f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
That style of closed cell foam brush is what all the major car washes have switched to in the past decade. It does appear to be less hard on clearcoats.
Are all automatic car washes bad for your car?
- Thread starter ToyotaDave
- Start date
Follow up on my post re Costco car wash.
I started doubting how good of a deal or bad of a mess I got. Same evening after parking in house garage I noticed some residue on paint and glass, like thin clear sticky smeary film. I later learned Costco advertises ceramic coating as part of their automatic car wash. Wondering if that's it and if it'll wash off easily later, don't like this at all.
I started doubting how good of a deal or bad of a mess I got. Same evening after parking in house garage I noticed some residue on paint and glass, like thin clear sticky smeary film. I later learned Costco advertises ceramic coating as part of their automatic car wash. Wondering if that's it and if it'll wash off easily later, don't like this at all.
There's a local gas station that has several bays for auto car washes, and they do a pretty good job, i always pick brushless, seems to be ok on the paint, obviously better than the salt spray/brine on every inch of the road
I usually get the cheapest car wash but i buy it at the pump to get a dollar off the wash with fuel purchase
so its 7 dollars and it does have the undercarriage wash.
in the summer I do wash my vehicles myself with a pressure washer, or I'll occasionally use the self wash which is on a timer and usually costs about 5 bucks after all is said and done.
I usually get the cheapest car wash but i buy it at the pump to get a dollar off the wash with fuel purchase
so its 7 dollars and it does have the undercarriage wash.
in the summer I do wash my vehicles myself with a pressure washer, or I'll occasionally use the self wash which is on a timer and usually costs about 5 bucks after all is said and done.
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There's a franchise carwash called Go Green n' Clean near us. They offer a deluxe wash...I think it's $20 or so and it applies some sort of spray on wax and has these massive microfiber rollers that buff your car after the blowers.
Does a great job.
Does a great job.
I get the convenience of an auto car wash, just can't stand the damage. Even the "gentlest" one will eventually cause something you don't care for. Had a new place open up a few years ago and got a membership super cheap to wash the cruiser. Picked the works package that included a ceramic "wax" and all the other bells and whistles. Almost brand new black Explorer with almost flawless paint. 3 years later, it was swirled so bad that a local detailer couldn't get them all buffed out. And the trim was faded and tired looking. And fortunately the tires were fat, otherwise the tire guide rails would have scratched the wheels to pieces.
So for my personal cars, it's handwash only. Don't care about the cold, as long as it's above freezing, I'm washing. Just wear another pair of sweats. 2 bucket method, grit guards, separate wheel/tire cleaning tools etc. Wintertime they all get rinsed with Salt-Away underneath and all over including engine bay. Dried using a leaf blower to limit touching the finish. Takes me about 2-3 hours start to finish for a routine cleaning. I usually start really early, like 5AM early, so I'm done by around 8 and can get on with the day. I've done it this way for almost 50 years, and until I can't move anymore, will be the way I continue to do it. May not be the fastest, or most convenient, but makes me happy and thats all that counts.
So for my personal cars, it's handwash only. Don't care about the cold, as long as it's above freezing, I'm washing. Just wear another pair of sweats. 2 bucket method, grit guards, separate wheel/tire cleaning tools etc. Wintertime they all get rinsed with Salt-Away underneath and all over including engine bay. Dried using a leaf blower to limit touching the finish. Takes me about 2-3 hours start to finish for a routine cleaning. I usually start really early, like 5AM early, so I'm done by around 8 and can get on with the day. I've done it this way for almost 50 years, and until I can't move anymore, will be the way I continue to do it. May not be the fastest, or most convenient, but makes me happy and thats all that counts.
My 11 year old F150 has been through a touchless car wash many hundreds of times, and no car wash damage to it ever. Scratches yes, from rubbing it against tree branches on narrow bush trails while 4x4ing.
My wife's year old Ram pickup has been through probably 30 or 40 times, 0 damage.
I refuse to go through the ones that touch at all. The dirt from previous vehicles stuck to a felt strip, now grinding on my paint, no thanks.
By the way I've never seen any car wash even close to $30, the most expensive one i saw was $18 Canadian, and i thought that was ludicrous.
$7 to $13 depending on which wash you choose, is an average price around the area, in Canadian dollars.
My wife's year old Ram pickup has been through probably 30 or 40 times, 0 damage.
I refuse to go through the ones that touch at all. The dirt from previous vehicles stuck to a felt strip, now grinding on my paint, no thanks.
By the way I've never seen any car wash even close to $30, the most expensive one i saw was $18 Canadian, and i thought that was ludicrous.
$7 to $13 depending on which wash you choose, is an average price around the area, in Canadian dollars.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Around here I have found that the more they charge, the worst the results.
When I took them up on the free wash at McBee's, the brush didn't even touch the tailgate. Never again
After just six or seven passes through a car wash that uses drapes and soft brushes I could see swirl marks on my car with dark blue paint. I had to buff them out. A few years ago during a particularly harsh salty winter I used the touchless spray car wash a few times. When better weather came I saw that there was still a film of grime all over the car after washing.
Nothing beats a wash by hand. Automatic car washers all have their dark side.
Nothing beats a wash by hand. Automatic car washers all have their dark side.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
I worked at a car wash many, many years ago and we had that happen. It was hyrdaulic fluid leaking from one of the brush arms. One of the fittings developed a leak...went on all day until we figured out what it was and shut down to fix it. It stuck to the cars through the rinse and dry phases as it was not easily coming off.
If you every have any question as to the exact chemical makeup of the soaps, waxes, etc in your avg drive through auto tunnel wash, here you go....
https://superiorproducts.com/ingredients-search/
https://superiorproducts.com/ingredients-search/
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
For me, if it’s a used car and the paint isn’t all that great, take it to the car wash. I take my Genesis 1x-2x a week with my unlimited wash plan. The paint is crappy already anyways so no loss.
But for a new car, I’d be hand washing it only.
But for a new car, I’d be hand washing it only.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2020
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Been using an automated car wash for seven years on my 2015 Lexus Gs 350. I take it there at least once a week, sometimes twice. I used to enjoy detailing my cars. All day project and sore muscles the next day. The place I go to is Russel Speeder. They include in the monthly price microfiber towels to dry the car, vacuums, tire dressing, glass cleaner, and interior cleaner. Once a month I bring my own bottle of Tec 582 when drying the car. Entire time spent is 20-30 minutes. No visible scratches even under the fluorescent light in my garage. Getting older. Would rather play golf or go shooting.
No digs at those that choose to hand wash, etc.
No digs at those that choose to hand wash, etc.
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Do you add any protectant? If so, what and how often?
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Are automatic car washes equal or better to hand washing? I think you know the answer. However, I, nor most here own a show car that needs immaculate paint. A few swirls never hurt anybody
Patman
Staff member
I still have 6 bottles of Meguiars Ultimate Fast Finish that I grabbed a few years ago before they discontinued it. It only takes me about ten minutes to apply so I use it about once a month (as long as I can find a day above 50F) I love this stuff, it’s very hydrophobic so it behaves a lot like a ceramic coating and often after driving in the rain it won’t even look very dirty. I’m not sure what I will do when my supply runs out but that’s probably 5-6 years from now so hopefully I will find something similar in the Wipe On Walk Away category. I don’t ever want to go back to using a wipe on wipe off product again.
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When the time comes, maybe look into turtle wax products. Their spray on ceramic and “seal and shine” products are fantastic and provide great longevity
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