Topic: Are automated car washes bad for a car's paint?

[Mitlov]

I heard this somewhere, on the internet, so I don't know whether there's any truth to it.  My car gets pretty dirty sometimes, so every couple months I like to get it washed.  Am I doing long-term damage to the paint?  Are the high-pressure spray washes ("no touch") better or worse than the big spinning sponge washes?

[Trainman]

Where does the dirt that came off your car go when you get the spinning brush treatment?  I have seen some really filthy ones and would think (but have no stats to prove it  ) that they would put a lot of fine scratches on the paint.  Not a big deal maybe with a light coloured car but on darker ones, oh my.  And with the two antennas on the truck, they take quite a beating with the brushes.  But the kids love 'em   

Of the two I prefer to use the no touch type, but they will find ANY water leaks you have.

[safristi]

TAKE IT TA SNOWBALLS "GARAGE he will do it fer the LOVE OF IT???....donations EXCEPTED!!!

[dr_spock]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

[safristi]

Ooooh I'm NOT TOUCHING' THAT!!!! ..ruba bud Dub three men in a Car_WASH!!!..

[safristi]

Bridge ya MOVED ME!!!.....now a little more thumb action............

[Schmengie]

I heard this somewhere, on the internet, so I don't know whether there's any truth to it.  My car gets pretty dirty sometimes, so every couple months I like to get it washed.  Am I doing long-term damage to the paint?  Are the high-pressure spray washes ("no touch") better or worse than the big spinning sponge washes?

I NEVER go to automated car washes because I have no control over what they do to my car. Automatic high-pressure sprayers can potentially damage paint, especially areas that have been re-painted. I had a Subaru a number of years back that had some body damage from a fender-bender repaired and a 'touchless' car wash stripped the paint from it. I haven't been back since. Hand-washing is the best option.

[dave]

If I had to choose between a "touchless" or "spinning brush" wash...I'd go with the touchless.  Those brushes are full of stones.

The problem with the touchless washes is that their soup is SO strong that it'll strip wax and eventually your clearcoat.

But, you've gotta do what you've gotta do to get the salt off in the winter...and the touchless are good for cleaning the underside.

I wash by hand when I can...touchless when desperate.

[safristi]

SOOPa DIVE!!!  SOOPA SIZED..............

[Mitlov]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

I'm a new dad and I've got a new job (as a litigation attorney, no less).  I'm lucky if I get six hours sleep a night.  The LAST thing I'm going to do with my time is take an hour to hand-wash my car.

[airbalancer]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

I'm a new dad and I've got a new job (as a litigation attorney, no less).  I'm lucky if I get six hours sleep a night.  The LAST thing I'm going to do with my time is take an hour to hand-wash my car.

Cool! new job
I bet you send more then an hour here everyday so wash the damn car by hand

[safristi]

Diapers make great Doo Rags........and are good fer buffing and soakin' up the wet SPOTZ .............Maybe ya could litigate a 20 min Hiatus wif Wifie and go to the $2 wand WASH.............OOOh Miltov the first MAN to have a baybee...are ya ON "LARRY" tanite?
 

[Trainman]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

I'm a new dad and I've got a new job (as a litigation attorney, no less).  I'm lucky if I get six hours sleep a night.  The LAST thing I'm going to do with my time is take an hour to hand-wash my car.

Been there, done that, know what its like.  At 6 hours, you are probably getting more sleep than anyone else in the house.

I noticed you did not ask about hand washing, so did not offer opinions on that, just what you asked for.  You will get back to hand washing in a few years, I did (unless it is really dirty, then I will take it to one of those places where you hold the sprayer and wash what you want).

[Schmengie]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

I'm a new dad and I've got a new job (as a litigation attorney, no less).  I'm lucky if I get six hours sleep a night.  The LAST thing I'm going to do with my time is take an hour to hand-wash my car.

A litigation attorney, no less, and an American one at that! Well, we wouldn't want you to get your hands dirty washing some old car, would we? And I guess Saffy'd better be careful what he says from now on, eh?


You seem to have enough time to post on these forums, or do you do that while driving to work?

[dr_spock]

Touchless is better assuming they use clean water.   I find with some touchless that they don't get the hard stuck on dirt off.   The best is handwashing it yourself.

I'm a new dad and I've got a new job (as a litigation attorney, no less).  I'm lucky if I get six hours sleep a night.  The LAST thing I'm going to do with my time is take an hour to hand-wash my car.

Been there a couple of times.   I still set aside a little time for me to wash my car by hand.   I found it relaxing and kept some sanity in my hectic family/work life.  We only had a little subcompact car back then so it was quick to wash.

[safristi]

CAR WASHING   is WOMANS WORK....... NOW shut that Lil YAPPER UP and get me a BEER..................

[Mitlov]

I noticed you did not ask about hand washing, so did not offer opinions on that, just what you asked for.  You will get back to hand washing in a few years, I did (unless it is really dirty, then I will take it to one of those places where you hold the sprayer and wash what you want).

No time to do it myself; no money to pay someone else to do it.

[Mitlov]

You seem to have enough time to post on these forums, or do you do that while driving to work?

I post here (1) during breaks during the work day, and (2) late at night at home.  It's about the only "me" time I get.  Neither time is appropriate for washing a car.

Besides, for me, chatting about cars is fun; polishing grime off of wheels is not.  I'd rather spend my "me" time doing something fun than doing (what feels to me like) another chore.

[Snowman]

TAKE IT TA SNOWBALLS "GARAGE he will do it fer the LOVE OF IT???....donations EXCEPTED!!!

I had a good mid-winter wash day last week:

[PA Broker]

I have never heard of this, but it wouldn't surprise me though. Last summer after bringing my car home from taking it through a 'touchless' wash I noticed that my front lisence plate was missing. I went back to the car wash and sure enough there is was sitting, bent, on the ground of the wash. The power from the water jets had not only caused it to bend, but actually made it come off the screws!