As an operator I learn the cars and almost automatically learn a lot about it while washing. About the car condition and learn where the ice hides. My shop is not real warm,,, it beats outside and above 50 but ice under one is slow. I should have a salemander thing although fan super speeds it after washing with hot water. Controls are outdoor.
Who here has a car wash membership?
- Thread starter ZZman
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I have a hot in a truck with insulated body and 500 gal tanks too. its got 2 pumps, one hot wash and another fire hose. If my steamer is broke its a crisis here. I use it so much to do so many things I would be lost and would have to make payments if I didnt have one.
I can melt ice and remove grease and actually use a fair amount of hot on cars, it is cold, there is clay grime and its worth a dollar of fuel to heat the water when and where I want it and ice removal would be near impossible or a mess at best.
Even in frigid weather can de ice a car or equipment, remove the snow, the road grime the ice and bring in to warm and dry. I have indoor parking but its cold and in severe weather bring stuff in at night for use in the morning etc, nice to start with a car at 55 vs 10 etc.
I can melt ice and remove grease and actually use a fair amount of hot on cars, it is cold, there is clay grime and its worth a dollar of fuel to heat the water when and where I want it and ice removal would be near impossible or a mess at best.
Even in frigid weather can de ice a car or equipment, remove the snow, the road grime the ice and bring in to warm and dry. I have indoor parking but its cold and in severe weather bring stuff in at night for use in the morning etc, nice to start with a car at 55 vs 10 etc.
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I have the Circle K unlimited wash… the second most expensive option. I like having the whitewalls/wheels scrubbed. It’s $40/mo. and I’m allowed to get two washes per day. No limit on how many different cars I can get washed.
I’ve ran all my cars since new through our local place and some turtle wax black fixes any swirl marks. Here in the rust belt I’m way more concerned about corrosion than a little elbow grease a few times a year.I have a car wash membership for my Civic, the car wash is a soft cloth tunnel wash and it does a great job. I know that it’s added some swirls to the paint but from ten feet away it looks perfect and it’s just a base model Civic for crying out loudIt’s bright red and I just enjoy having it clean all the time, especially in the winter (I hate having salt all over the paint for too long). The wash is just a couple of miles away from my place so it’s very convenient and it only costs me $25 CDN per month ($18 US)
Patman
Staff member
I have a good buffer and a bunch of different compounds so I can always lessen the severity of any swirls as well but at this point it’s not really a priority for me (plus I don’t want to remove too much of the clear coat either)
I washed my truck summer of 2019. It's still fine.
Everyone says you’ll remove the clearcoat yet my 09 which I bought new, and has been waxed at least 30 times and detail sprayed a few hundred, is still pristine. I don’t use a buffer or any compounds, or even clay bar. I usually just use turtle wax black paste liquid in the spring and then the spray version another time or two. I use royal blue detail spray in between times. Never a clear coat issue. I figure Ohio salt will get the car well before I’d ever wipe away the coating.
Yes. $45/month with tax if you buy at Christmas.
I run the 2023 F150 through way too often. Sometimes twice. One time I ran three times in one day.
I run the 2023 F150 through way too often. Sometimes twice. One time I ran three times in one day.
Sad that all of the new car washes that are popping out everywhere are all with brushes.
I got the club car wash only because of the available locations, miles driven, etc. Vacuums, undercarriage spray, air hose, bathroom and towels.
I have the Elite tier, no tire shine.
I have the Elite tier, no tire shine.
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Russell Speeder here in CT. $32 per month unlimited. Drying microfiber towels, tire dressing (nice matt finish), interior cleaner, vacuum, mat cleaning station for washing grungy WeatherTecs. All included. Using it for 10 years 1-3 times per week. No swirls noted even in garage under fluorescent light.
There are 10 car washes near me-none with brushes. They are a felt type material. Are you talking the rotating mechanisms? Do you really know the type of material? Or are calling everything rotating brushes?
That color is very forgiving with marks caused by car washes.
I don’t mind the one I go to since they do use what’s almost microfiber on their brushes. But, I’ve been through a couple while on the road for work that are the equivalent of scrubbing your car with a leaf rake.
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Patman
Staff member
If using a buffer with a bit more aggressive compounds that actually remove the swirls it will get rid of some of the clear coat though. Just waxing many times won’t really remove any of it because it won’t have much in the way of abrasives in it.
I think it's 15 miles to the nearest wash? I try to go in the spring and pressure wash off what I can; I don't understand how/why inner wheel linings pass dirt, but I've noticed that my cars that have liners could grow potatoes in there--I've taken to leaving out some of the bolts now, so I can wash better.
But at 15 miles each way it's a bit of a killjoy. That's an hour spent round trip, and usually the wife's car is busy. And since the wife often drives on dirt roads, and we have mountains o sand on our roads right now, all for naught most of the year.
But at 15 miles each way it's a bit of a killjoy. That's an hour spent round trip, and usually the wife's car is busy. And since the wife often drives on dirt roads, and we have mountains o sand on our roads right now, all for naught most of the year.
