Use of auto wash facilities

[Primus1]

37 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Alan, correct with two provos: switch off the aircon before starting and on cold days it will probably start anyway. 

Phew, I was waiting for someone to say it won’t do that 😁, nice to know I should be able to, I’ll have to remember to switch off aircon as I normally just leave it on, I guess I’ll still have to push it out when it’s cold outside 🤨, but , it just depends on how cold it is for me to wash it🥶

[TonyHSD]

1 hour ago, Primus1 said:

I’ve always enjoyed washing my own cars, I don’t even allow the garage to wash my car after it’s been serviced, I’ll keep washing my cars for as long as I’m able, the only downside is pushing it out of my garage, I don’t like starting the engine for brief periods ( backing out of the garage) as this causes the most damage, I’m hoping that when I eventually get my cross, I’ll be able to back out using electric only..?, thus making it easier and prolong my car washing days…

If you want to do that and you have half Battery charge or more it’s an easy job and all you need to do are two steps after you turn on the car: 

select EV mode and then immediately switch off the hvac , the car will remain in ev mode and you can take it out of the garage silently. 

 

[anchorman]

1 hour ago, Primus1 said:

I’ve always enjoyed washing my own cars, I don’t even allow the garage to wash my car after it’s been serviced, I’ll keep washing my cars for as long as I’m able, the only downside is pushing it out of my garage, I don’t like starting the engine for brief periods ( backing out of the garage) as this causes the most damage, I’m hoping that when I eventually get my cross, I’ll be able to back out using electric only..?, thus making it easier and prolong my car washing days…

Showing that you’re of my era now Alan 😉.

I remember my lecturer at Stockport Tech’ telling us that starting them cold didn’t let the oil circulate and that rich fuel would be washing the bores down!  It isn’t like that any more and with such fine tolerances, the 0W/8 oil is round the engine virtually instantly and the oil control ring is so good it keeps fuel up top.  I actually enjoy washing the car.  It often gets done several times a week depending on the weather and I have a vac with a 5m hose right alongside its parking spot in the garage so it gets vacuumed every day.  However, it makes it easier outside and I don’t bother about moving it out and if it starts, it starts.  I don’t bother about that any more.  

[Primus1]

51 minutes ago, anchorman said:

Showing that you’re of my era now Alan 😉.

I remember my lecturer at Stockport Tech’ telling us that starting them cold didn’t let the oil circulate and that rich fuel would be washing the bores down!  It isn’t like that any more and with such fine tolerances, the 0W/8 oil is round the engine virtually instantly and the oil control ring is so good it keeps fuel up top.  I actually enjoy washing the car.  It often gets done several times a week depending on the weather and I have a vac with a 5m hose right alongside its parking spot in the garage so it gets vacuumed every day.  However, it makes it easier outside and I don’t bother about moving it out and if it starts, it starts.  I don’t bother about that any more.  

Ha yes, I’m old school, I still have my timing strobe gun and multitester ( gunsons) from the days when I used to service and repair my own cars , I guess modern technology has moved on so much that things like that are no longer an issue, 

[CruxisCore]

15 hours ago, Roy124 said:

Because Park applies the EPB and the car won't move.  It depends on the car wash. It drags you through but at the end your front wheels are locked. 

Ah, a cultural thing. We don't have those around here. You simply drive it in a garage sized building (a little longer than average garage) and stop, turn off the car, lock doors, apply parking break. Then the washer moves around the car automatically instead of the other way around.

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, CruxisCore said:

Ah, a cultural thing. We don't have those around here. You simply drive it in a garage sized building (a little longer than average garage) and stop, turn off the car, lock doors, apply parking break. Then the washer moves around the car automatically instead of the other way around.

That is typical of many.  The drag one near Grimsby was called a Californian Car Wash.  Big expensive plant and probably costly to maintain.  A 4-man team of immigrants is a lot less expensive.  Originally from the Baltic States they were replaced by Iraqi (cheaper still). 

[Roy124]

Core, there are variations, your garage one brings to mind on in Skegness - topless.  The washers not the cars 😁

Another was at a supermarket.  You parked in a dedicated area and left your keys.  Once washed they would put it in a normal slot and when you returned they would even load your car for you. 

Very popular with high end car users, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover etc. 

One particularly busy day the owners returned, and there they were, gone! 

[RickyC]

There are also some automatic car washes where the car stays parked and all washing systems move around the car.  These are ideal for our hybrid cars because you can put the car in P, stop the the engine and close the car before  the washing process starts. 

Just a note.  If you stay close the tunnel glasses looking the washing process, put yout kayless fob in standby else water jets could lock unlock the doors ( opening and closing mirrors ).  That can happen also in some DIY cleaning places where you can clean yourself the car with high pressure jets.  

[Ralph H]

37 minutes ago, RickyC said:

There are also some automatic car washes where the car stays parked and all washing systems move around the car.  These are ideal for our hybrid cars because you can put the car in P, stop the the engine and close the car before  the washing process starts. 

Just a note.  If you stay close the tunnel glasses looking the washing process, put yout kayless fob in standby else water jets could lock unlock the doors ( opening and closing mirrors ).  That can happen also in some DIY cleaning places where you can clean yourself the car with high pressure jets.  

That’s the type of car wash I use my nearest petrol station has 2 new ones. I’ve never tried the drag though type as there isn’t one near me. 
 

I always put the mirror switch in closed position before going in, that way they can’t open automatically when they get sprayed with water. 

[pip57]

On 5/6/2023 at 12:59 AM, YarisHybrid2016 said:

YMMV = Your Milage May Vary; in other words it might be fine, or scratch it to pieces.

The washer at work is so aggressive it has ripped mirrors off vehicles before (it has since been modified).

I haven’t used an auto washer since one ripped the rear light bar off my nearly new Previa…that must have been almost 20 years ago now though! Perhaps they have improved.

[Max_Headroom]

I never use auto washes for this reason - 

 

 

 

 

[anchorman]

The thought of using a car wash would never enter my head but there are people who can’t or simply think it’s a waste of time but from a longevity standpoint, it’s better to have brush marks than leave the car dirty.  Dirt holds moisture and contaminants so get it off by whatever means you can.  

[Max_Headroom]

32 minutes ago, anchorman said:

but there are people who can’t or simply think it’s a waste of time but from a longevity standpoint,

I use a garage power wash that has a soft high  foam brush as well as lance i start by giving the brush a proper blasting with the lance to make sure there are no bits of grit stick in it then remove all the crud off the car with the pressure wash before using the high foam brush to agitate the traffic film my paintwork is still as good as the day i bought the car.

[Ralph H]

1 hour ago, Max_Headroom said:

I never use auto washes for this reason - 

 

 

 

 

Even the bloke who makes a living out of washing cars says the damage is not visible to the naked eye. If I can’t see it then I’m not bothered. I just want the mud and salt off!
The only time I’ve used a jet wash it peeled off the protection strip from the side of the door of a brand new fiesta. 

[CruxisCore]

5 hours ago, RickyC said:

There are also some automatic car washes where the car stays parked and all washing systems move around the car.  These are ideal for our hybrid cars because you can put the car in P, stop the the engine and close the car before  the washing process starts. 

Just a note.  If you stay close the tunnel glasses looking the washing process, put yout kayless fob in standby else water jets could lock unlock the doors ( opening and closing mirrors ).  That can happen also in some DIY cleaning places where you can clean yourself the car with high pressure jets.  

Yeah, this is pretty much the only kind we have here, altho in probably 9/10 cases you can't get out of the car before the wash. Basically you drive in, let the washer do its stuff for 15 mins, drive out. All while sitting inside the car that has to be turned off, locked and with parking brake on.

[Max_Headroom]

1 hour ago, Ralph H said:

Even the bloke who makes a living out of washing cars says the damage is not visible to the naked ey

No he doesn't he says it is visible on sunny days!

Today's cars have a clear coat that is easily damaged dark cars that are regularly taken through these automatic washes end up looking like orange peel.

 

'These machines are essentially like slapping your car with a dirty mop, causing hundreds of deep micro scratches called swirl marks. Over time, this damage builds and eventually results in your paint becoming dull and the scratches become easily noticeable.

[TonyHSD]

32 minutes ago, Max_Headroom said:

No he doesn't he says it is visible on sunny days!

Today's cars have a clear coat that is easily damaged dark cars that are regularly taken through these automatic washes end up looking like orange peel.

 

'These machines are essentially like slapping your car with a dirty mop, causing hundreds of deep micro scratches called swirl marks. Over time, this damage builds and eventually results in your paint becoming dull and the scratches become easily noticeable.

That’s right and also happens to many fleet cars washed twice or mote times weekly at cheap hand car washes like American car wash that take care of large amount of taxis and ph vehicles in the capital. Add the fact that most of those are black and after 3 years they look horrible. 
Btw as an ex car valeter myself I was crying every time I had use them but that was the company deal. Sometimes I was enjoying myself washing the car that I don’t own, even I washed myself few times a rental cars 😂, and my neighbours thought I am crazy but this is how I like it ✨🚙

[Ralph H]

Hard to believe, but car washing is controversial. For every post advising you to shun automated car washes, there’s one telling you they don’t damage paintwork. Whichever side of the fence you come down on, each method has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s not worth getting in a lather one way or the other.

[Rhymes with Paris]

Aye Ralph, the last thread on this subject had some foaming at the mouth.

 

[Cyker]

So does that mean my car will have the most well kept clearcoat because I never wash the car...?   

[TonyHSD]

35 minutes ago, Cyker said:

So does that mean my car will have the most well kept clearcoat because I never wash the car...?   

Indeed 👌😂

[anchorman]

The thought of using a car wash would never enter my head but there are people who can’t or simply think it’s a waste of time but from a longevity standpoint, it’s better to have brush marks than leave the car dirty.  Dirt holds moisture and contaminants so get it off by whatever means you can.  BTW, I once visited a friend who worked in a big bus depot in Manchester.  I asked a bloke where to find him and he told me but didn’t tell me that the bus wash was operated by photocell.  A bus wash is a big thing about 100ft long and it waited until I was well in before all hell broke loose.  I know, it’s only soapy water but it’s ice cold in January and there’s a lot of it to say the least.  Several sets of gigantic brushes sting quite a bit and if you’re wondering if a 1978 Leyland Atlantean has got swirlies that catch the sunlight, the answer is effing yes.

[Rhymes with Paris]

1 hour ago, TonyHSD said:

Indeed 👌😂

 

 

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

So does that mean my car will have the most well kept clearcoat because I never wash the car...?   

I knew a chap called Ken in the 70s who had a newish ford Corsair in light blue ,he looked a bit like Ronnie kray, with the glasses and a whistle.

He refused to ever wash it ,as he was a lorry driver, and the haulage company made him wash the tractor unit on a Saturday morning as part of his job.

He hated that, and as revenge on the haulage company he refused to ever wash a vehicle again, even his own.

He was an otherwise fairly bright chap, who was pretty good at snooker ,and 3 card brag, vicious game that one.

But on trips to provincial night clubs with him ,and various other odd characters in the Corsair I soon learned to keep my very fashionable flared trousers with turn ups,stack soled shoes, and cheesecloth shirt, well away from the bodywork and door shuts.

 

 

[glencrannog]

2 hours ago, anchorman said:

The thought of using a car wash would never enter my head but there are people who can’t or simply think it’s a waste of time but from a longevity standpoint, it’s better to have brush marks than leave the car dirty.  Dirt holds moisture and contaminants so get it off by whatever means you can.  BTW, I once visited a friend who worked in a big bus depot in Manchester.  I asked a bloke where to find him and he told me but didn’t tell me that the bus wash was operated by photocell.  A bus wash is a big thing about 100ft long and it waited until I was well in before all hell broke loose.  I know, it’s only soapy water but it’s ice cold in January and there’s a lot of it to say the least.  Several sets of gigantic brushes sting quite a bit and if you’re wondering if a 1978 Leyland Atlantean has got swirlies that catch the sunlight, the answer is effing yes.

Years ago at the bus depot I worked at, I foolishly used the stuff they pre washed the buses with. Finished up having to T CUT the whole car!

[anchorman]

I once went to look at a car with a friend.  It was a Hillman Hunter in brick red.  This was in the days you could watch a car decompose in front of your very eyes.  It was 5 or 6 years old and looked brand new.  The secret to his success (he claimed and I’ve got no reason to disbelieve him) was to wash it every week in cold fresh water - no detergent or wash n wax etc.