xolinlevh

So as it starts getting colder here in MN, i started thinking about winter car care. My past 2 cars were POS Toyota hand me downs from my parents that i don't think i cleaned once during winter. But now with the C....Ill want to do more to maintain it. MN uses a ton of sand and salt on the winter roads, how bad is this for the bodywork? Should i get a car wash every month? more often? less? Any other winter tips?


Thanks!

Ron Jr

I try to do once a week year round with a fresh coat of wax once a month weather permitting but winters here on LI are a lot less severe than in MN.

ncglock

I have a unlimited car wash program so the benz takes a bath more than I do

grossmeisterb

Well, "taking a bath more often than I do" sounds like you take a shower every 2 weeks?
Because washing the car more often (in a car wash) will ruin your paint quite fast. The preferred method is to wash it by hand (2-bucket method with grid-guard), but that takes some more time and you need the equipment.
So, washing it in the winter every 2 weeks should be OK, depending on the weather conditions.

Carsy

Winter ,every 3 or 4 months. Don't wish to wash the paint off.

waiszeto

I wash my car everyday when i go home cause i buy the season pass from my gas station. LOL it like $150 CAD and you can wash once a day for 3 months.

xolinlevh

Hmm I gotta look and see if any place near me has a unlimited pass. The really nice wash place I normally use sells a 9 pack of basic washes for $100.

imbane

Is it touchless? the regular car wash will damage the paint if you wash it every day.

Darkstar19

I know hand washing is the best, but is going to car washes really that bad? With my past cars I've always gone to the car wash and never noticed any paint damage.

imbane

Back to 6 years ago, just one week after I got my brand new Lexus ES330, I went to a softcloth car wash（yes automatic). The next day my friend told me to check it out under the sunlight, then I saw tons of fine lines and circles on the paint. It's the biggest mistake I've ever made. I always use touchfree car wash after that.

Ron Jr

Automatic car washes will scratch the finish and cause swirlies, they should be avoided. And my local AD has unlimited free car washes. I have never used it as it is a machine wash I even stress to the SA not to wash my car when I bring it in for service.

xolinlevh

Can anyone comment then on the quality of Holiday's 'touchless' wash? They are the only place near me that has a unlimited pass that ive found so far. The place that sells the 9 pack for $100 is all hand wash but given how messy it gets here, id prob want to go more then 9 times through the winter....

Darkstar19

I can see how the ones with brushes would do this, but how about the washes with jet sprays and no touch?

alexlev

Am I the only one who likes having a dirty car in the winter?

I can go months without washing it.

Maybe I am just lazy...

imbane

That's the method I choose to wash my car, I can't say it's damage-free, but for me it works much better than the softcloth washing machine.

waiszeto

Of course it touchless !! Regular price for wash once is like $15, but with season pass.. only $150 for 3 months, once a day

Darkstar19

Anyone know some good places in central NJ - Princeton area?

Richard2011

Only when I need to go somewhere and it needs to look presentable. Probably once a month or even longer.

grane

The automatic undercarriage washes are lacking.

Get a pair of plastic ramps at Pep Boys or wherever and spray the underside with the low pressure self wash hose. I do it once a month year round. Make sure you do the inside of the wheels to they collect a lot of crap and this is specifically mentioned in my OMs!

xolinlevh

Thats what im particularly worried about. I dont mind the body being a bit dirty, it will get messy every day in a MN winter, but the salt and sand getting under the car worries me....on a 90s toyota...who gives a F, but on a Merc......

Matt_Eurojerks

I just go to a self serve (hot water so it doesnt freeze) and use the spray gun. I hose the whole car down and pay attention to the undercarriage more then ususual. If it gets abnormally warm out I go outside bunddled up and use the hose from the heated garage and do it quick.