Is a Drive Thru Car Wash Bad? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

EDV · 02-23-2015, 07:29 PM

I'm wondering if a drive thru car wash, like the ones at gas stations are bad for the car's paint? There's one near my house that has rubber spinners. I used to take my pearl white chrysler 300 there, and it was fine every time. No scratches that I could notice. But now I have a car I actually care more about and it's black. So is it true that rubber drive thru car washes are bad? Or is it just a myth? Thanks.

BRAVO 2SS · 02-23-2015, 07:33 PM

If you want tons of swirls...go for it. Especially since its black it will show a lot more. Just wash it yourself.

Homer2 · 02-23-2015, 07:36 PM

Don't use brushes on black.. go touchless if you use a carwash.

I just bought a package that gives me 90 washes in 90 days - to keep the crap off the car, but she is white and no swirls will be seen by the new soft spinners.

flyinlow89 · 02-23-2015, 07:39 PM

Yes it will leave swirls. An when you find touch free washes, the soaps and cleaners are more harsh and have caustic properties.

Irace16 · 02-23-2015, 07:53 PM

I run mine through a touch less once in a while just for the under body flush. But mostly wash by hand. When it's warm, so not anytime soon , why do I live here?

EDV · 02-23-2015, 08:09 PM

Cool! Glad to hear this, and thanks for the responses. So with a black color, its no brushes at all then? And now it makes sense why I didn't see it on the white.

So I should go touchless when I dont wash it myself?

AzItaliaSS · 02-23-2015, 08:47 PM

Is this a real question?

Homer2 · 02-23-2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzItaliaSS

Is this a real question?

Are we living our own lives or is the Matrix living them for us?

Adam's Polishes · 02-23-2015, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDV

I'm wondering if a drive thru car wash, like the ones at gas stations are bad for the car's paint? There's one near my house that has rubber spinners. I used to take my pearl white chrysler 300 there, and it was fine every time. No scratches that I could notice. But now I have a car I actually care more about and it's black. So is it true that rubber drive thru car washes are bad? Or is it just a myth? Thanks.

As the others touched on - a tunnel wash with brushes will introduce swirls to your paint. I know you may not have seen the swirls on your white pearl paint, but they were there. Its just very difficult to see swirl marks on white.

EDV · 02-24-2015, 02:30 AM

I just wonder why drive thru washes with brushes are an option in the first place if they really do as much damage as the fearful world makes it seem... But, I guess they need to be demolished hahaha.

And given that mine is a used black model, I just looked and noticed that it already came with some swirl marks. I guess the past owner didn't know, but at least I'm not adding more to it..

snarky · 02-24-2015, 05:25 AM

sure, if you don't really like your car and you don't plan on keeping it long.

Adam's Polishes · 02-24-2015, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDV

I just wonder why drive thru washes with brushes are an option in the first place if they really do as much damage as the fearful world makes it seem... But, I guess they need to be demolished hahaha.

Fact is, those of us who care are a rare breed. The massive majority of the driving world likes convenience and low cost options to make their car look less dirty. Most wouldn't know what a swirl mark was go begin with.

Statistically speaking there is a reason colors like silver and metallic grays are rapidly becoming the most common and popular choice for new car buyers. They don't look like hell all the time if you don't take care of them. My in-laws purposely sought out silver cars for their recent purchases so they would be 'easier to maintain'. According to industry info the top colors for vehicles over the last 5 years:

1. White
2. Silver
3. Gray
4. Black

krisprz2010camaross · 02-24-2015, 10:58 AM

Don't use drive ins! Especially if you have rally stripes. Always get hand car washes.

scandata · 02-24-2015, 03:39 PM

I've posted this in other threads on this topic, but I think it bears repeating.
If you have a convertible, DO NOT use one that has a blow dryer at the end of the cycle. If it does, pull out before the dryer starts. I almost always hand-wash my car, but on a few occasions I'd been pushed for time and used a touchless car wash. I was impressed with how well the hurricane strength blowers dried my car. Then after a few times through I noticed that the top was starting to tear at the seam (see the heartbreaking pics). The pressure of the wind blowing straight down must have done it, because it sounded like the cast of Riverdance was rehearsing up there.

02-23-2015, 07:29 PM	#1
EDV Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 12	Is a Drive Thru Car Wash Bad? I'm wondering if a drive thru car wash, like the ones at gas stations are bad for the car's paint? There's one near my house that has rubber spinners. I used to take my pearl white chrysler 300 there, and it was fine every time. No scratches that I could notice. But now I have a car I actually care more about and it's black. So is it true that rubber drive thru car washes are bad? Or is it just a myth? Thanks.

02-23-2015, 07:33 PM	#2
BRAVO 2SS Aim Small...Miss Small Drives: 2018 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 866	If you want tons of swirls...go for it. Especially since its black it will show a lot more. Just wash it yourself. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS

02-23-2015, 07:36 PM	#3
Homer2 Drives: 50th Anni.. coming home 11/01 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto. Ontario Posts: 1,636	Don't use brushes on black.. go touchless if you use a carwash. I just bought a package that gives me 90 washes in 90 days - to keep the crap off the car, but she is white and no swirls will be seen by the new soft spinners. __________________ ##################### Built Sept 16/2016 - #2681 of 5955. She came home with me 11/01/16. 50th Anni, 2SS, A8, NPP, NGM Rock Guards, Footwell Lighting, Black Bow Ties, Street Warrior Rotors and Pads, Ceramic Pro, 3M PPF, Oracle Ghosted Side Markers, Kooks 2" headers w/hi flow cats. GPI Stage 1 Cam installed at 305,000 kms.

02-23-2015, 07:39 PM	#4
flyinlow89 Smoke Alotapotomous Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brechin, Ontario Posts: 955	Yes it will leave swirls. An when you find touch free washes, the soaps and cleaners are more harsh and have caustic properties. __________________ 2010 Camaro TT SS. AGP twin Turbo

02-23-2015, 07:53 PM	#5
Irace16 Drives: 2010 1SS RS M6 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin Posts: 521	I run mine through a touch less once in a while just for the under body flush. But mostly wash by hand. When it's warm, so not anytime soon , why do I live here? __________________ Vararam intake, gmpp exhaust, borla stainless long tubes, cat less, jannetty tune, bmr lowering springs, heritage grill , smoked lenses

02-23-2015, 08:09 PM	#6
EDV Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 12	Cool! Glad to hear this, and thanks for the responses. So with a black color, its no brushes at all then? And now it makes sense why I didn't see it on the white. So I should go touchless when I dont wash it myself?

02-23-2015, 08:47 PM	#7
AzItaliaSS Drives: 2010 2ss RJT LS3 GONE.... Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: GILBERT,ARIZONA Posts: 720	Is this a real question? __________________ GONE FAR FAR AWAY......Good bye C5 VARARAM, SWSP 1 7/8 LT'S,X-PIPE,CAT DELETE,DYNOMAX RACE BULLETTS, LSR SHORT SHIFTER ,CUSTOM BLACK EMBLEMS,MPD1 SPOILER, HP TUNE BY GEARHEAD GARAGE, INTERIOR ABL LIGHTING, CUSTOM STRIPING BY BEAVER STRIPES, EIBACHS

02-24-2015, 02:30 AM	#10
EDV Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 12	I just wonder why drive thru washes with brushes are an option in the first place if they really do as much damage as the fearful world makes it seem... But, I guess they need to be demolished hahaha. And given that mine is a used black model, I just looked and noticed that it already came with some swirl marks. I guess the past owner didn't know, but at least I'm not adding more to it..

02-24-2015, 05:25 AM	#11
snarky ultracrepidarianism Drives: '14 1SS/RS/1LE/NPP '18 Accord Sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: where folks drive like shit Posts: 1,297	sure, if you don't really like your car and you don't plan on keeping it long.

02-24-2015, 10:58 AM	#13
krisprz2010camaross Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss/Rs Transformers Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Yorba Linda, California Posts: 1,564	Don't use drive ins! Especially if you have rally stripes. Always get hand car washes. __________________ YouTube:Krisprz garage Insta:kris__perez & krisprz_garage LS3 conversion Vararam intake(tune model) Kooks LT headers & cats delete Corsa ZL1 3" exhaust RedBarn Racing Tune CMS Stage 3 Cam AFR CNC ported heads MSD Spark plug wires LNC-2000 Launch controller NGK TR6 Spark Plugs 1le strut tower brace-TPIS spacers Nick Williams 102mm throttle body Fast lsxr 102 intake manifold Slp 25% UDP Katech Tensioner Pulley Circle D 3600-3700 multi disk Stall GM 3.91 gears DDS carbon fiber driveshaft ZL1 fuel pump & injectors Flex fuel sensor(91/E85) https://wheelwell.com/kris-perez

02-24-2015, 03:39 PM	#14
scandata Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 1,284	I've posted this in other threads on this topic, but I think it bears repeating. If you have a convertible, DO NOT use one that has a blow dryer at the end of the cycle. If it does, pull out before the dryer starts. I almost always hand-wash my car, but on a few occasions I'd been pushed for time and used a touchless car wash. I was impressed with how well the hurricane strength blowers dried my car. Then after a few times through I noticed that the top was starting to tear at the seam (see the heartbreaking pics). The pressure of the wind blowing straight down must have done it, because it sounded like the cast of Riverdance was rehearsing up there. __________________ 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present) 2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015)