Y/A Drive Thru-Self Serve Car wash question.

[LeMarque]

Thanks to a number of threads on Autopia that have gone into the chemistry of various products I have not only learned a great deal but have followed thru and begun doing my own research on ingredients/paint chemistry, etc. and how products effect certain materials.



But!



With the exception of the cheapo owners of drive thru's and self serve DIY facilities, seems to me, from reading various 'Car Wash' sites and publications, that many of the newer drive thru's are using more advanced shampoo formulations.



So, not considering if they are using brushes or the like and what they do to a vehicles finish, as for the 'shampoo', is it really that harsh that it will strip a major portion of the wax or sealant the first time around?



Or are the more modern facilities using friendlier washing techniques?

 

[Dan]

I think the reality is you need harsh chemicals to clean well with a touchless wash. I work with lots of people that use the touchless washes. While the paint does stay swirl free, it gets oxidized and dull. Worse yet it the trim, most of the 3-5 year old cars look like 10 year old cars. Grey hard plastic and cracking rubber.

 

[David Fermani]

Regardless if it is a touchless or soft cloth operation, they are still using cleaners that are compromising to a traditional wax/sealant. Depending on other variables, it can also pose a risk to certain trim (stains). Besides that, they either don't fully clean (touchless) or marr the hell out of your finish (soft cloth). Choose your poison.

 

[LeMarque]

I think the reality is you need harsh chemicals to clean well with a touchless wash. I work with lots of people that use the touchless washes. While the paint does stay swirl free, it gets oxidized and dull. Worse yet it the trim, most of the 3-5 year old cars look like 10 year old cars. Grey hard plastic and cracking rubber.

I've asked because this is what I've been telling my customers as well as a blurb on my web site and wanted some moral support that I was at least not stretching the truth :nervous:. I have downloaded some of the MDS's of the suppliers to tunnel wash companies and from what I can make out - if I remember correctly - some start with an acid wash and then an alkali rinse.

Regardless if it is a touchless or soft cloth operation, they are still using cleaners that are compromising to a traditional wax/sealant. Depending on other variables, it can also pose a risk to certain trim (stains). Besides that, they either don't fully clean (touchless) or marr the hell out of your finish (soft cloth). Choose your poison.

Never considered the trim. Thanks for the info.

 

[yas]

There's a touchless wash near where I live, it uses pretty high pressure water. The owner would take his BMW 7 series through it very often



The result was water had found its way into some of the lights. Not just moisture, it was half full of water in some of the smaller lights

 

[Junebug]

Down in NC there's a chain called Autobell, their slogan is - you can tell when you Autobell. I point out the swirl marks and scratches to their customers and say, yep, you sure can!

 

[LeMarque]

Just a bit off topic and I'll post some pics just as an FYI. But I had a customer drive in with his 1911 Pope Hartford that had some light overspray from some roofing he was having done at his house.



This was a museum piece at one time but he and his wife drive it cross country with other folks that have similar antiques. This is not his only antique; he has a small collection.



Man did they build beautiful cars in those days. Brass fittings everywhere, sand cast cylinder blocks, on and on. Anyway, I pointed out the swirls in the beautiful maroon paint and he said, "You know, I've never looked at the paint that closely. I've never noticed these things before you pointed them out."



My point being, if a collector's not seeing paint defects, how to convince the general - or not so general - public that they're trashing paint at tunnel washes? It's a hard sell ...