View Full Version : Drive through Car washes and Swissol
In the winter months, it is sometimes very hard to get the motivation to clean the car! The drive through car washes are very tempting!
I have a few layers of Swissol on the car and was just wondering if the shampoo they use in the auto car washes will strip off the Swissol?
Thanks.
Ruddmeister
23-12-2004, 12:14
Probably and the brushes are usually dirty and act like a brillo pad on yer paintwork.
Keep handwashing or let it go dirty
PlatinumR
23-12-2004, 14:03
Not only may it scratch the paintwork but some of the fancy ones that pull you thru on a conveyor belt using your front wheel like one near me will probably make a mess of my alloy to :( .
isn't worth it imo too much to risk for convenience.
CUPRAGREY
23-12-2004, 14:07
I have actually witnessed someone go through one that wripped some parts off the car, trims and a wiper. The bloke was going mad in the shop but the guy behind the counter pointed to the sign that stated basically enter at own risk.
A bit more formal than that and a few more words but you get the general message
so I would never risk using one for my own car.
WatchHill
23-12-2004, 14:07
I agree with t'others.
The flail will strip the wax (and your paint) and the detergents used will also strip wax.
Allegedly if the brushes were new they would not be a problem, but after loads of crud ridden cars have been through the bristles are frayed and mucky which does the damage. I wouldn't use one at any rate.
Point taken ... I will stay away from them!
my bird took hers through one yesterday and it took the arial...lol
Tony spears
29-12-2004, 19:35
Auto car wash a defo NO NO but a hand car wash would be ok for a while or so but would eventually strip the wax off if you kept using them on a regular basis.
I have just set my own hand car wash up and are using it for my BMW every week this time of year and it is holding out fine but i have used swissol shield on it which has teflon in it which is very durable.
I always use carwashes. Cant say I've had any bad experiences. Yes you get very light swirly scratches but the same can be said for hand car washing? Only takes one bit of grit to get into your sponge and you will put alot deeper scratch in your body panel than any carwash would. Each to their own though. I simply never have time to wash it and better to get it off at this time of year, by whatever means than leave that salt on there for the rust fairys.
I'm not an automated car wash salesman btw :D
how about these new generation of carwashes, i used one yesterday in glasgow, its like soft cloth strips guaranteed no swirl marks that your typical carwash might leave. Well worth a trip up to glasgow! :)
has ayone tried meguiars tech wax yet? i just bought some today, apparently its the dogs! will try it out if it ever stops raining in the west of scotland :(
If its in glasgow then the sensors will prob ice up and it will take the roof off your car instead :p
aye the bloke that pre-washes your car before you go through has to be chipped of the floor at the end of his shift :whistle: Aye it truly is grim up north :drive1:
Used Meguiars car shampoo and followed it up with the first coat of Tech wax. Brilliant! The finish is like glass! I'm sure you'll like the result.
sportbilly
08-02-2005, 12:23
These new style non brush car washes are pants. Been through one and would never go again, they dont wash the car very well at all (was not in the Leon)
Would never take the LCR though a car wash with it being black as it marks dead easy and will probably end up spending more time trying to polish the marks out of it !
rich1068
19-02-2005, 15:55
I heard about kids tying nuts (ie nuts and bolts) to the threads on an automatic car wash ready for the poor sap who was first the next day.
Could be an urban myth but it makes me wince everytime I think about it.
To be honest I got this very good one I take my car too when I haven't got time. They wash cars for Imperial Cars in Seven Kings (they have ferrari's, lambo's,, prosches). They do a very good job and there cloths and sponges are all all the time. So they do a pretty good job for 6 quid or so.
aye the bloke that pre-washes your car before you go through has to be chipped of the floor at the end of his shift :whistle: Aye it truly is grim up north :drive1:
Agree with you there Mate - freezes yer chukkies off - what with us wondering about in kilts all day ;)
Is it one of these ARC car washes (previously IMO) your talking about? My last car was black and ended up with a load of swirl marks due to using one of these only a few times. It was always well waxed as well. I never take my FR through one of these - have used a jet wash on the odd occasion though without any probs.
TallFella
02-10-2005, 14:07
Go to your nearest shopping centre, leave the car in one of those carwash bays, you come back after shopping, hey presto, the car's clean!