optimum power clean warning
- Thread starter jamores23
- Start date
duck_commander
New member
- Dec 6, 2010
- 289
- 0
rops: Thanks Chris and Timaishu!
FUNX650
New member
- Dec 1, 2010
- 21,057
- 1
Where I live it is sometimes necessary to utilize a car wash station, of some kind or the other, to wash away snow/ice removal chemicals...
Hopefully with a spring-time detail being able to correct this: 'lesser of two evils'.
I also realize that wheels' clear-coating being "compromised" may, or may not, be immediately noticed when being cleaned "improperly" with chemicals by some ("new hires") at a car wash facility. In some cases, depending upon a vehicle owner's frequency of using this same, or other, car wash facilities, it can be the accumulative effect of improper chemicals, along with their improper usage, that is hard to pin down, or prove, is the real cause of wheel damage.
Either way it's no "LOL" matter as I see it from a vehicle owner's perspective.
I also see it as a lack of proper training of new hires from the managers/owners of car wash stations. Nothing new...It happens in all industries/businesses, from my experiences.
But that's a different matter into itself from the OP's thread. My apologies to the OP, if need be.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Now...
-I'm kicking myself for breaking a promise of not getting too involved and trying to successfully diagnose this kind of "wheel issue" from a photo and descriptions on the internet....Just sorry to hear that anyone is ever faced with such a problem...
That's not to say I don't appreciate the OP's posting his wheel issue, because I do. The dialogue from AGO's forum members are a glimpse into their detailing experiences and are of assistance.
-But, as has been suggested, 'other factors' may well be in play here!
-The OP, IMO, needs to furnish more info than a photo and the prior cleaning habits that the wheels encountered.
For instance:
1.) Was this a new or used vehicle purchase
2.) What model year are the wheels
a.Factory OEM wheels are, more likely than not, supplied by an outside vendor)
b. Wheels could be still under warranty
c. The vendor's facility could have had a "bad day at the office".
d. There are "Secret Warranties".
3.) Where was the vehicle assembled...On, or off-shore, USA turf.
a. Either way...The "port-of-call" has a holding place/storage area for vehicles.
b. This is usually where most factory options are actually installed (including wheel selections)
c. Also, some detailing occurs at these port-of-calls. Even if dealerships do not touch the vehicle upon their delivery, as requested so often by a consumer, they've already been "handled" to a certain degree!
4.) Past "Wheel Cleaning Methods":
a. Did the dealership detail the vehicle, including the wheels, anytime from its arrival from the OEM factory/port-of-call until the consumer's pick-up; or, anytime since the OP (consumer) originally picked-up the vehicle (new or used) from the dealership.
b. Has this vehicle, and its wheels, ever been detailed/exposed to any car-wash-stations...(conveyor/ tunnel, touch-less, self-serve, etc.).
c. The OP states he has always taken care of the vehicle/wheels (APC's)....But, once again the question arises: New or Used vehicle purchase...the cleaning methods of other owner(s) may not be readily available.
Just some of the unknown factors that perhaps I should have inquired about, and, possibly have been answered by the OP, prior to my involvement/postings in this thread.
Even though my exclusion of any further involvement by my posting to this thread is now in effect, this, however, should not be interpreted as an estop towards my 'readings' of future postings to this thread.
I really wish the best for you, OP, in the quest for your wheel diagnosis/remedy.
Bob
Chris Thomas
Optimum Guru
- Dec 21, 2007
- 1,824
- 0
My apologies, Bob. It seems I should have further explained. I certainly didn't mean that damaging customer's wheels was a laughing matter. Our car washes are the express tunnel wash type and there is no wheel prep involved and no towel drying. It's still a tunnel wash so my personal car will never see the inside of it, but it does a good job for the money and the customers who use it don't maintain an Autogeek level of paint care.
The "other guys" up the street that offer Full Service and Express Detailing are the one's who see cleaning a car as only profitt and use the most aggessive means necessary to clean the vehicle in as little time as possible. When I referenced "new hire's" I was making a pun because any time a customer complains because their wheels are "milked" they always seem to blame the new guy they just hired, knowing full well that they all prep the cars that way. From my experience, I've seen GM and Chevrolet truck wheels damaged the most.