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After 16 automated "hand car washes" Ive been told here my finish would be destroyed. I looked fairly closely in bright sunlight and Im not seeing it. Perhaps some of you carry a handheld fluorescent magnifier and would tell me im wrong but I think the clear coat is pretty sturdy
Also I didnt invest in PPF and that has paid off. I daily drive in traffic suffered 2 months of one of my regular roads being ground down for resurfacing and can only find one blemish on my front end which is even hard to see
So net savings by not doing PPF and the net savings of time to not personally wash my car tips the balance to automated hand wash and no PPF
What is an "automated hand wash". Is that where you put in quarters and use a spray wand yourself?
I have taken my 22 HTC through car washed many times and like yours, showed no signs of damage. Just have to be sure it is a touchless and doesn't have tracks that move *YOUR CAR* through the car wash.
MY 23-24 on order will also see car washes.
I get off on driving my cars, not washing them yet I have acquaintances who spend HOURS cleaning and polishing their cars and never drivi9ng them. For them the ownership was the big deal.
As to those who say the car wash will ruin the paint etc I say poppycock My 09 Jeep Grand Cherokee hasn't suffered any damage in 13 years etc etc. If they damaged cars they would be out of business.
Just like nobody has died from eating raviolis out of a can, I guess it is safe to put a car through that aqueous torture chamber, however, I just can’t bring myself to do either.
Read your owners manual and the do not take your car to an automatic car wash hang tag on the turn signal stalk. If you want to take the chance it’s your car.
Those single-car-at-a-time car washes where you drive it in (no tracks) only dumping soap and pressure washing and rinsing (completely touchless) should be fine in my opinion.
I don't do it personally since it's easy enough with a pressure washer and foam cannon at home.
I have a newer "touchless' wash near Me and you drive in and stop as the wands nozzles and sprayers go all around the vehicle. nothing actually touches your vehicle. as you exit there are blow dryers that clear off most of the residual rinse water and I feel this is a pretty safe option (and it is really easy)
I really see no physical harm in doing this and the nozzles are not strong enough to do any damage as I have taken my vehicles thru it dozens of times.
I would probably use this as a safe alternative and see no harm in doing so.
is this because the tracks are not wide enough for the rear 305 tires? thanks
As far as I know, the tracked versions have two problems, one not wide enough for the tires and they are also too tall and will damage undercarriage and/or suspension.
There are tracks and they are wide enough and many have seen this picture before- I have tapeworks red mist covering the machined edge and they havent been affected
- those at risk please shield your eyes
Just like nobody has died from eating raviolis out of a can, I guess it is safe to put a car through that aqueous torture chamber, however, I just can’t bring myself to do either.
Unlike @Fishfryer527 , I absolutely would eat Chef boyardee out of a can - cold if necessary - before I would put my C8 through a brush-based tracked car wash. But I don't fault you at all @plmmd, for caring for your C8 to a different standard. Your money, your life, your car. I am kind of curious why you chose to post about it, though, like it's a badge of honor or something?
I have been told that I will permanently ruin my finish and I just took some time to look at my paint and take a couple bright sunlight photos (someone in here suggested that I do this so they could point out how I've ruined my car) BTW this isn brush based - Enjoy your pasta
After 16 automated "hand car washes" Ive been told here my finish would be destroyed. I looked fairly closely in bright sunlight and Im not seeing it. Perhaps some of you carry a handheld fluorescent magnifier and would tell me im wrong but I think the clear coat is pretty sturdy
Also I didnt invest in PPF and that has paid off. I daily drive in traffic suffered 2 months of one of my regular roads being ground down for resurfacing and can only find one blemish on my front end which is even hard to see
So net savings by not doing PPF and the net savings of time to not personally wash my car tips the balance to automated hand wash and no PPF
no question...you have outsmarted the system! Pure genius.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
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If you’re happy with the way the car wash works with your car’s paint, that’s what matters. I have used the self service, wand type of car wash before with no problems, but just haven’t been able to bring myself to put the car through an automatic car wash.
11-07-2022, 10:41 AM
automated washes
