What's the coldest you've washed your car?

Gadgetech · 11-28-2013, 08:09 AM

I didn't see a thread like this in here so I'm posting one up. What's the coldest temperature you've washed your car in?

We are driving down the road a bit for Thanksgiving dinner in the wife's car and I can't stand for it to be dirty when I drive it. I'm waiting for it to hit just above freezing before I get started b/c I don't want pipe freezing issues (can't even believe I'm saying this in SC in November).

This will likely be the coldest I've washed a car before. I think I've washed my motorcycle in 36 degree weather once.

DEpointfive0 · 11-28-2013, 10:33 AM

26-28, I don't remember why I did, but I remember there being ice on some parts of the car

BuckeyeZ · 11-28-2013, 10:39 AM

When I had our last house built, I had them put a drain in the garage floor and a sink with a hot water tap in the garage. I could wash my car all winter long.

Now they changed the building codes and you can't have a drain in your garage. I guess people were dumping all kinds of illegal crap down their garage drains.

H2O_Doc · 11-28-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadgetech

I didn't see a thread like this in here so I'm posting one up. What's the coldest temperature you've washed your car in?

We are driving down the road a bit for Thanksgiving dinner in the wife's car and I can't stand for it to be dirty when I drive it. I'm waiting for it to hit just above freezing before I get started b/c I don't want pipe freezing issues (can't even believe I'm saying this in SC in November).

This will likely be the coldest I've washed a car before. I think I've washed my motorcycle in 36 degree weather once.

Just wash it is methanol or sea water and you won't have to worry about the temperature (unless it gets really cold). If it does get super cold, you can wash your car with liquid ammonia or mercury (those have super low freezing temperatures).

Oh, and to answer your question, maybe 30° F or so.

2xtreme1 · 12-09-2013, 01:06 AM

Umm probably like in the low 50's or something. It was raining, but I was washing the car inside the garage. lol

40 to 332 · 12-09-2013, 02:02 AM

I've sprayed down my vehicles many times in below freezing temperatures … especially after highway driving after salt, sand and gravel have been heaped on the roads.

Tempestz · 12-09-2013, 02:25 AM

Washed mine yesterday here in Nor Cal in 19 degree weather, i was in direct sunlight, and had driven the car about 20 miles prior. so the car was warm, the sun kept everything from freezing, except my hands and feet. turned out well. only did it cuz there was a fundraiser event the next day I was going to.

kenchan · 12-09-2013, 03:18 PM

33-34F if sunny. if cloudy or in the shade, 34-35F. otherwise i tend to slip on ice.

i wear rubber gloves though which is required...

Lunar-Eclipse · 12-09-2013, 10:29 PM

The coldest... about 58°. I actually had to wear long pants and shoes. Damn bitter cold Florida winters.

zefaulter · 12-09-2013, 11:59 PM

between 10f-20f... soap and foam freezes on the car before you can rinse it off. you don't get a chance to dry the car because the water will freeze on the paint. as you can imagine, results are not great but gets the salt/dirt off.

frost · 12-10-2013, 12:04 AM

I washed it at about 3 degrees. This was a touchless wash in a heated bay.

TerribleONE · 12-10-2013, 12:12 AM

Some of you guys are crazy lol

frost · 12-10-2013, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerribleONE

Some of you guys are crazy lol

That's the kind of accusation a crazy person would make ...

winnre · 12-10-2013, 12:19 AM

Is it bad to wash cold or something?

TerribleONE · 12-10-2013, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winnre

Is it bad to wash cold or something?

If you like staying warm, yes. lol Maybe I am just a typical Californian. Anything below 50 degrees or so you wont catch me washing my car!

View Poll Results: What's the coldest temp in Fahrenheit you've washed your Z in?
Never below 40 degrees	18	31.58%
30-40 degrees	21	36.84%
20-30 degrees	10	17.54%
10-20 degrees	4	7.02%
0-10 degrees	3	5.26%
Below 0	1	1.75%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

11-28-2013, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gadgetech A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Cumming, Ga Posts: 1,559 Drives: The Short Bus Rep Power: 870	What's the coldest you've washed your car? I didn't see a thread like this in here so I'm posting one up. What's the coldest temperature you've washed your car in? We are driving down the road a bit for Thanksgiving dinner in the wife's car and I can't stand for it to be dirty when I drive it. I'm waiting for it to hit just above freezing before I get started b/c I don't want pipe freezing issues (can't even believe I'm saying this in SC in November). This will likely be the coldest I've washed a car before. I think I've washed my motorcycle in 36 degree weather once. __________________ Upstate Z Club

11-28-2013, 10:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	26-28, I don't remember why I did, but I remember there being ice on some parts of the car __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

11-28-2013, 10:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
BuckeyeZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Music City Posts: 291 Drives: 370Z BMW M4 Rep Power: 65	When I had our last house built, I had them put a drain in the garage floor and a sink with a hot water tap in the garage. I could wash my car all winter long. Now they changed the building codes and you can't have a drain in your garage. I guess people were dumping all kinds of illegal crap down their garage drains. 1st likes this. __________________ Stillen \| EVO-R \| HPS \| K&N \| Hotchkis \| Modshack Oil Cooler \| SPL

12-09-2013, 02:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tempestz Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ewa Beach, HI Posts: 346 Drives: 10-370Z-MB-7AT Rep Power: 12	Washed mine yesterday here in Nor Cal in 19 degree weather, i was in direct sunlight, and had driven the car about 20 miles prior. so the car was warm, the sun kept everything from freezing, except my hands and feet. turned out well. only did it cuz there was a fundraiser event the next day I was going to. __________________ Certified Exhaust Whore

12-09-2013, 01:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
2xtreme1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Eastvale, California Age: 32 Posts: 494 Drives: 11' 370Z 7 A/T Sport Rep Power: 13	Umm probably like in the low 50's or something. It was raining, but I was washing the car inside the garage. lol

12-09-2013, 02:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
40 to 332 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kimberley, BC, CANADA Posts: 447 Drives: 13 370Z BS M6 Sport Rep Power: 439	I've sprayed down my vehicles many times in below freezing temperatures … especially after highway driving after salt, sand and gravel have been heaped on the roads.

12-09-2013, 03:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	33-34F if sunny. if cloudy or in the shade, 34-35F. otherwise i tend to slip on ice. i wear rubber gloves though which is required...

12-09-2013, 10:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lunar-Eclipse Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 125 Drives: '10 40th Anniversary Rep Power: 14	The coldest... about 58°. I actually had to wear long pants and shoes. Damn bitter cold Florida winters.

12-09-2013, 11:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
zefaulter A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,983 Drives: 40th 370Z Rep Power: 27	between 10f-20f... soap and foam freezes on the car before you can rinse it off. you don't get a chance to dry the car because the water will freeze on the paint. as you can imagine, results are not great but gets the salt/dirt off.

12-10-2013, 12:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
TerribleONE A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 10,203 Drives: WOT Rep Power: 5850	Some of you guys are crazy lol __________________ 638WHP 541WTQ @ 13.5PSI Build thread

12-10-2013, 12:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
winnre Track Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Close to Redlands, CA Posts: 534 Drives: '14 370Z Touring Spt Rep Power: 13	Is it bad to wash cold or something?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
HELP! washed car and now engine has problems starting	dthem370	Engine & Drivetrain	26	06-16-2012 01:57 PM
so my sister washed my car..	ggiwin	Detailing / Washing / Waxing / Cosmetic Maintenance and Repair	17	02-11-2011 05:08 PM
Washed and Waxed the 370Z today! (Monterey Blue + pics inside :) )	AK370Z	Detailing / Washing / Waxing / Cosmetic Maintenance and Repair	46	05-15-2010 05:46 PM