Help me not succumb to temptation

Don M

Don M

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They recently installed a brand new touchless car wash less than a mile from my house. Temps here have been in the low 40's and too cold for this old man to wash his car ... even when using a bucket of hot soapy water. The result is a filthy, daily driven Camaro that is just horrendous to look at.

Part of me is saying, "Just leave it alone, it may be dirty, but you won't put swirls in it and the Ult Fast Finish will last longer not being exposed to the strong soaps of a touchless." The other part of me is saying, "IT'S DIRTY, USE THE TOUCHLESS, IT WON'T SWIRL THE PAINT .... you can use D115 on it after and add a little bit of protection."

Oh, the horror! I know it's WAY too cold to use ANY form of wax or sealant on it and I have no heated area to re-wax the car after going through the touchless.

What do I do!
 
Touchless is fine. Especially if your vehicle is sealed and or coated. I will run both of ours through one if it's nasty dirty and then will pull it in the garage to rinseless wash it. The only downside would be possible water spots from any residual water/soap being you have a black car.
 
Go through the touchless when you can't take living with a filthy car anymore and hope that you have a nice enough day here and there throughout the winter where you can bucket wash the car.
 
I use the touchless a few times in the winter to knock the road salt off, but fortunately we only generally have only 4 or 5 winter storms a year. I'll do a rinseless wash when its in the 40's. I use a pair of the kitchen dishwashing gloves to keep my hands reasonably warm in the process.

I usually use 476S or FK 1000P as winter protection, and the soap at the touchless really doesn't seem to affect them to any noticeable extent.
 
Well, I did it. Lots of suds & foam, lots of high pressure water (my car bounced around like a pinball) and high velocity air drying. All in all, not a bad job, it left a light film that can only be removed by "touching" the car, but nothing I would feel uncomfortable about using a Waterless Wash (and WW scare me).
 
I would want the under carriage blast. My car is not undercoated either, but would rather wash away as much as possible. Go silver IMO.
 
Don - this is my plan for this winter. Go to the self serve in the evening and do a bucket wash and just use the self serve water. But been thinking about getting the WORX battery powered power wash and just do the bucket wash in the driveway (if not below freezing). I'm in my 70's and the cold and I don't get along very well.
 
Don M said:
I would feel uncomfortable about using a Waterless Wash (and WW scare me).
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Do a modified version. Spray bottle or garden sprayer and a handful of fully soaked 480gsm rags. You'll be fine. I do mine all the time with zero issues. Key is to ensure you use light pressure, roll the rag as you wipe to ensure you're using a clean surface to wipe. When drying, use a damp towel, never a dry one.

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I meant to say that even though typically WW scare me, but this no touch wash leaves only a VERY light film, it would not be noticeable if I didn't have a black car, so I would feel comfortable doing a WW.


pdqgp said:
Do a modified version. Spray bottle or garden sprayer and a handful of fully soaked 480gsm rags. You'll be fine. I do mine all the time with zero issues. Key is to ensure you use light pressure, roll the rag as you wipe to ensure you're using a clean surface to wipe. When drying, use a damp towel, never a dry one.

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Having lived in the NE, for many a year, I feel for you guys/gals that still live up there. I don't miss the snow/salt/black ice/the cold...brrr... Sorry, rubbin' it in, ain't I? :laughing:

Interesting concept, though, the touchless. Down close to my house, they still use those leather (or whatever material it is) strips, and whirlies with the same, just smaller strips. I stay away. :)
 
Understand that a touch-less is only going to remove the top layer on a dirty car, no matter what LSP you have laid down. Your also going to want to clean all the windows at the gas station because the touch-less will never ever clean the windows properly, something to always remember.
 
My truck is a Dk. Granite Grey Met. and and it usually look really bad all winter long . Just as bad as black cars I have had in the past. Normally I will go to the coin operated wash just to rinse off all the dirty snow and salt maybe once a week depending on the temp. and maybe two times during the winter I will go thru my touchless car wash the last one to get the undercarriage clean just when spring is " really " here . Then it gets the home treatment .
Quick question..... , Is it true salt doesn't do damage to the paint when the air temp. is below freezing ? Have always heard this .
 
Android said:
Quick question..... , Is it true salt doesn't do damage to the paint when the air temp. is below freezing ? Have always heard this .
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I always *thought* that if it was too cold for the salt to melt the ice, then it was too cold to cause harm ... but what do I know? Besides, if it were that cold, you wouldn't be washing the car anyway.
 
Don M said:
I always *thought* that if it was too cold for the salt to melt the ice, then it was too cold to cause harm ... but what do I know? Besides, if it were that cold, you wouldn't be washing the car anyway.
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Hey Don - the touchless 1 mile down the street might be a Godsend for you over the winter. As you just did, take it there (only when necessary) and get the bronze package. When you get home consider a quick waterless wash (spray) followed by an application of spray wax to boost your LSP shine/protection through the winter.

P.S. I don't have a touchless anywhere near me (wish I did) but I did install a 10 gallon tank in my garage which is connected to a power washer. So I am now able to fill the tank with warm water and wash our cars in winter. I use the power washer to remove the heavy dirt. At this point I have not touched the paint with my hands/mitt/towel. Then spray the car with a waterless to loosen what dirt remains and add lubrication - letting it dwell for a few mins. I still have not touched the car. Finally I perform a rinseless wash w/ wax (e.g. McKee's Rinseless wash/wax) topped with a spray wax on days when it is below 35. On days above 35, I will apply an LSP if the schedule calls for it. Yes it sounds like a lot of work but to be honest its not and keeps the cars spotless and protected all winter. It becomes a routine that is really no different than the other months of the year.

ScottH
 
Dealing with winter in NE Ohio i just accept the fact our cars ain't gonna look nice and kinda click into 'preservation' mode.

If we do get a day where the temps rise to near 50, normal foam/bucket wash. Otherwise I just let 'em get dirty, run through touchless soap/rinse place once a month or so. Cars are coated so that helps.
 
As long as the car wash doesn't have the "curtains" then you should be ok.
 
pickles said:
As long as the car wash doesn't have the "curtains" then you should be ok.
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Nope, no curtains. Absolutely NOTHING touches the car except for the soap & high pressure water. :dblthumb2:
 
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