OldsmoBeast Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 I want to wash all the frikken salt off my car but i don't know which type of auto wash is better, the touch-free car wash or the regular "alien machine" as i would call it in the early days I wish it was summer so i could do it myself without freezing my A$$ off! Thanks for ur input. EDIT: I was just worried that the normal kind's cleaning strip thingys would be all dirty and full of salt from the cars before it. I know the touchlesses have cons too but one's got to be better than the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeZ34 Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 I used to run my lumina through the automatic car wash once after a big snow storm. The ones here have the undercarriage sprayers, which is really the only way to get the underside totally covered. Just drive slowly over them and that's about the best way you can do it.. Then anytime after that I would always hand wash it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolumz34 Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 hows your paint... I took my friend jeep into a touchless one day... had a little bubble in the paint when I went in...when I came out...there was half the panel cleaned off..paint and all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 lol ouch! my paint's fairly decent but there's a couple small chips and a lil rust spot.....damn that's kinda freaky haha ur car goes in one side with paint, comes out the other with none. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolumz34 Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 Well...insurance paid for it... so maybe if you want a new paint job...there ya go; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 hmm.....not a bad idea......although i wouldn't really want my premiums to go up any higher than they already are...or would they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolumz34 Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 I don't know about american Insurance. I know in Canada... Anything like that does not rise it...it's no fault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismellrealbad Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 New Jersey insurance cuts your arm off for a claim. if its ur fault its an arm leg, and your genitals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 if u haven't noticed, lolumz, I'm in the same province as you.....probably not too far either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 I like the touchless ones. I used one yesterday that had air dryers. Them things can move some air! :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismellrealbad Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 haha those thing slook like little worms flapping around. and yea ur very right, they flap my windshield wipers up n down (when i have a car that doesnt hidfe them away like ours 8) ) I wonder if they ever blow loose things off people cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 You must have different dryers. These are built in to the overhead part that moves back and forth to wash the car. All they are is big fans that blow the water off the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismellrealbad Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 the one i goto has like 15 tubes throwing air out at ur car very fast and the tubes squiggle around a little bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmo1234 Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 the one i goto has like 15 tubes throwing air out at ur car very fast and the tubes squiggle around a little bit Same down with the high power blowers that lift the wipers in my Altima. But those touchless never get the dirt off that accumulates down here in Florida and all of the birdshieeett. But then the ones that are touch not less the ones with the spinning fabric/rubber eat non power antennas for lunch. I have lost 2 on my old Celebrity and bent 1 in my lumina (straightened it by hand after) Both suck, hand wash only for me. but if i was up north then probably just touchless to get the salt off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismellrealbad Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 didnt you go out and unscrew it before you go in? every on ive gone to one it always has a big sign telling you to take off ur antenna. some cars (like my moms sable) has supposedly a car wash proof antenna, it twists around itself and is more flexible when bent around. i would still even remove those kind tho cuz they feel unstable too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOHCRagtopguy Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 For Convertibles, constant car washes are hard on the seams around the rear window. The hot air blower can possibly break them. But when really salty, best to go thru touchless. With undercarriage wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolumz34 Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Yeah...you aren't to far...waterloo is only a couple hours away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastemcutlass Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 The touchless washes are the best for the paint. I noticed they don't clean as well. but I have a black car and refuse to use the touch type cuz it likes to put small scratches in the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfox340 Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Neither! Hand wash! Well, depending on the weather... (Denver still stays above freezing during the day) but otherwise, I'd go with either based on quality and main focus of cleaning: if you just want the salt residue off, high or low pressure non-touch... watch the seals and paint. - RedFox340 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Well, majority rules, and the touchless wash is the closest one to my house so I chose.....touchfree @ sunoco. I've never used that one before and i must say it was really good! Drove in, and had a whole load of jets circulate around the car a few times, it did a prerinse, wash, rinse, wash, and then another rinse. sometime during that period it did an undercar wash as well. it cleaned surprisingly well, but didn't damage anything. I had a little issue about the dryers though. There were 3 overhead dryers and probably a couple in the sides. the middle one was oscillating back and forth and all the other ones were stationary. you had to drive through it at you own pace, and it gives you 75 seconds to drive through before it turns the dryers off. I must have been in a little bit of a hurry, because it only took me 25 seconds to drive through 'slowly' and my car was still a little bit wet when i left. Even though it's a Hot water wash, the little drops on the car had turned to ice by the time i get home. I'd better break out the heat gun and start waxing right about now... thanks for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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