Drive through carwashes

[EmpirE231]

do you use them, and do they mess up your paint?

old truck, I would run it through without worrying about. Wife takes her jeep grand Cherokee through all the time. New truck... I have only taken it through a touchless drive through wash, then get it home and do a little spray wax wipe down. Trying to avoid swirls and imperfections in the paint, and seems like the machines that smack your car around would do that?

what's your take?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

If you don’t want swirls, micro scratches and paint damage, don’t take your car through there.

Your instincts are spot on.

 

[MK1MOD0]

Older daily.... no problem. New perfect paint. Nope.

 

[TCHB]

I use them every week. No swirls or damage of any type. The clear coat is pretty tough.

 

[hallett21]

I know they are very profitable. But no I like my paint lol

 

[ka0tyk]

Biggest problem with the "chain washes" is you get some dude who just went offroading and covered in mud going thru there or a guy who washes his car once a year and then you get all that crud just ran all over your car.

My $.02, any "physical contact" introduces swirls, period. However "touchless" car washes leave a layer of bonded contaminants to the paint/clear/wax that are more difficult to remove and usually require a full clay/compound/major paint corrections. Whereas a typical rinse/physical/rinse or even a rinseless (google rinseless car washes, its pretty cool) might need very small paint corrections over the life of a vehicle if protective waxes/detail sprays are applied. Ceramic coatings, etc extend those periods inbetween for both but they're not bulletproof either.

 

[EmpirE231]

My $.02, any "physical contact" introduces swirls, period. However "touchless" car washes leave a layer of bonded contaminants to the paint/clear/wax that are more difficult to remove and usually require a full clay/compound/major paint corrections. Whereas a typical rinse/physical/rinse or even a rinseless (google rinseless car washes, its pretty cool) might need very small paint corrections over the life of a vehicle if protective waxes/detail sprays are applied. Ceramic coatings, etc extend those periods inbetween for both but they're not bulletproof either.

Interesting... how does a touchless wash cause all of that? The one I run through does 2 pre soaks, a foam pass, rinse again and a spotless rinse.

I was mainly using it to knock the dust off, then take it home and do a spray wax wipe down.

 

[rivermobster]

My friend uses one for her Black Mercedes SUV. No issues at all.

Note: She pays for the full service though. They hand dry it and vacuum and clean the interior.

Not sure I'd trust one of those gas station deals. Even with my old truck!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

My friend uses one for her Black Mercedes SUV. No issues at all.

Note: She pays for the full service though. They hand dry it and vacuum and clean the interior.

Not sure I'd trust one of those gas station deals. Even with my old truck!

I rolled my commuter car through a gas station wash a couple months ago in a pinch. It ripped the painted mirror cap off

I noticed like 30 mins later and went back to retrieve it. Luckily it snapped right back on.

 

[ka0tyk]

Interesting... how does a touchless wash cause all of that? The one I run through does 2 pre soaks, a foam pass, rinse again and a spotless rinse.

I was mainly using it to knock the dust off, then take it home and do a spray wax wipe down.

You ever claybar’ed or used iron remover? It’s amazing how much crud is literally stuck to your paint. I’m pretty crazy when it comes to my vehicles. It’s a relaxing hobby for me. I actually took a fairly long training class at meguiars with Mike Phillips back when he worked there who now works for 3d I think and was in the auto geek detailing stuff. I also made buddies with Yvan lacroix who also has a bus conversion who is a pretty big dude in the detailing community that I pick his brain. He’s super big on rinseless.

 

[Bigbore500r]

White Truck - yes

Black Truck - NO!!!

White hides most everything, I wouldn't sweat a white vehicle but you gotta be careful with what washes you choose. Some are real POS. The ones that have people hand drying and wiping down when the vehicle exits usually have better quality equipment, as they have to come "Face to face" with pissed off people if the car doesn't look good when finished lol

 

[Bigbore500r]

My friend uses one for her Black Mercedes SUV. No issues at all.

Note: She pays for the full service though. They hand dry it and vacuum and clean the interior.

Not sure I'd trust one of those gas station deals. Even with my old truck!

No car wash is good enough for the venerable 7.3 ! ! !

 

[Gramps]

my truck gets washed once a year if it needs it or not

 

[69hondo]

We use them periodically and have no issues so far but I have heard they remove the wax way quicker.

I just did the annual waxing and buffing on all the cars

 

[rivermobster]

my truck gets washed once a year if it needs it or not

X1000

 

[MK1MOD0]

my truck gets washed once a year if it needs it or not

Funny, because my old Navigator was like that. Basically, Mother Nature did the washing.

 

[Badchoices03]

I belong to one of the ones where you pay monthly and can go thru unlimited times...I have my truck, wifes car, and work vehicle all set up and run them through all the time, I havent noticed any problems yet, albiet all the vehicles are silver and not a dark color so might not be as noticable...I am more worried about the sunroof seals on my truck when going through the blowers to dry...

 

[BabyRay]

I subscribe to unlimited washes at a local car wash. With all the parking lot scratches and nicks, I’m not going to be concerned about car wash swirls. When I was younger, it mattered, but I’m too damn old to be hand washing cars.

 

[The Prisoner]

if you live in Az, park in a parking lot, drive on i 40 those are the biggest problems. I have a nice dent on my new truck from a probable cart. I have chips from the highway. It’s not almost worth it to have anything nice around here.

 

[H20 Toie]

Wtf
You guys are such amateurs
Just get a dually
Every place is hand wash then
Problem solved

 

[HTTP404]

I haven't washed my truck in 7 years.

 

[wzuber]

My wifes black metalic traverse goes thru those subscription car washes here in Utah regularly, especialy in the winter. Horribly scratched, swirled etc. I'm hoping a good correction and ceramic coat will help prevent the furthering damage here soon.

 

[Mandelon]

I always wondered about the Polish Wax. It costs a couple dollars extra. What's so great about wax from Poland?

 

[Joker]

My friend uses one for her Black Mercedes SUV. No issues at all.

Note: She pays for the full service though. They hand dry it and vacuum and clean the interior.

Not sure I'd trust one of those gas station deals. Even with my old truck!

The oils dumped out of your truck going through the wash is enough to have me concerned unless of course I owned a black truck.

 

[HBCraig]

I use them every week. No swirls or damage of any type. The clear coat is pretty tough.

Same here. There's an H2Go by my house

 

[Nordie]

I have a monthly account for my wife's car, as long as she takes it through the car wash 2 times a month I'm good with it.

I noticed after the rains that the water sheds and clears pretty nicely. I also noticed that I'm really not worried about it, because any time I drive my wife's car I'm disgusted.

You'd think that she could keep it semi clean on the inside, but nope. But atleast the outside looks nice, besides the curbed 20s.

 

[ChrisV]

If the car got ppf I’ll run it.

 

[C-2]

I haven't washed my truck in 7 years.

He's not kidding

 

[rivermobster]

The oils dumped out of your truck going through the wash is enough to have me concerned unless of course I owned a black truck.

STFU Dick Head!

I only do that at the quarter car wash.

 

[Familyties]

I take my 2017 F-150 thru Metro car was in Montclair at least twice a week and no problems and it has 205000 miles on it.

 

[Bigbore500r]

STFU Dick Head!

I only do that at the quarter car wash.

So basically you roll up in that big ole bitch and slap this brick down on the counter

 

[rivermobster]

So basically you roll up in that big ole bitch and slap this brick down on the counter

View attachment 1268747

You know it!

 

[SoCalDave]

I take my little shit box commuter through our local one about once a month. A coupe of months ago I drop inline and there is a buetiful convertible blue Ferrari in front of me, I'm like WTF. The girl at the both tells me yeah he comes through here ever week.

 

[Outdrive1]

Only no touch, which doesn’t do a great job if your car is actually dirty,

 

[DWC]

I’ve been using Surf Thru. It’s just off Industrial above the 95. They do a good job of knocking the crap off before it goes through the wash. Car/Truck comes out pretty clean with few water spots.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

No touch for this bitch I see one swirl mark and heads gonna roll

 

[Albert]

2018 diesel truck I take it , its a truck

 

[Englewood]

On a side note, a good friend built a car wash in Temecula. This was about 15yrs ago. Back then the guy cleared $1m/yr from it.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Wtf
You guys are such amateurs
Just get a dually
Every place is hand wash then
Problem solved

There is a belt driven place here in PHX that does duals..I think its called washX.
If I don't do it myself I have a guy in havasu that comes to the houses (Quinn's detail) who is VERY reasonable...and does a great job.

 

[Mini Kat]

Wtf
You guys are such amateurs
Just get a dually
Every place is hand wash then
Problem solved

The new drive through car wash on Lake Havasu Avenue across the street from Sundance gas station can take a dulley truck through it. The vehicle rides on a Convair belt.
I watch a full size four door dully truck go through it.

 

[PlanB]

If you care about the vehicle I would not use an automated wash, and I used to own one. Harsh brushes and chemicals are not good for nice paint.

 

[Justsomeguy]

Touch less if you must. Otherwise use appropriate products.

 

[Orange Juice]

Im ok with with automatic car washes. They are not perfect, but get the job done.

 

[TPC]

I should have videoed it but might of ruined my phone.

A few days ago the Shell Drive thru went apeshit mid wash when I was in Maynards car.
I had to get out and head to the Station attendant to get her to reset the thing.
Soap, spray water brushes spinning,,

Couldn't back up because of the line of cars behind me, could not go forward the brushes were deployed.

Thread next day "TPC killed at the car wash." I'd be compared to those idiots that get out of the car in the drive thru safaris zoos and get eaten by a lion.

 

[nameisbond]

Bellingham Costco has one that is only $8 bucks. I drive my truck off-road in bushes. It already has a few scratches. I take it thru and don't see swirls in the paint. Truck is black.

 

[Bobby_329]

It all depends on what you think good looking paint is. If your good with just clean and shiny run it, If you want better than that I would say no car wash. On my nice vehicles I get them color corrected then keep a good wax or ceramic on it. When its not raining I use a California duster then quick detailer and micro fibers so I don't have to wash as much.

 

[Badchoices03]

"I don't get car washes, when my car gets dirty, I buy a new one"....RDP Outdo'r #456

 

[MPHSystems]

I don’t think my truck even fits in those things. Sure I have a small dick but it makes anal painless and easy.

 

[81Sprint]

Had my Jeep ceramic coated when new, would I do it again? No. $1400 and limits you to using mobile detailers at $50-80 a pop.

My company truck I roll through a drive thru hand wash twice a month, $20 and quick and easy.

My Wife's car, ALWAYS need a wash, vacuum and gas without fail. I try to avoid driving that one at all costs!

 

[Mini Kat]

I don’t think my truck even fits in those things. Sure I have a small dick but it makes anal painless and easy.

LMAO I'll check the response on this later. My dog keeps telling me that we have to go him and all of his buddies are supposed to meet up at the dog park...LMAO