washing car in cold weather.
- Thread starter sito
- Start date
Kamakaz1961
New member
- Aug 23, 2013
- 4,389
- 0
That IMO is too cold to wash the car I would wash the car when the weather gets warmer. Do not waste your time
FUNX650
New member
- Dec 1, 2010
- 21,057
- 1
Perhaps the previous mixtures of your car-wash solution
lowered the freeze-point of water somewhat.
Did you change it up?
Bob
Are you adding something to your water? Water around me freezes at 32F/0C. When I am up north I don't wash outside under 35-40F otherwise I had ice in the window & door seals.
You could do a rinseless wash inside a garage to be safer.
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 6,187
- 233
I agree about it being too cold to be washing a car via conventional means outdoors. I don't even take it through a touchless when it gets that cold. There is far too great of an opportunity for water to freeze in places that could cause issues.
As much as it pains me to have a dirty car, I wait until it is above 32F for a few hours. Right now, we're in a deep freeze and my car could pass as a livestock salt lick.
AeroCleanse
New member
- Nov 17, 2008
- 2,422
- 0
Your best bet would be to use a rinseless product like ONR, and use hot water.
OCDetails
Member
- Mar 3, 2006
- 853
- 0
I deal with this problem every year. My solution is to double up on my sealant in October/November and then try to ride out the cold weather. I'll hit the coin op car wash a couple times on the 45 degree or warmer days, but bucket washing is pretty much out of the question. The biggest problem I have is that the water will freeze on the car if it is too cold. No point in even trying if it is below freezing out. Anywhere in the 30s and it is just not fun anyway.
Even using the coin-op can be problematic sometimes. I'll get foam that freezes on the car or something like that. So the best bet is to hit it when it is above freezing and then use something like a California Water Blade to get most of the water off before soaking up the rest with a towel like an Absorber. Regular towels won't work in the cold very well and they just streak the water around. The spongy Absorber towel works best in colder temperatures.
Yes, I know that using a brush or water blade may put some swirls in the paint, but no more than leaving salt crusted to the car all winter will cause. I have accepted that there is a certain amount of work to be done in the spring to repair the damage from the winter, so it isn't really a big deal. Wash your car in the winter and you'll put scratches in the paint. Don't wash it in the winter and you'll still get scratches, so I choose to go the clean route.
One tip is to seek out car washes that use boar's hair brushes. Not the nylon blue bristles. Those WILL scratch the hell out of your paint. Use a boar's hair brush and your paint will pull through much better. My van is a good example. It has really soft paint and right now it still looks sharp when it gets washed at the coin-op or by bucket. The swirls that brushes put in really aren't bad as long as you use proper technique.
That may not have been the question, but my thinking is that if it is so cold that your wash water is freezing, then it is too cold to be washing.
Even using the coin-op can be problematic sometimes. I'll get foam that freezes on the car or something like that. So the best bet is to hit it when it is above freezing and then use something like a California Water Blade to get most of the water off before soaking up the rest with a towel like an Absorber. Regular towels won't work in the cold very well and they just streak the water around. The spongy Absorber towel works best in colder temperatures.
Yes, I know that using a brush or water blade may put some swirls in the paint, but no more than leaving salt crusted to the car all winter will cause. I have accepted that there is a certain amount of work to be done in the spring to repair the damage from the winter, so it isn't really a big deal. Wash your car in the winter and you'll put scratches in the paint. Don't wash it in the winter and you'll still get scratches, so I choose to go the clean route.
One tip is to seek out car washes that use boar's hair brushes. Not the nylon blue bristles. Those WILL scratch the hell out of your paint. Use a boar's hair brush and your paint will pull through much better. My van is a good example. It has really soft paint and right now it still looks sharp when it gets washed at the coin-op or by bucket. The swirls that brushes put in really aren't bad as long as you use proper technique.
That may not have been the question, but my thinking is that if it is so cold that your wash water is freezing, then it is too cold to be washing.
kevincwelch
New member
- May 12, 2013
- 2,686
- 0
Winter sucks for anyone wanting to keep his car clean.
I am fortunate that my garage is warmer than the outside temperature, but when the outside temperature gets below 10 degrees, it dips below 32F in the garage, and that means water freezes easily.
I can tolerate washing my car in the garage when it is above freezing, but not for long. It's just not fun.
I hit the coin op self-wash if the temperature is above freezing to knock off most of the salt and grime. After driving home, I wash it down with ONR using hot water.
Can't wait for spring.
I am fortunate that my garage is warmer than the outside temperature, but when the outside temperature gets below 10 degrees, it dips below 32F in the garage, and that means water freezes easily.
I can tolerate washing my car in the garage when it is above freezing, but not for long. It's just not fun.
I hit the coin op self-wash if the temperature is above freezing to knock off most of the salt and grime. After driving home, I wash it down with ONR using hot water.
Can't wait for spring.
OCDetails
Member
- Mar 3, 2006
- 853
- 0
That is how I feel. At the point when something isn't even fun, I avoid it. That is why the motorcycle goes away in October and doesn't come out till April and the car stays dirty for about the same timeframe. lol
tuscarora dave
Active member
- Aug 21, 2009
- 5,403
- 0
Just rinsed off one of the rental vans at the DIY coin-op earlier this evening. By the time I made it around the van the rinse water was froze to the panels. Just ran a quick few passes with DG #501 last week so it actually cleaned up rather well as it was freezing. Was roughly 14 degrees at the time.