Washing the Car

[DonD]

One of the strange things I've seen in my 2022 Stinger GT1s owner's manual is in the exterior maintenance section.

It specifically says to use lukewarm or cold water in the wash bucket. I have idea why they'd say that. If the car is really dirty as it could be from driving in the rain or through construction mess, I've always felt that rather warm water was more effective in dissolving the crud.

Anyone have an explanation other than a SWAG (super wild *** guess)? Thanks, Don

 

[RedCal]

My guess- The hotter the water the higher the amount of dissolved solids, so the more likely the chances of water spotting etching the paint.
To the best of my knowledge car shampoos are designed to work with cold/cool water. It's the shampoo chemistry that does the work, not the water

 

[DonD]

My guess- The hotter the water the higher the amount of dissolved solids, so the more likely the chances of water spotting etching the paint.
To the best of my knowledge car shampoos are designed to work with cold/cool water. It's the shampoo chemistry that does the work, not the water

Thanks. Don

 

[DonD]

I did check the user instructions on Meguiar's Gold Class car wash soap, it said nothing about the temperature of the water you dilute the soap with. Don

 

[NS_Stinger]

One of the strange things I've seen in my 2022 Stinger GT1s owner's manual is in the exterior maintenance section.

It specifically says to use lukewarm or cold water in the wash bucket. I have idea why they'd say that. If the car is really dirty as it could be from driving in the rain or through construction mess, I've always felt that rather warm water was more effective in dissolving the crud.

Anyone have an explanation other than a SWAG (super wild *** guess)? Thanks, Don

It is likely they say nothing more than luke warm because an idiot used boiled or incredibly hot water to wash his Kia in the past and ruined or melted something. I wouldnt read much more into it than that. Using really hot water could damage plastics or rubber seals.

 

[MerlintheMad]

One of the strange things I've seen in my 2022 Stinger GT1s owner's manual is in the exterior maintenance section.

It specifically says to use lukewarm or cold water in the wash bucket. I have idea why they'd say that. If the car is really dirty as it could be from driving in the rain or through construction mess, I've always felt that rather warm water was more effective in dissolving the crud.

Anyone have an explanation other than a SWAG (super wild *** guess)? Thanks, Don

Explain this: the manual clearly says that you must clean off the undercarriage, get the salt residue off, etc. How does that work with bucket washes, exactly? I get under there with a touchless wand (we are fortunate to have such a car wash just down the road c. a mile away). And by the way, the soap setting is hot, the rinse setting is cold.

 

[bfglitch]

Just washed my car. Water temperature was whatever it was when it came out of the hose.

 

[DonD]

Explain this: the manual clearly says that you must clean off the undercarriage, get the salt residue off, etc. How does that work with bucket washes, exactly? I get under there with a touchless wand (we are fortunate to have such a car wash just down the road c. a mile away). And by the way, the soap setting is hot, the rinse setting is cold.

Haven't had much rain at all in central TX and San Antonio is 13.25" below normal rainfall for this time of the year.

I'm sure the manual doesn't suggest removing the underbody panels. I can say with personal observation that there is nothing on the underbody shields worth spraying off.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Haven't had much rain at all in central TX and San Antonio is 13.25" below normal rainfall for this time of the year.

I'm sure the manual doesn't suggest removing the underbody panels. I can say with personal observation that there is nothing on the underbody shields worth spraying off.

Yeah, the panels block a lot of road crap, and by the same reasoning, a lot of the undercarriage spray . But I'm assuming that what can reach the underside of the car from driving can also be cleaned off by spraying.

 

[DonD]

Yeah, the panels block a lot of road crap, and by the same reasoning, a lot of the undercarriage spray . But I'm assuming that what can reach the underside of the car from driving can also be cleaned off by spraying.

I'll give it a try in the near term. Don

 

[Robilar]

I washed mine by hand with a power washer and a good car soap up until recently. Just moved, bought a condo downtown back to car washes

Now I only go to touchless ones and then towel dry. The upside is the wash blasts the wheel wells and undercarriage with water which is a good thing.

 

[bfglitch]

I washed mine by hand with a power washer and a good car soap up until recently. Just moved, bought a condo downtown back to car washes

Now I only go to touchless ones and then towel dry. The upside is the wash blasts the wheel wells and undercarriage with water which is a good thing.

You could always hit up a touchless wash, then after use some waterless wash/wax to get it looking a little better if the touchless didn't quite do enough. I know the touchless near me isn't all that great so usually if I wind up using it, when I get home I'll do a quick waterless wash from the top down.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Explain this: the manual clearly says that you must clean off the undercarriage, get the salt residue off, etc. How does that work with bucket washes, exactly? I get under there with a touchless wand (we are fortunate to have such a car wash just down the road c. a mile away). And by the way, the soap setting is hot, the rinse setting is cold.

Grab a hose, Stick your thumb over half of it to create some pressure, try your best.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Grab a hose, Stick your thumb over half of it to create some pressure, try your best.

In the middle of the winter?

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

In the middle of the winter?

Who is doing bucket washing in the winter?

 

[DonD]

Who is doing bucket washing in the winter?

Easy, in the garage. Problem solved. There is only one automated car wash nearby and I simply don't trust them. Don

 

[MerlintheMad]

Who is doing bucket washing in the winter?

Me. Any day above freezing is a good day.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Easy, in the garage. Problem solved. There is only one automated car wash nearby and I simply don't trust them. Don

That would work for the bucket portion for sure, but not the underside portion with the hose that merlin asked about unfortunately.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Me. Any day above freezing is a good day.

thats right, you are in Y00TAW! you don't really get snow. in that case I guess you could do it in the winter.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That would work for the bucket portion for sure, but not the underside portion with the hose that merlin asked about unfortunately.

The touchless wand wash place is open 24/7/365; you just have to wait till you get a good solid, above freezing day to spray out the underside.

thats right, you are in Y00TAW! you don't really get snow. in that case I guess you could do it in the winter.

Lol, except when we do, and then it comes down in buckets full. This was a doodle and quit after it started.