triniexr

How many of you take your car through an automatic car wash? If so, is it touchless or does it have the spinning brushes.

Personally, I avoid using car washes. I've always rather hand wash or use a coin wash even when its -20 degrees Celsius outside. I've seen and heard too many horror stories with automatic car washes scratching and damaging cars.

greg3852

I would never use an automatic car wash on mine. Hand wash only

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Same here. I hand wash it. I'd be cringing the entire time if I went through a drive-thru car wash

slimjimtel

I hand wash mine at minimum once a week.

The key to keeping a clean car is WAX! a car with good protection will stay cleaner.

I DO run mine through touchless between Washings. NEVER ever do I use the brush or flapping cloth type car washes. There is nothing wrong with the touchless machines and with a good coat of wax, they work well to get the dust and pollen off. Road grime from driving in the rain, hand wash it off!

triniexr

I usually hand wash every Friday. I clay bared my car, buffed with G3 and G10 compound, zymol, then waxed with meguiar's earlier in May. Im still not happy with the outcome though. The swirl marks are hard to get out on this paint.

triniexr

A few detailers and mechanics have told me that there is an ingredient in the solution for the clear coat in automatic car washes that causes the haze on headlights.

slimjimtel

Sorry to say, but the haze in headlights is from the plastic getting sun baked, The heat from the light bulbs, hot cold hot cold...

It has nothing to do with any ingredient that they use.

bsimonds

I run mine through a brushless car wash and then pull around by the vacuums to chamois it dry to avoid water spots. Works good.

slimjimtel

Chamois...it's a NO NO also, they scratch!

If you touch the paint with anything, it should be a microfiber towel and microfiber wash Mit. You will get far less swirls in the paint. If you have a black car like I have for a long time, you learn what to do and what NOT to do.

Any paint will get swirls over time, you just have to do paint/swirl correction far less if you take care and not use chamois, terry cloth, household towels, sponges, sponges with the net to get bugs off...OUCH!

I hate to say but I'm **** about it, I use my electric leaf blower to get 90% of the water off and out of all the crevices and grill before drying. Then use a soft microfiber to remove last little water and it removes any spots.

triniexr

I use this to get the water off quick then I use a sheep skin chamois.

RodT

Mine has never seen an automated car wash or been to anybody else that washes cars. I only wash mine by hand followed by using an absorber to dry it the soap that i use comes from the dollar store called AJAX with bleach lol just playing i use M-Tech by Mothers, then i wax it at least once a month using M-Tech synthetic wax by Mothers and in between washes (usually twice a month) I use Showtime Detailer by Mothers. But my car is a garage queen and stays with a cover on it pretty much i only pull it out on the weekends maybe,lol

GXAlan

if you drive your car through snow and salted roads, you need the occasional automated car wash if your pipes are frozen. The damage from the automated wash is less than the effects of salt. Optimum No Rinse is OK but won't get the undercarriage.

if you're in a warm area, then the most consistent system is Optimum No Rinse as your primary wash and then a sealant of your choice with microfiber. if you need correction, Meguiar's Ultimate Compound is the easiest consumer-grade compound.

SBlexus

I run full service car washes and the belief that soft cloths causes scratches is so far from the truth. You can create more scratches hand washing than running through a car wash. Back in the day nylon style brushes that didn't have a proper pre soak or wet down would cause certain types of scratches. Sure you get your share of unfortunate accidents, but believe me no operator is out to destroy you guys expensive toys.

PatsSoxfan

I'm in the minority here but I have been taking my cars to a car wash called Mr. Car Wash here in Des Moines. I've been using this fabulous full service car wash since I bought my LS 460L in Dec. 2008. I still use it now that I own an S550. This is not your typical automatic car wash. They do a fantastic job washing the car and also vacuuming and cleaning the glass inside. I pay about $42/month for unlimited washes and vacuums. I have never seen any scratches or streaks on my cars using this place. I will continue to use this place. I can't remember the last time I actually washed the car myself.

CJITTY

I truly believe this based on my experience. Our new black Durango has seen nothing but newer automated car washes since purchased in October 2013. I have yet to see one swirl mark on it at all. The truck comes our looking great everytime. I see the handwash places using sponges sitting in buckets with no grit guards or anything, so my opinions of handwashes only have changed over the past couple years. I pay $20 a month and can drive through the wash with the best wash service available anytime I want..I go twice a week sometimes.