wash water, the sheetmetal on the car better be above freezing or you end up with a slushy mess......ask me how I know. Oh, and feel free to ask what warm wash water does once it hits a 20 degree concrete driveway. Let's just say the neighbors must have enjoyed me slip sliding around.



Even an ONR wash in the garage can be problematic, and looking at how dirty the car can get in one or two drives here in winter....when deer are licking my car for the salt, I'm not sure if I trust ONR to be more "marring free" than any touchless wash out there.



For those of us who have to deal with harsh winter, touchless car washes are a necessary autopian method of cleaning it. We'd love to be able to spend a Saturday afternoon in December detailing our cars....but when it's friggin' 12 degrees outside and you don't have a heated garage with a floor drain, that's just not an option. You remove the crap that'll destroy your car (salt) as best you can and break out the PC come spring to polish up the minor swirls.
 
I wonder if a few coats of an Acrylic Sealant would provide long lasting protection for this harsh winter weather....
 
JuneBug said:
I detailed a 2000 Buick LeSabre that had never had any hand washing, only the touchless kind or the coin operated spray it yourself deal. It was pretty dirty, BUT, after getting through the crud, the paint was great, no swirls, all I had to do was polish and seal it. So, I would have to say, those places ain't going to hurt your car, and it's probably better to get the dirt off with them than to leave it on. Plus they wash up under the car to rinse out the crap under there.
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Agreed. I have seen the same thing. Usually though, the cars are in desperate need of claying and some brushless washes don't rinse their chemicals off the roofs of SUVs very well.



Every once in a while, I will run my car through one. They don't get it as clean as regular washing but sometimes I just don't have the time to get to mine, especially in the winter when it gets dark early. They do get my car clean enough that I can go home and hit it with some QD to get anything missed.
 
Pennypacker said:
Wouldn't ONR used in your garage be a better option when it's really cold outside? Less question marks that's for sure.
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Not if you don't have a garage, or room is tight or lighting is poor if you do have a garage.
 
I totally agree Scottwax. I mean, if you do a good wash/clay a month prior, then I would think going thru a powerless wash a couple times a month would be preventative.



By the way Scott, I go to UTA and am always in Arlington. Maybe one of these days we can meet and you can show me what it really means to detail a car :buffing:
 
IMHO, 'regular' car washes use detergents and agitation (brushes) to remove dirt. Touchless car washes don't use agitation, so they must use higher pressure and harsher detergents (more alkaline) to accomplish the same goal.



The benefit should be little, if any, scratching or marring. The tradeoff is reduced durability of the LSP, be it wax or sealant.



Dr Detail: Hookers can cause more damage... :soscared:



Nacho Z71: Almost any sealant will out perform #26 (which cannot be layered). #26 will provide great reflectivity/gloss and warmth, but it falls short when it comes to winter durability.



Good Luck!



Jim
 
Nacho_Z71 said:
I filled up at Exxon Mobile and my car was a tad dirty since it had rained last week. The carwash was brushless and I figured it couldn't hurt. I mean, it's basically a high pressure spray of water/soap right?



Its pretty cold outside now so I couldn't hose her off and wash her like I usually do.



So, is this a bad thing? I was thinking since I have a couple coats of Megs #26 that it would last until February and I could just keep doing the brushless wash every other week.



What do ya'll think?
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Are you really asking this on a detailing enthusiasts forum?



Recycled water, harsh soaps, high pressure sprays...you're better off going to a self-service bay, and bucket washing...despite the fact they don't allow it, find a time when nobody will be there.
 
Nacho_Z71 said:
:nixweiss People keep mentioning recycled water. Why is it so bad? I mean, my car looks clean....:nixweiss
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Because the standards to which they need to adhere (read removing contaminents) are not very strict at all because it is just water for a car wash. I would like to see test results of some of that water, to see how much crap is still in there even after its recycled. Think about all the stuff people hose off -dead animals, garbage, puke, blood, etc...
 
blackcaraddict said:
Because the standards to which they need to adhere (read removing contaminents) are not very strict at all because it is just water for a car wash. I would like to see test results of some of that water, to see how much crap is still in there even after its recycled. Think about all the stuff people hose off -dead animals, garbage, puke, blood, etc...
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ARE U TELLING ME I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH DRIED SEMEN ON MY CAR???? DISGUSTING!!!!! Very Disgusting....But CONVENIENT.... :har:
 
Nacho_Z71 said:
By the way Scott, I go to UTA and am always in Arlington. Maybe one of these days we can meet and you can show me what it really means to detail a car :buffing:
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Click on my profile, my cell phone number is in it.
 
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