Had mine for two winters now and if I couldn't use my own pressure washer with soap cannon I would use a touch free wash that did underbody as you drove in. I tried three different ones before I found a decent place. I have a ceramic coat as well and felt that it did an ok job. You might just have to try a couple to see what works. I avoid the places that pull you on a track though.
Just finished washing my car, getting salt off for the first time by myself. I don't know why I was fighting using the handheld wand so much; it's actually very easy; the car is so low that I thought the wand wouldn't really reach into the middle of the chassis, but that fan-shaped spray on the end of the long wand reaches well past the middle, and by keeping the handle next to the ground, and angling the spray up, the entire underside can be sprayed out. The only setting I use is the hot maximum pressure rinse. I went around the car two full circuits and then some: then drove home and finished up the ONR outside wash (I had sprayed the salt off the body and wheels too).
Just finished washing my car, getting salt off for the first time by myself. I don't know why I was fighting using the handheld wand so much; it's actually very easy; the car is so low that I thought the wand wouldn't really reach into the middle of the chassis, but that fan-shaped spray on the end of the long wand reaches well past the middle, and by keeping the handle next to the ground, and angling the spray up, the entire underside can be sprayed out. The only setting I use is the hot maximum pressure spray. I went around the car two full circuits and then some: then drove home and finished up the ONR outside wash (I had sprayed the salt off the body and wheels too).
Who said it was hard? It's just more time consuming. Does a better job but I know for me, the drive thru Kwik Trip is much more convenient. For starters, it's closer, has touchless as an option and it also has the undercarriage spray as well. Has the dryer which also is more convenient then hand drying when it's freezing out. Still a good idea to use the do it yourself bays if you have the time to kill.
I don't know why I thought that the handheld wand would be ineffective at reaching the entire undercarriage. Some kind of preconception.
It isn't very time consuming; I reckon it took most of five minutes. The problem with "much more convenient" is that the tunnel also is much more convenient at rashing your rims. Bleh. Which is why I am pursuing this "new" modus operandi to keep salt buildup at bay.
The "touchless" places (there are 3) near me are pretty good. Powerful rotating 5" side/undercarriage spray upon entry, a 2 step detergent, solid powerful rinse and final "spotless" rinse (?... I doubt it's distilled...) and decent blow dry for ~$11 if you skip the "wax".
I'm always careful in toweling, but have never seen and gritty residue that resulted in scratches. The Stinger plans to stay in the garage this winter - on a low/no sodium diet. '06 Spec b has become the DD and winter ride. Put the snowshoes on it today, it's first winter after being demoted from garage queen for almost 10 years.
I don't know why I thought that the handheld wand would be ineffective at reaching the entire undercarriage. Some kind of preconception.
It isn't very time consuming; I reckon it took most of five minutes. The problem with "much more convenient" is that the tunnel also is much more convenient at rashing your rims. Bleh. Which is why I am pursuing this "new" modus operandi to keep salt buildup at bay.
Should you wash a car with a pressure washer? You can if you do it right. Here are some tips on how to wash a car with a pressure washer the right way.
Should you wash a car with a pressure washer? You can if you do it right. Here are some tips on how to wash a car with a pressure washer the right way.
How do they get the car over an undercarriage blast? Do you drive over the cleaner and it moves back and forth under it? In a tunnel, of course, the undercarriage sprayers are fixed in place and the vehicle is rolled over them (thus risking rim rash, as I have experienced more than once).
When you pull in there's a fixed undercarriage spray in the floor and high pressure "rotating" side sprayers about a foot of the floor and aimed at ~45 degrees forward that blast the lower parts of the car and wheels, of course, as you slowly pull in. Then the decent soap-up followed by repeated high pressure rinse, spot-free rinse and blow dry. $11 and up. I have an account so if something doesn't work as it's supposed to I respond the email I get after putting in my code and report issues as a QA measure and they typically refund that wash and appreciate the feedback.
How do they get the car over an undercarriage blast? Do you drive over the cleaner and it moves back and forth under it? In a tunnel, of course, the undercarriage sprayers are fixed in place and the vehicle is rolled over them (thus risking rim rash, as I have experienced more than once).
It's really annoying, how a search with "touchless car wash" turns up all kinds of places that I know are tunnels that drag your car through. What part of "touchless" are they not understanding?? I don't think that we have anything like what you are describing.
When you pull in there's a fixed undercarriage spray in the floor and high pressure "rotating" side sprayers about a foot of the floor and aimed at ~45 degrees forward that blast the lower parts of the car and wheels, of course, as you slowly pull in. Then the decent soap-up followed by repeated high pressure rinse, spot-free rinse and blow dry. $11 and up. I have an account so if something doesn't work as it's supposed to I respond the email I get after putting in my code and report issues as a QA measure and they typically refund that wash and appreciate the feedback.
Lol. Steven T.'s review of The Car Wash Pigeons crapping on your windshield as you drive out. (that is the lowest rated car wash I've seen; it's definitely "brushless/touchless", since it's one of those coin operated ones, like I used yesterday; at least "ours" isn't rundown.)
Bucket of hot water with a slurp of car wash&wax. Soft brush in a rubber housing. Rinse with garden hose.
I would never get up close and personal with a power washer. Fine if you stay back.
We have a couple decent, touchless car washes. Always nice to use in the winter months with the darned salt.
I didn't watch the video but that's bullshit unless we're talking a commercial VERY high psi washer. If you're grabbing an electric high pressure washer from Costco or crappytire in Canada you aren't stripping a damn thing except for some dirt off your wooden deck with that thing.
Check this guy out...Montreal Canada area..One of the BEST in the business. Knows what he's talking about.
Just search his vast library of videos to find exactly how to do just about anything related to Car Detailing.
Which is why I am pursuing this "new" modus operandi to keep salt buildup at bay.
pressurewasherguides.com
(that is the lowest rated car wash I've seen; it's definitely "brushless/touchless", since it's one of those coin operated ones, like I used yesterday; at least "ours" isn't rundown.)
