Can you legitimately "drive through car-wash" ?

[rmpackers]

Originally Posted by blazzin1

You SoCal guys are so funny!!! Let me see if I can help you understand this.... Winter is a seasonal change in the weather when it actually gets "cold" (that is the opposite of hot) in the northern part of the country!!! In some areas it actually gets BELOW FREEZING (imagine ice cubes!). Now...When water freezes, it expands. So, if water lines freeze (such as those going to an exterior faucet), there's a good possibility of rupturing those lines. Therefore, many places shut off the supply to exterior water sources during this strange phenominom called winter! Also, water in a 55 gallon drum would more than likely freeze too (even inside an uninsulated garage)!!! Weird Concept huh!?!?!

I do apologize in advance for my smart-@$$ sarcasm, I just couldn't resist!!!

[Hoddi]

Originally Posted by blazzin1

You SoCal guys are so funny!!! Let me see if I can help you understand this.... Winter is a seasonal change in the weather when it actually gets "cold" (that is the opposite of hot) in the northern part of the country!!! In some areas it actually gets BELOW FREEZING (imagine ice cubes!). Now...When water freezes, it expands. So, if water lines freeze (such as those going to an exterior faucet), there's a good possibility of rupturing those lines. Therefore, many places shut off the supply to exterior water sources during this strange phenominom called winter! Also, water in a 55 gallon drum would more than likely freeze too (even inside an uninsulated garage)!!! Weird Concept huh!?!?!

I do apologize in advance for my smart-@$$ sarcasm, I just couldn't resist!!!

better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass

I feel for you guys -- I really do. Don't know how you survive in that
weather!

[Mr Smith]

Yep..Used to be a So Cal Dez dweller...Im in Northern Nevada now and didnt realize the whole turning off water in the front of the house thing until after the pipes burst the first winter I was here. Driveway faces North also so even if I did manage to get some water out..its frozen before it hits the car or ground.

[Rich1]

I use the touchless and have never had a problem.

[Partick]

My local car wash has a "hand wash" option and they do a pretty good job. It's a little more expensive but well worth it.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Partick

My local car wash has a "hand wash" option and they do a pretty good job. It's a little more expensive but well worth it.

After I had a bunch of teenagers one time "Hand Washed" My car at one of those places and when I got home found it covered in scratches from the dirty rags they used, I never let anyone elses hands wash mine.

[Partick]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

After I had a bunch of teenagers one time "Hand Washed" My car at one of those places and when I got home found it covered in scratches from the dirty rags they used, I never let anyone elses hands wash mine.

Sorry to hear that I've had pretty good luck with mine.

[PnCRedJwl2SS]

I do touch-less pretty often...but I don't have any stripes. Would think twice if I did...

Touch-less is very convenient, but keep in mind that every car wash is different. Some will use much higher pressure than others. Do what I did and observe several cars going through. Get a feel for how much pressure the touch-less delivers. If it is making an un-godly noise on cars as you observe, it's probably too high and might do some damage.

If it sounds a little more powerful than when you use a sprayer attachment on your garden hose at home, you're probably ok.

Then test it once and check the car carefully afterwards...

Hope this helps!

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by PnCRedJwl2SS

I do touch-less pretty often...but I don't have any stripes. Would think twice if I did...

Touch-less is very convenient, but keep in mind that every car wash is different. Some will use much higher pressure than others. Do what I did and observe several cars going through. Get a feel for how much pressure the touch-less delivers. If it is making an un-godly noise on cars as you observe, it's probably too high and might do some damage.

If it sounds a little more powerful than when you use a sprayer attachment on your garden hose at home, you're probably ok.

Then test it once and check the car carefully afterwards...

Hope this helps!

The thing is you have like 20 0r more nozzles spraying your car, so it it does not sound much louder than your garden hose you don't have much pressure at all... if it sounds 20 times as loud then it will be about the same...

[mtcwby]

I use the touchless car wash all the time, no problem, the spray nozzles are moving rapidly back and forth. So it doesn't peel up decals. If they stayed in one spot for a while then I would worry.

Also, I pay for the best wash all the time, it includes undercarriage wash, lots of good tri-colored wax(smells good), spot free rinse, and even has a good dryer. Then when I'm done, I just wipe down the door jams, trunk seal area and under the hood, so nothing freezes closed. Also you can check with the management and see if they use soft water. Soft water helps the soaps work better, and doesn't leave spots.

[MrGazinya]

Originally Posted by rmpackers

I have been driving mine all winter, just make sure you find a good touchless wash, and I found one that has a great under spray to get all that crap off the bottom. Mine was waxed and polished to the hilt before the winter began, so all should be well in the spring. I try to go at least once a week. Never do brushes or ropey velcro things.

+1

[scythezo6]

If I lived somewhere cold enough to not wash in the driveway I would go to a touchless, just rinse the piss out of the brushes. Power wash em.

[hunt]

Originally Posted by rmpackers

Oh honey, you poor thing! Let me help you. The ambient temp in our garages in Nebraska on most days is about 24 degrees. It has been as low as 11 below zero on the outside. Right now we have only been above freezing about 5 days in the last 45. When you have a hose on the outside of your house the water will freeze and break your pipes on the inside of your house. The drum would be one big block 'o' ice. I'm one of the very few lucky ones in that my hubby built in an outlet in our garage that has heated/softened water, but when the water then freezes on your hood before you can even wipe it off, its a whole new ball game!

It was in the -30s with wind chill a few weeks ago here, nebraska winters suck. :( you lived here all your life?

[Angrybird 12]

Here is what the owners manual says about cleaning and waxing your Camaro.