Hardcore Detailers: How Cold Will You Wash

swanicyouth

swanicyouth

New member
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
9,388
Reaction score
0
samequmu.jpg


va5u7y6a.jpg


I'm at 23° now. No sweat.
 
Below 40 the suds start to freeze. How do you wash at 23? I only wash above 40.
 
In WV one year I went out and sprayed UWW+ on my car, it froze on contact....It was about 10 degrees.... So if it freezes I shouldn't be out washing....
 
I fire up the pressure washer at the shop and get it done. Sometimes it's so cold that ice forms on the panels before I get the car into the shop for a proper rinseless wash, clay alternative and polish. Winter detailing is a challenge for sure.

Directly after a wash I MUST break down the hoses from and to the pressure washer and blow the water out with compressed air or they'll freeze solid. I installed a heat tape and pipe insulation on the frost free yard hydrant to prevent it from freezing.

When I got to get it done, it's never too cold.
 
I stop hose washing in the low 50's.

The other night I waterless washed in my garage and I'd guess the temps were in the low 40's and I didn't encounter any problems. I think I'd waterless wash into upper 30's, but I won't mess with it if stuff starts freezing.
 
I have been thinking to build me a single car garage and have it with a waste supply and drain. Small ac unit and heater. Not sure what to use on the interior walls for water. Need to talk to my builder. We have a hot/cold outside faucet but my soap suds freeze before you hit freezing.
 
23° no freezing and foam works well. Dunno. Maybe cause the air is very still.

ysy2usuv.jpg
 
I washed and clayed a truck yesterday.
It was 41 degrees.
Once I start its OK but man its freaking cold once you get wet.

I won't wash below 38

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using AG Online
 
Good stuff. I have a interior and exterior detail for tonight and tomorrow. I am planning on doing the interior tonight and do the exterior tomorrow morning before I head north for deer camp. I just picked up some heavy duty long PVC gloves to use when washing in cold weather.
 
My brother has a very nice heated shop but this truck I'm working on won't fit.
What a bomber.
Much too tall.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using AG Online
 
I also have a heated garage, and depending on how dirty the vehicle is may end up just doing a waterless wash on it, and just wash the wheels and tires outside with the hose before I pull it into the garage.
 
Man, I don't care if its 23° or 23° below zero - I don't have the luxury of a heated garage. :(

I come from Norristown - my people are crazy.
 
KMG said:
I also have a heated garage, and depending on how dirty the vehicle is may end up just doing a waterless wash on it, and just wash the wheels and tires outside with the hose before I pull it into the garage.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
It's 35 right now and that's about borderline for me. I have a detail to do today for someone else and my plan is to pressure wash off the truck, wash the wheels, wheel wells, and tires outside and then pull it in the garage for a rinseless/waterless wash.
 
Swanicyouth you're really not all that far from me. For my full time job I work in Wyomissing right near PSU Berks which is where I am right now. I live about 40 min. from here though. I am pretty close to Hershey, and I'm sure you have been there before.
 
I was below freezing when I started yesterday. It never did get to 40. I had to take several breaks in order to defrost my hands.
I may complain but you guys in PA are a hardy(crazy) bunch! :)

 
swanicyouth said:
Man, I don't care if its 23° or 23° below zero - I don't have the luxury of a heated garage. :(

I come from Norristown - my people are crazy.
Click to expand...

Yeah swanic, you are hard core. I thought I was crazy. You da man.
Im the MANIm the MANIm the MAN
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top