Car washes

I live on gravel so it never lasts long anyway, so honestly maybe 1-2 times a year.

We have a monthly subscriptions at a local carwash and I get my truck washed every time I drive it and my wife gets her jeep washed several times/week.

I like having two trucks. Black in summer and white in winter. Twice the truck!

Rivergills wrote:

If I do I never get the underbody wash as I have heard that some of the automatic car washes recycle the water that is used for underbody wash and the last thing I want is a salt water underbody wash.

I’ve heard this too…never have seen it confirmed one way or the other though.

I think I can do a better job crawling down somewhat under the truck in the hand spray wash than the quick 7 second shot that the underbody wash does at most places anyways.

Just switched from going to my local Speedway soft touch to the new Kwik Trip that came into town. Man is it a nicer wash.

I was spoiled when I was on the fire dept. Had a wash bay and washed my vehicles every week.

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Rivergills wrote:</div>
If I do I never get the underbody wash as I have heard that some of the automatic car washes recycle the water that is used for underbody wash and the last thing I want is a salt water underbody wash.

I’ve heard this too…never have seen it confirmed one way or the other though.

Some do some don’t. Many are going away from reclaim water because it is more of a hassle and takes lots of maintenance, clogs nozzles, damages pump motors, and the stench coming from ones that arent properly maintained will drive customers away. Places like California may be required for water saving, not here as far as I know.

In regards to salt in the water it’s very watered down and the reclaim water doesn’t just sit in the tanks, they are actually used as settling tanks so there are 3 or more tanks connected in a row to collect contamination before they hit the sewer,(one tank for dirts, one for oils,
another for finer dirt, etc) and the water is constantly running out as the wash operates. So while there may be salts in the water it is very minimal.

I’m a former carwash repair technician. None of my washes had reclaim water systems at the time I left.

We use a local place in S MPLS called Dans. They are great and remember when you come in. Basic wash is $18 and that includes underbody, vacuum and interior wipe down, windows washed, and dry including the door jams.

They have a shared tip jar…I always leave a few bucks. That way the guys not just doing the last step get the tips.

You can turn the subscription on and off every month so that’s what I usually do…don’t wash as much in the summer.

Also, get a white truck. My first Ram was black. Won’t ever do that again.

Hey munchy I’ve been told that the touch less are harder on your paint than the soft touch because of the chemicals in the
Touch less are alone stronger? What do you think?

I have to agree with Bucky- I prefer to do it myself at a self service wash because I feel like I can thoroughly wash the underside. Idk, I guess I just don’t trust that the automatic ones do a sufficient job at it. I could be wrong though cuz I’ve never observed it with my own eyes… Munchy- it seems like you know what you’re talking about. In your opinion do the automatic ones get the underside good?

Don Carlisle wrote:

Hey munchy I’ve been told that the touch less are harder on your paint than the soft touch because of the chemicals in the
Touch less are alone stronger? What do you think?

While I’m not fully trained on the chemistry involved, I do know for the touchless to work they need to basically cook the dirt away. To do that they use much higher and lower PH chemicals than what a typical touch wash would. Unfortunately every wash is going to be different in how they affect the vehicle, all 100% dependent on how it was setup, programmed, maintained, the weather, quality of chemicals, etc..

And unless the wash management is top notch I doubt they are making the recommended adjustments as conditions change. This goes for both types.

IMO both types have the ability to damage the vehicle, just in different ways. However newer paints and sealants are much stronger and more forgiving than their predecessors.

I will say if you see a muddy vehicle going into a touch wash, don’t follow them. Come back later. Those brushes need a chance to flush themselves out. Otherwise you’ll have a thousand microscratches that look like fish hooks all along the sides of your vehicle.

LabDaddy1 wrote:

Munchy- it seems like you know what you’re talking about. In your opinion do the automatic ones get the underside good?

All depends on the setup. They can vary from a fine mist all the way to a full jet blast. The mist is likely not doing anything, however the jet blasters have the ability to damage seals and such. Being in the middle is good, however it typically uses the most water so operators shy away from that.

Besides submerging the underside of the vehicle there really is no good way to get 100% coverage without sacrificing something.

And unless the vehicle is up on a lift, spraying from the sides with a pressure washer isn’t likely doing any better. Way too many crevices and ridges for dirt and salts to hide.

Now if you really want to flush the underside, go make a few laps in a bowl.

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