Posted: 4/15/2010 11:25:36 AM EDT
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A recent thread about color restoration got me thinking. We only take our cars through a touch free automatic carwash...usually once a week. We always get "The Works", or whatever a particular carwash calls its top of the line washing cycle. I don't know if they actually use a liquid polish or a liquid wax or both, but reading the other thread has prompted me to ask: is this type of wash in any way harmful to our car finishes?
I just sold my 01 Taco (Silver), and the paint still looked great. Now I have a 201 Taco in black, and obviously you notice road grime, dirt, and pollen much more on a black vehicle. Is there a "best" regimen for maintaining a car finish? What can be used frequently vs. infrequently? I've never had a vehicle professionally detailed, and I don't know if it's really worth it as long as you keep your vehicle relatively clean. Thanks for the feedback. |
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Quoted:
A recent thread about color restoration got me thinking. We only take our cars through a touch free automatic carwash...usually once a week. We always get "The Works", or whatever a particular carwash calls its top of the line washing cycle. I don't know if they actually use a liquid polish or a liquid wax or both, but reading the other thread has prompted me to ask: is this type of wash in any way harmful to our car finishes? I just sold my 01 Taco (Silver), and the paint still looked great. Now I have a 201 Taco in black, and obviously you notice road grime, dirt, and pollen much more on a black vehicle. Is there a "best" regimen for maintaining a car finish? What can be used frequently vs. infrequently? I've never had a vehicle professionally detailed, and I don't know if it's really worth it as long as you keep your vehicle relatively clean. Thanks for the feedback. Generally speaking, a typical touchless car wash won't hurt your vehicle. I don't believe they use any harsh chemicals. That said, I wouldn't expect the polish/wax they claim to use to offer much in terms of protection. My guess is that it's similar to quick detailing sprays that offer decent shine for a short amount of time. Touchless washes can actually be somewhat beneficial. Since nothing besides liquid touches the vehicle's paint, they help minimize swirl marks and minor scratches that can occur with traditional hand washing (especially hand washing done improperly). They help remove salt and dirt which act like moisture magnets which can eventually oxidize the metal of the car. Products that should be used infrequently are abrasive polishes. These products remove small amounts of clear coat and should not be used very often. Typical waxes and sealants generally will not harm paint and, along with glazes, help prevent the paint from drying out. Waxes and sealants not only increase reflectivity of the paint (ooohhh! shiny!!!!), they help water sheet off the surface. Less water on the surface means less dirt drying on the paint and less etching from water spots. If you just want to protect your finish for a reasonable amount of time, use a sealant twice per year - once in April, once in October. Some of the better OTC choices includes Mother's FX and Meguiars NXT. For mail order, there's Klasse, Meguiar's Professional Line #20 and #21, Menzerna, Finish Kare, and Optimum. I recommend Klasse, and picking up a good wash mitt, some microfiber towels, glass cleaner, 303 Aerospace Protectant, and some tire gel with your order. All of that is available at Autogeek and Proper Auto Care. For the Arfcom of detailing, visit Autopia.org. |
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You shouldn't use any automatic car washes.
The weather stripping,seals and moldings around designed to withstand the forces you find in side of those things. I've been to Meguiars work shops and training with Mother's and Swizol and nobody makes a wax or polish product that is meant to be applied by big over head sprayer 
If all you want to is knock the dirt off so your car shines for as long as it shines,auto washes are fine I guess. But if you want to protect and extend the life of your paint you have to use the right stuff and do it the old fashioned way. |
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Drive through car washes are the worst things for your car, even the 'touchless'. My friends all use touchless car wash and I do delicate hand washing. Guess who has marks all over the car, spots, and weather stripping that looks like crap???
If you can, hand washing is best only if you know what you are doing. |