car wash, what's your experience?

fallguy

Well-Known Member
First Name
fallguy
Joined
Feb 17, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
213
Reaction score
320
Location
The south
Vehicles
2020 Defender, 1968 Mustang, 2021 Mach-E GT
Occupation
Federal
Country flag
We pay for unlimited premium washes for both of our main vehicles, use them few times a week. Don't like taking the time to wash, especially when its cold. Her vehicle is huge and takes forever too.
Sponsored

 

cloud9

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gary
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
240
Reaction score
320
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
Vehicles
19 Bullitt, 19Edge ST, 21 Explorer ST ,21 MMEGTPE
Country flag
And a related question - have you had trouble getting the car into car wash mode? That is my biggest fear. Personally I don't have a problem with automatic car washes. Been using them for years and my cars look great. Parking in the garage is the best way to keep them looking good, regardless of how you clean them, IMO.
This. I always get trades rated "Excellent" and I run my vehicles through good professional washes once a week on average. It gets the bugs and road treatment chemicals off the car which is even more critical in preserving your paint. I detail them once a year. I just traded a 5.5 year old F-150 for $36k (paid $55) and they couldn't believe how great the paint looked. I park in a garage at home and at work so that makes a big difference like you said.

FYI, make sure Auto Hold is off, OR after you put the vehicle in neutral, push the "L" button to put it in a "Neutral Hold". A message will display on the screen telling you it's in Hold. You have to push the brake to release the gear selector so you can get it back in Drive.
 

MABachE131

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Sep 5, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
178
Reaction score
229
Location
Ohio
Vehicles
Mach-E GT in DMG
Country flag
Mike's Carwash ultimate wash. Car always looks great, even the tires and wheels! Never any paint problems or swirls. My last car's paint looked new still when I sold it, which was considered to be in excellent condition. The car was a Fusion Sport which I believe was built in this same factory.
 

blue92lx

Well-Known Member
First Name
Adam
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
609
Reaction score
1,116
Location
Florida
Vehicles
Ford Fusion
Country flag
We pay for unlimited premium washes for both of our main vehicles, use them few times a week. Don't like taking the time to wash, especially when its cold. Her vehicle is huge and takes forever too.
Same here, I just do the unlimited touchless and then once a month or every 2 months do a full hand wash at home. Keep a sealant on my car and refresh that as needed, especially since I don't have a garage.
 

ARK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Threads
42
Messages
2,732
Reaction score
3,986
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicles
Mustang Mach E
Country flag
I go to a normal car wash (automated touch). The only ā€˜issueā€™ I have had is that the crevices around the hatch seem to retain water for a bit after going through the automated wash. Itā€™s not an issue of water intrusion, but once the car is dried by the attendants, water still comes out of the crevices of the hatch and runs down the rear, messing up the wash. Even if I make sure it is all dry at the car wash, once I drive away, more water seems to come out and run down the rear, so it is hard to get the back squeaky clean.

I hope I donā€™t get a ticket for this post.
 


blue92lx

Well-Known Member
First Name
Adam
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
609
Reaction score
1,116
Location
Florida
Vehicles
Ford Fusion
Country flag
I go to a normal car wash (automated touch). The only ā€˜issueā€™ I have had is that the crevices around the hatch seem to retain water for a bit after going through the automated wash. Itā€™s not an issue of water intrusion, but once the car is dried by the attendants, water still comes out of the crevices of the hatch and runs down the rear, messing up the wash. Even if I make sure it is all dry at the car wash, once I drive away, more water seems to come out and run down the rear, so it is hard to get the back squeaky clean.

I hope I donā€™t get a ticket for this post.
Same here with the touchless. They never really seem to get the dryer blowers to hit the back. Even when my wife does the touch version on her car when the bugs are really bad eventually I still have to wipe the back of the car off.

And no ticket so don't worry, it's just straight to car washing jail for you.
 

Illinibird

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
1,445
Location
Frankfort Illinois
Vehicles
2015 Acura MDX Adv; 2016 Titanium Fusion Hybrid
Occupation
retired Endodontist (root canal specialist) and Clinical Assistant Professor
Country flag
The thing is if you live somewhere like Florida it's MISERABLE hand washing your car even on a weekly basis. It doesn't matter how early you plan on doing it, it's 8:30am right now and I would be see through clothing in sweat if I went outside to wash my car.

That's why touchless carwashes are crucial in places like this because the car stays clean and I can hand wash it maybe once a month.
Same up north in the winter and its 10 below zero with the car covered with road salt. I think this is where I use an automatic car wash that sprays the undercarriage as well. I'm still uncertain how to handle that shift to neutral thing as I think most attendants have never heard or seen it. I know I've never done it personally.
 

JamieGeek

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Threads
82
Messages
3,556
Reaction score
6,746
Location
Southeastern Michigan
Website
spareelectrons.wordpress.com
Vehicles
Mach-E, old: Bolt, C-Max Energi, Focus Electric
Country flag
Same up north in the winter and its 10 below zero with the car covered with road salt. I think this is where I use an automatic car wash that sprays the undercarriage as well. I'm still uncertain how to handle that shift to neutral thing as I think most attendants have never heard or seen it. I know I've never done it personally.
If you drive in 1-P turn off auto hold. Then you just shift into neutral like you do on any other car. (Since auto hold isn't really needed with 1-P on).

The other option for 1-P and auto hold on is shift to neutral while the car is still rolling forward just a little bit (e.g. don't let it come to a stop before shifting to neutral).

Otherwise yeah: N-L-"Ok"
 

generaltso

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Threads
69
Messages
14,710
Reaction score
26,808
Location
Vermont
Vehicles
2021 MME Premium AWD SR Infinite Blue
Country flag
I go to a normal car wash (automated touch). The only ā€˜issueā€™ I have had is that the crevices around the hatch seem to retain water for a bit after going through the automated wash. Itā€™s not an issue of water intrusion, but once the car is dried by the attendants, water still comes out of the crevices of the hatch and runs down the rear, messing up the wash. Even if I make sure it is all dry at the car wash, once I drive away, more water seems to come out and run down the rear, so it is hard to get the back squeaky clean.
Yeah, you're right about that. I also have soap that hides up under the rear spoiler that the car wash has a hard time rinsing off. I usually use a microfiber cloth to manually dry that area after getting out of the tunnel. But even with that, I can't quite reach the highest point of the rear windshield because of the spoiler.
 

mkhuffman

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Nov 19, 2020
Threads
24
Messages
6,073
Reaction score
8,021
Location
Virginia
Vehicles
2021 MME GT, Jeep GC-L, VW Jetta
Country flag
Why would there be trouble? Put it in Neutral and then hit the L button. Itā€™s not difficult. Give it a try.
In 72 years when my MME arrives, I will try that. It sounds simple, but some car wash kids are not very careful.
 

generaltso

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Threads
69
Messages
14,710
Reaction score
26,808
Location
Vermont
Vehicles
2021 MME Premium AWD SR Infinite Blue
Country flag
In 72 years when my MME arrives, I will try that. It sounds simple, but some car wash kids are not very careful.
The car wash I go to has the driver stay in the car, so I haven't run into that. But when you put it in Neutral, a message pops up on the screen saying to press the L button to leave it in Neutral, so it should be pretty easy for them to figure out.
 

mkhuffman

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Nov 19, 2020
Threads
24
Messages
6,073
Reaction score
8,021
Location
Virginia
Vehicles
2021 MME GT, Jeep GC-L, VW Jetta
Country flag
The car wash I go to has the driver stay in the car, so I haven't run into that. But when you put it in Neutral, a message pops up on the screen saying to press the L button to leave it in Neutral, so it should be pretty easy for them to figure out.
I think the car wash I use will let you stay in the car if you want to, as it goes through the tunnel. Then I can get out at the end so they can dry it off. Or I stand there while they vacuum and give the teenager specific instructions before it heads in. Or maybe it is so easy, a teenager can't screw it up!
 

ZuleMME

Well-Known Member
First Name
Zule
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
Threads
10
Messages
1,020
Reaction score
1,481
Location
Denver, CO
Vehicles
21' Job1 P4X MME, 22' MYP
Occupation
Implementation Engineer
Country flag
Yep, I'm squarely in the ceramic coat early on and then touchless car wash 2-3 times a week on a club deal for a low price and each year upkeep the ceramic. If you get good ceramic in the first place the hybrid ceramic/wax stuff works well to restore hydrophobicity to the paint.
 

Scooby24

Well-Known Member
First Name
Greg
Joined
Jul 2, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
1,897
Reaction score
2,871
Location
Olathe, KS
Vehicles
'21 MME-GT Star White; '22 MME Prem AWD DGM
Occupation
Perioperative Revenue Manager
Country flag
Touchless car washes are, generally speaking, fine. They are most effective by using a Low and High PH combination of pre-soak and high pressure wash. Some contaminants are removed better with a Basic solution, others and Acidic so the 1-2 punch of using both results in the best touch free experience. However these can result in damage over time, particularly to plastics which are not as chemically resistant. Uncoated piano blacks can turn purple, matte black plastics fade, rubber dries out, etc.

I take no issue using touchless washes during the winter when it's too cold to get out and do it myself...but I also regularly have a ceramic or poly sealant on the vehicle.

On my 2018 M40i, the prior owner likely ran it through washes often and never coated it as I had to get the piano black rear spoiler replaced as it turned purple. New one is not having an issue (but I also haven't been through an auto wash since replacement).

Just don't rely on auto washes alone. Or at least I wouldn't recommend it.
 

blue92lx

Well-Known Member
First Name
Adam
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
609
Reaction score
1,116
Location
Florida
Vehicles
Ford Fusion
Country flag
Touchless car washes are, generally speaking, fine. They are most effective by using a Low and High PH combination of pre-soak and high pressure wash. Some contaminants are removed better with a Basic solution, others and Acidic so the 1-2 punch of using both results in the best touch free experience. However these can result in damage over time, particularly to plastics which are not as chemically resistant. Uncoated piano blacks can turn purple, matte black plastics fade, rubber dries out, etc.

I take no issue using touchless washes during the winter when it's too cold to get out and do it myself...but I also regularly have a ceramic or poly sealant on the vehicle.

On my 2018 M40i, the prior owner likely ran it through washes often and never coated it as I had to get the piano black rear spoiler replaced as it turned purple. New one is not having an issue (but I also haven't been through an auto wash since replacement).

Just don't rely on auto washes alone. Or at least I wouldn't recommend it.
Interesting, I haven't heard of Touchless washes being damaging. I always have a coat on everything anyway, including plastics. Maybe that's why I haven't had issues in the past on it.
Sponsored

 
 




Top