Touchless Carwash a NO-NO ?
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From: naples.fl
2010 CL550 loaded
Touchless Carwash a NO-NO ?
Reading my 2012 C63 manual is states not to use a touch less car wash. something about harsh chemicals will damage paint and plastic pieces.
Any comments ?
Any comments ?
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Cars.
I don't use car washes at gas stations.EVER. During the winter, I will take my car to a soft touch carwash place that I've taken many previous cars to. Other then that, I try to wash my car in my garage(and it's not heated) if I can. Car washes are a last resort.
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I only hand wash my car or have a professional hand wash it. But, even with hand wash the paint seem prone to swirls.
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The manual is probably being cautious because some touch-less car washes may use harsh chemicals, although many places probably use safe-for-paint cleaners.
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Thread Starter
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From: naples.fl
2010 CL550 loaded
Took my GTR to touchless car wash for 3 years--from what I could I see the paint and finish were fine. My 2012 C63 diamond white has so much orange peel OMG. GTR had none.
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
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2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
We have a Shell touchless car wash here that we use regularly especially in the winter when it is too cold to do a hand wash outside. My owner's manual says brushless car washes are preferable. It says to put the climate control in recirculation mode to protect the cabin filter.
It goes on to say to avoid touchless car wash that uses caustic spray. Best to ask the wash operator what chemicals they use.
I have an eight year old truck I put through this wash and the paint and trim are still in great shape.
It goes on to say to avoid touchless car wash that uses caustic spray. Best to ask the wash operator what chemicals they use.
I have an eight year old truck I put through this wash and the paint and trim are still in great shape.
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We have a Shell touchless car wash here that we use regularly especially in the winter when it is too cold to do a hand wash outside. My owner's manual says brushless car washes are preferable. It says to put the climate control in recirculation mode to protect the cabin filter.
It goes on to say to avoid touchless car wash that uses caustic spray. Best to ask the wash operator what chemicals they use.
I have an eight year old truck I put through this wash and the paint and trim are still in great shape.
It goes on to say to avoid touchless car wash that uses caustic spray. Best to ask the wash operator what chemicals they use.
I have an eight year old truck I put through this wash and the paint and trim are still in great shape.
i wouldnt worry too much about tunnel washing (touchless) and assuming rims wont get damaged. I wash my cars very often inside tunnel wash and nothing bad has happen......
^^
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body shampoo is not ideal for cleaning. use a dedicated car soap instead of body soap or hair shampoo or dish detergent. using improper soap can cause the black rubber trim to fade and grey out faster.
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AMG GLC63. Audi R8
They use recylced water that spots like crazy if they don't dry it fast enough. I wash the rides myself as I have time. Use ionized water and very little if any car wash solution for weekly washes. All cotton towels to dry (no sham wows). You also get to see the car up close and find all kinds of stuff you'd overlook in everyday driving. To wash your wheels right you have to take them off any way (every three months).
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From: San Diego/San Francisco
AMG GLC63. Audi R8
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They use recylced water that spots like crazy if they don't dry it fast enough. I wash the rides myself as I have time. Use ionized water and very little if any car wash solution for weekly washes. All cotton towels to dry (no sham wows). You also get to see the car up close and find all kinds of stuff you'd overlook in everyday driving. To wash your wheels right you have to take them off any way (every three months).
They do use softened water which doesnt spot much. The dryer sucks ***** in most tunnel washes.
Touchless doesnt clean the car well at all. If you do a finger swipe after, you will see how dirty the car is.
Touch was (tunnels) will swirl up the cars indefinitely. The cloth/brushes will not scratch paint, but it is the sand and dirt stuck inside that will....
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
Alkaline road salt plus alkaline car wash solutions!
Given the ph that is severely alkaline -14- and thus just as corrosive as a serious acid with a low say 2 ph.Therefore the ideal cleaner for a car used on salted roads, given what qaz says is a serious shower in a mildly acid solution, that would neutralize the road salts. The car wash chemicals can't help if they are base. The ph of water is nominally 7. We are looking for a bath below 7 with surfactants.
Consider adding perhaps gallon of white vinegar, such as found at grocery stores, to your DuPont or other ph neutral car wash. This will make the washing solution mildly acid and tend to neutralize the corrosive effects of the outrageously base road salts.
If you have your own washing container and some ramps to Get access to the underside, consider this sort of washing solution.
Has anyone tested the ph of say RainX winter solution the orange stuff? Perhaps one could use this instead.
After all the crap is gone, sluice with fresh water.
Last edited by grane; Dec 9, 2011 at 09:04 PM.
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Lets concentrate on the undercarriage. Ok?
Given the ph that is severly alkaline and thus as corrosive as a serious acid with a low say 2 ph.Therefore the ideal cleaner for a car used on salted roads, given what qaz says is a serious shower in a mildly acid solution. The ph of water is nominally 7.
Consider adding perhaps gallon of white vinegar, such as found at grocery stores, to your DuPont or other ph neutral car wash. This will make the washing solution mildly acid and tend to neutralize the corrosive effects of the outrageously base road salts.
If you have your own washing container and some ramps to Get access to the underside, consider this sort of washing solution.
Has anyone tested the ph of say RainX winter solution the orange stuff? Perhaps one could use this instead.
After all the crap is gone, sluice with fresh water.
Given the ph that is severly alkaline and thus as corrosive as a serious acid with a low say 2 ph.Therefore the ideal cleaner for a car used on salted roads, given what qaz says is a serious shower in a mildly acid solution. The ph of water is nominally 7.
Consider adding perhaps gallon of white vinegar, such as found at grocery stores, to your DuPont or other ph neutral car wash. This will make the washing solution mildly acid and tend to neutralize the corrosive effects of the outrageously base road salts.
If you have your own washing container and some ramps to Get access to the underside, consider this sort of washing solution.
Has anyone tested the ph of say RainX winter solution the orange stuff? Perhaps one could use this instead.
After all the crap is gone, sluice with fresh water.
the most ideal is to reduce the amount of salt with large volume of water??
