touchless car wash

neejv.

would any of you use a touchless car wash system on your new z, like ones found at gas station? honest opinions please...thanks

JARblue

It's not recommended. They use lots of harsh chemicals that will degrade your clear coat over time. If you have to use one, get the most basic wash and make sure you are going to give the car a proper wash after. I've only used them for a pre-wash when the car is extremely dirty or for the undercarriage wash. But always hand washed at home after.

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MagmaRed370z

Honestly it appears cool and everything but it does a bad job. Does not remove the dirt that well. I prefer hand hash using the 2 bucket method

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SouthArk370Z

I agree with JARblue and schellingr. It's good as a pre-wash when the car is very dirty but not something you want to do all the time. As per JARblue, use the most gentle settings with the fewest chemicals (ie, just a good rinse) and follow up with a proper cleaning. See Junkman2008's paint care videos for some great tips. Edit: Junkman2008's threads Edit 2: The Junkman answers your question

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Nixin

The car wash automated tire tracks/drive system will f-up your alignment, big time. Plus all of the harsh chemicals that are used are not that good for your cars finish.

Zipper 104

MacCool

I run mine through those things fairly often as a matter of convenience. They do an OK job as a quick means of getting the big chunks of dirt off, but don't do much for the bugs on the clear bra. I won't use the ones where the car gets pulled through, only the ones where you drive it in, no guide rails. The "harsh chemicals" thing....I'd have to see some data. I suppose it's possible they use less-than-optimal detergent, and maybe some of that other crap they spray on, but I've not seen any bad effects on my paint in the many years I've been washing Nissans -- Z's, Murano's, Cube -- using those car washes and frankly in the absence of actual data I'd be inclined to say that such a characterization falls under the heading of "internet lore". Sort of like most of the stuff I read online about engine oil.

barncobob

here in CA I believe they are mandated to recycle their water by filtering etc. Who knows where that water has been

JARblue

I've seen the effects personally if you use them over and over. I know a guy who used one near his house approx 2 times per month - never touched the car other than those washes. Over the course of 10 years that car wash completely destroyed the clear coat on two brand new Honda Civics with the end result being the sun-damaged paint in just 3-4 years very similar to this:

A nice embedded layer of highway grime is the most likely reason they do not affect some cars' paint. It provides a protective barrier to the clear coat because the car wash can't clean that layer. But a brand new clean car that doesn't get driven often and doesn't get very dirty and gets cleaned a lot with those chemicals will suffer.

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SouthArk370Z

Back in the mid-1980s I was selling computers and one of my customers built commercial/industrial car washes and ran a chain of them in the area. I had a chance to tour his plant and some of the chemicals they were using were very corrosive, even when diluted. I don't remember the chemical names (other than sodium hydroxide, which is very "harsh", especially to aluminum). There's a good chance that the car wash industry has changed to different, less corrosive, chemicals since then but I still try to avoid them. YMMV

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MacCool

Yeah...I'm going to go with Internet lore.



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Wheels3309

Never.

Give that girl the love she deserves... wash those curves by hand. Use 3 buckets. Junkman is the authority if your looking for guidance.

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Joker_J

I used to go to touchless when Im lazy, but recently was introduced to chemical guys lol
Bought everything for interior and exterior along with a foam gun!! Everything adds up and gets pricey, but from the reviews, it's best for our cars or any cars.

YzGyz

GOAM Gun FTW!! Never 2 bucket again! I simply fan and scrub a panel at a time while dunking the MIT in a water bucket between panels. I use the big green turtle soap from the local car store. They usually have online coupons when I buy online and pick up the supplies in 15 minutes; all at a discounted price.

YzGyz

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Junkman2008

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