car washes - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

freddyD · 03-20-2014, 04:22 PM

today after work I went to my shell store and got gas and a car wash-auto,one Its the second time I used it did a good job.But today when it was done I pulled out and saw my gas door had popped open,good thing it did not get snapped off!word to the wise,word to your muther,guess I won;t be going there again.

kostnkost · 03-20-2014, 04:27 PM

Word to the wise - Stay away from car washes all together

freddyD · 03-20-2014, 04:37 PM

yeah-you got that right!I always hand wash my cars-always!But I was lazy!

firedrop · 03-20-2014, 04:51 PM

last time i took my camaro to a car wash i had 5+ paint chips missing. probably from rocks in the scrubbers. never again.

Destructo09 · 03-20-2014, 08:12 PM

If you must use a auto wash then try to find a touchless, the brush ones do get it clean much better, but they'll leave you with swirl marks.

I hit a laser wash occasionally during the winter but mostly just for the chassis wash, otherwise I hand wash.

jdsblueray2013 · 03-20-2014, 08:33 PM

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! STAY away from the automatic car washes! they are nothing but trouble!!!

mynetdude · 03-20-2014, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kostnkost

Word to the wise - Stay away from car washes all together

I pretty much have to with one of my vehicles; car washes will not repair any damages to 3rd party addons even if they were dealer installed (most common things are side steps, rail steps, bug guards, etc) my mom has had a few of these ripped off by the touchless they wouldn't replace it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destructo09

If you must use a auto wash then try to find a touchless, the brush ones do get it clean much better, but they'll leave you with swirl marks.

I hit a laser wash occasionally during the winter but mostly just for the chassis wash, otherwise I hand wash.

I was going to ask about undercarriage/chasis wash; how do you do this without a carwash? The only way I can think of doing this is finding a mechanic shop willing to let you "rent" their rack so you can wash underneath but MOST mechs won't do this because of liability issues.

Muscle Car Lover · 03-20-2014, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynetdude

I pretty much have to with one of my vehicles; car washes will not repair any damages to 3rd party addons even if they were dealer installed (most common things are side steps, rail steps, bug guards, etc) my mom has had a few of these ripped off by the touchless they wouldn't replace it.

I was going to ask about undercarriage/chasis wash; how do you do this without a carwash? The only way I can think of doing this is finding a mechanic shop willing to let you "rent" their rack so you can wash underneath but MOST mechs won't do this because of liability issues.

Good point. Would love to flush the underside of the car, but yes those auto washes have hidden dangers.

mynetdude · 03-20-2014, 08:57 PM

also FWIW those auto washes get the rotors really really really wet hand washing not so much (I know from experience, I've had pretty slippery rotors) while its not a major deal as the wind and heat will dry it off but when you first come out you'll notice it kinda slipping a little.

beany323 · 03-20-2014, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddyD

yeah-you got that right!I always hand wash my cars-always!But I was lazy!

lol.. its going to sux when you have to pay someone to fix swirls ect or have to do it yourself..... gl..

ladarisyuan · 03-20-2014, 09:42 PM

I always hand wash my cars-always!But I was lazy!

big papa · 03-20-2014, 09:47 PM

Its a Camaro, not a collector car or classic. Wash it how you want. Mine goes thru the auto car wash every 2 weeks. 4 years old and a few swirls. Unless u have a show car, might as well have someone else wash it. Before I try to sell it, I'll have someone buff it out. Well worth not washing it by hand for 4 years!!!

MYDLIFECRISIS · 03-20-2014, 10:07 PM

I always drive mine through a car wash. I have one near me...does a good job. I then spin dry at a certain mph

and then detail it with some wax at home. When I'm done, it looks awesome! Not a show car, but looks beautiful!

Oh, and once I read the title of the thread, I started singing "Workin' at the car wash!"

angryv6 · 03-20-2014, 10:34 PM

Touchless wash because of how narrow my driveway is. I'll do more damage trying to squeeze in between the two homes and my car than the carwash would do.

03-20-2014, 04:22 PM	#1
freddyD Drives: 2020 rally green rs Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,159	car washes today after work I went to my shell store and got gas and a car wash-auto,one Its the second time I used it did a good job.But today when it was done I pulled out and saw my gas door had popped open,good thing it did not get snapped off!word to the wise,word to your muther,guess I won;t be going there again.

03-20-2014, 04:27 PM	#2
kostnkost Roof expert detail noob Drives: 2013 BRM 2LT RS Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 822	Word to the wise - Stay away from car washes all together __________________

03-20-2014, 04:51 PM	#4
firedrop Drives: 2012 2ss/l99 a6, victory red Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: philadelphia Posts: 387	last time i took my camaro to a car wash i had 5+ paint chips missing. probably from rocks in the scrubbers. never again. __________________ 2012 2ss l99/a6 CAI, custom catback with flowmaster series 10s

03-20-2014, 08:12 PM	#5
Destructo09 Drives: 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS/LS3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Raleigh-Durham Posts: 1,409	If you must use a auto wash then try to find a touchless, the brush ones do get it clean much better, but they'll leave you with swirl marks. I hit a laser wash occasionally during the winter but mostly just for the chassis wash, otherwise I hand wash. __________________ 2010 2SS BMR 1" Springs Koni Orange struts/shocks 1LE rear sway bar SRP Racing Pedals Hurst Billet short shifter Square tire/wheel setup Elite Engineering Catch Can Stainless Power longtubes/highflow cats K&N Typhoon CAI RPM Motorsports of Garner, NC dyno tune (421 RWHP)

03-20-2014, 09:47 PM	#12
big papa Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ Posts: 190	Its a Camaro, not a collector car or classic. Wash it how you want. Mine goes thru the auto car wash every 2 weeks. 4 years old and a few swirls. Unless u have a show car, might as well have someone else wash it. Before I try to sell it, I'll have someone buff it out. Well worth not washing it by hand for 4 years!!! __________________ 19 GMC CC 4x4 2019 Harley RGS

03-20-2014, 04:37 PM	#3
freddyD Drives: 2020 rally green rs Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,159	yeah-you got that right!I always hand wash my cars-always!But I was lazy!

03-20-2014, 08:33 PM	#6
jdsblueray2013 Drives: 2013 Camaro 2ssrs Blue Ray Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Chi town, south suburbs Posts: 613 View My Garage	DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! STAY away from the automatic car washes! they are nothing but trouble!!!

03-20-2014, 08:57 PM	#9
mynetdude Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LT RS V6 Silver Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 268	also FWIW those auto washes get the rotors really really really wet hand washing not so much (I know from experience, I've had pretty slippery rotors) while its not a major deal as the wind and heat will dry it off but when you first come out you'll notice it kinda slipping a little.

03-20-2014, 09:42 PM	#11
ladarisyuan Drives: bmw Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: london Posts: 3	I always hand wash my cars-always!But I was lazy!

03-20-2014, 10:07 PM	#13
MYDLIFECRISIS Drives: '12SS/2SS/45TH-'06 2500HD/Silverado Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 2,107 View My Garage	I always drive mine through a car wash. I have one near me...does a good job. I then spin dry at a certain mph and then detail it with some wax at home. When I'm done, it looks awesome! Not a show car, but looks beautiful! Oh, and once I read the title of the thread, I started singing "Workin' at the car wash!" __________________ 2012 Camaro SS 2SS 45TH Anniversary Edition

03-20-2014, 10:34 PM	#14
angryv6 Lake Erie Monster Drives: 02 Hyundai Santa Fe and 13 300 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 917	Touchless wash because of how narrow my driveway is. I'll do more damage trying to squeeze in between the two homes and my car than the carwash would do. __________________ Everything I say is to be taken as an opinion and not fact so don't get upset over words that spill out of my head. GO CAVS!