Automatic Car Washes when Hand Washing isn't an Option?

[Romans5.8]

The one near me foams the car, then let's it dwell, then does a high pressure rinse followed by spotless (and that's the basic). It's a good system in theory.

My issue is what chemicals they are using. If I had a coating that wouldn't concern me. But as I don't, I'm concerned about heavy duty degreasers and other harsh soaps that are likely to strip wax and sealant from my car. Even if you do have a coating, if you aren't using a coating on wheels, trim and glass, then I would be equally concerned about any protection on those areas being removed in a wash or two (or five or never, who knows, and that's kind of the point. I DONT know, and the idea of letting soaps hit my car that are probably the lowest bidder and I have no clue what they are is the whole issue).

 

[Desertnate]

The one near me foams the car, then let's it dwell, then does a high pressure rinse followed by spotless (and that's the basic). It's a good system in theory.

My issue is what chemicals they are using. If I had a coating that wouldn't concern me. But as I don't, I'm concerned about heavy duty degreasers and other harsh soaps that are likely to strip wax and sealant from my car. Even if you do have a coating, if you aren't using a coating on wheels, trim and glass, then I would be equally concerned about any protection on those areas being removed in a wash or two (or five or never, who knows, and that's kind of the point. I DONT know, and the idea of letting soaps hit my car that are probably the lowest bidder and I have no clue what they are is the whole issue).

I don't think that stuff will remove a good wax/sealant in a wash or two.

I'm stuck doing touchless washes in the winter. It just gets too cold for too long and I really need to keep the road grime and salt off our cars. I have noticed that in the past an application of Klasse that would normally last well beyond 6 months in normal will barely last five after being subjected to touchless washes.

Right now I've got two daily drivers, one with a coat of Collinite 845 and other with two coats of Klasse are still going strong with three touchless washes under their belts. I'm not naive enough to think I'm not shortening the life of those products on my vehicles, but I do think they are durable enough to last just long enough to get through winter.

 

[wdmaccord]

I guess its best not to generalize about touchless car washes as they aren't created equal. The one I use is very unique. It makes two passes with foam before HP rinse...thats two passes...which is more than I do when doing it myself. It then does two HP rinse passes and one "spotless" rinse before blasting the car with air. It vibrates the car the air is so powerful and its completely dry other than the usual hard to get areas.

I also do not use the wax option....just foam, HP wash, rinse, dry. The coating does make a big difference.

I think the point being made is that when we do our own foam cannon soak, we know what soap we are using, whether it be something like CG Red for a strip-down, or DG901 for a maintenance wash (we know which soap will harm/remove the LSP and which ones won't). We don't know what the touchless owner purchases for his pre-soak (or pre-foam).