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01-04-2010, 01:14 PM | #1 |
Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: near Chicago, IL
Posts: 286
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Stupid Question- OK to go through car wash in winter?
As the title says.. I'm kind of ignorant and have gotten different answers from different people. I stopped going to the carwash when it got cold but my black car looks AWFUL. I heard a drive in car wash gets water under the car and it might freeze or just be bad for the car. Others have said its perfectly safe.
Its way too cold to stand outside and wipe my car down myself with my little rag... plus last time I did that, all it did was make white smudges all over.. I think the car wash is open near me, their sign lights up- I just don't want to drive over there and have them look at me like I'm crazy because it's common sense not to wash a car in freezing temperature.... so is it? |
01-04-2010, 01:24 PM | #2 |
Drives: '08 LB MT Bayou Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,671
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And driving in snow and sleet doesn't get water under the car that will later freeze? I've never heard it wasn't safe to wash a car in Winter. Knock yourself out.
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01-04-2010, 01:40 PM | #3 |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA, CT
Posts: 13,460
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As long as you go to one that doesn't whip your car with brushes or rags, it is fine. The road sand is very abrasive to the finish, so you really want it to be washed off (gently, not with super high pressure) rather than wiped against the paint. If the salt is not thoroughly rinsed off, you will get the white streaks as it dries.
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01-04-2010, 01:56 PM | #4 | |
Banned
Drives: '10 Yaris5drHB+99 4runner LTD Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NE
Posts: 672
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Quote:
this. no touch is fine. you should open all doors and wipe the seals dry with a clean rag before parking overnight below freezing... or it may be hard to get back in the next day after a wash |
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01-05-2010, 02:31 PM | #5 |
Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: near Chicago, IL
Posts: 286
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Thanks =) =) Didn't think about it needing no touch, I'll look for that!
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01-05-2010, 08:34 PM | #6 |
no touch? wiirenet, i must be noobier than you... what does no touch mean?
Last edited by Yarold n Kumar; 01-05-2010 at 09:09 PM. |
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01-05-2010, 10:34 PM | #7 |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA, CT
Posts: 13,460
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Some drive through car washes are called "Touchless Car Washes". They do not whack your car with brushes or rags, but instead just use water jets. They don't do the greatest job of completely cleaning a sand and salt covered car, but at least they don't scratch the finish like the others do.
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01-12-2010, 01:05 PM | #8 | |
Drives: Scion FRS RS2, ‘21 Crosstrek Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,729
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Quote:
Only one local wash has a rail low enough to accomdate my lowered sedan when on the short winter rubber. This place does a nice job inside and out if requested. Worth the bucks to keep it tidy through the winter when too cold to DIY in the driveway. And the bottom-blaster is priceless to get rid of the salt, sand and frozen treats.
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01-13-2010, 03:12 AM | #9 |
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Drives: 2006 3d 1.0 Linea Sol Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
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It's OK to wash your car in winter, just wipe down the seals and doorways after the wash, as said. Also when temperatures are freezing (below 0C), if possible, drive around a little while after the carwash with the heater on. This will make sure less moisture stays in the car once you park it. Also, use lock oil for doors and rear hatch after the wash, as water can get in there too.
As for no touch, I wouldn't recommend it. From personal experience, it just doesn't do the job in winter conditions. A thorough rinse after the actual wash should be enough to loosen the dirt up so it won't damage the paintwork too much. Guess you'll have to see if no touch is enough for your car. |
01-13-2010, 11:06 AM | #10 |
Drives: 2008 White Yaris Sedan 5 speed Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 46
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I run my car through a car wash with cloth brushes regularly. No problems.
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01-13-2010, 11:11 AM | #11 | |
Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas!
Posts: 2,799
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Quote:
Touchless is the way to go, it won't get your car competely clean but it will remove a lot of the dirt. Plus, it'll just get dirty again pretty quick so run it through every once and a while to remove all that nasty road salt you northerns have to deal with! BTW, it's a very good question! Cheers! M2 |
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01-13-2010, 12:30 PM | #12 |
Reluctantly Crouched...
Drives: 2008 Yaris HB M/T Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 867
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I'm a fan of the "do it yourself" places that have the spray gun. Like the touchless, you don't rub scratches into the paint, and you can get a thorough rinse int he fender wells and lower parts of the car where road crap builds up. It won't get your car REALLY shiny and clean, but it will get the salt/dirt off your car. When I lived in cold-weather areas, I washed it at a place like that, then did a hand-wash with dish gloves and a rag from home to get the car really clean, then rinsed it again. If the car wash isn't busy, noone ever seemed to mind, and I didn't take long in that cold weather!
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01-13-2010, 08:38 PM | #13 | |
Drives: 2009 Meteorite Metallic LB MT Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 810
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Quote:
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01-13-2010, 08:45 PM | #14 |
daily driver
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i just make sure i wash it on a sunny day IN THE DAY so the doors don't freeze shut.
i washed mine yesterday at a powerwash self-serve place....no problems at all, really
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01-15-2010, 11:54 PM | #15 |
cruisin in the land yacht
Drives: 2001 Buick Park Avenue Ultra;) Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 10
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those are some really good tips. i know last week, here in alabama we had single digit temps, and for the first time ever, my car doors actually froze shut! it was bizzare considering i live in flipping alabama, but i just parked it with the drivers side facing the sun and let it thaw for bout an hr and that did the job.
on thing i hate about winters here is the ice that forms on the cars at night when temps drop, and then melts during the day when it warms up, leaving water spots all over my beautiful silver car:( drives me crazy....
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Currently driving a loaded out silver 2001 Buick Park Avenue Ultra. Just waitntodwnsize.... Last edited by waitntodwnsize; 01-15-2010 at 11:55 PM. Reason: spelling... whoops |
01-16-2010, 12:48 AM | #16 |
Drives: Black HB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: AK
Posts: 542
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All the northern states need to get with the times. Up here they just use treated sand, and all that does is keeps it from clumping together. No salt or chemicals. It's pretty awesome. :)
I find that if you apply Armor All to the seals every once in a while, you don't have to worry about the doors freezing shut. Ever.
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01-18-2010, 05:46 PM | #17 |
Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: near Chicago, IL
Posts: 286
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I appreciate all the replies everyone, thanks!
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