Washing cars with hot/warm water?

[bossmustang16]

Ok guys I've finally bought a bucket and grit guard and its cold here in NC right now and I've got a few cars to do this weekend and just wondering if I could put hot/warm water in my bucket to wash them with? thanks in advance.. I'll be using the meguiars car wash you get at advance in the purple liquid.. also I've never used a bucket.. how much car wash should I put in a 5 gallon bucket? sorry extremely nooby I know.

 

[kb2ehj]

just wondering if I could put hot/warm water in my bucket

Is the bucket rated for hot/warm water? LMAO oke:

also I've never used a bucket.. how much car wash should I put in a 5 gallon bucket? sorry extremely nooby I know.

Once you have used a bucket you'll never go back to a cup again......what does the instructions on the bottle say to use?

 

[bossmustang16]

well I haven't checked it out yet but i used to just pour a bunch on a microfiber mit and wash the car from there using a water hose to lather the mit up every now and then lol

 

[bossmustang16]

but somebody please comment on the hot or warm water.. i've heard it strips wax and what not.

 

[kb2ehj]

It might, wax as such isn't very durable anyway. I'd proceed and just rewax if you think it needs it.

 

[hudson2302]

well I haven't checked it out yet but i used to just pour a bunch on a microfiber mit and wash the car from there using a water hose to lather the mit up every now and then lol

I am speechless.....not really.....:dblthumb2:

Yes you can use hot water to wash the car with. It makes it more enjoyable in cold weather.
As for proportions.....you will need to look at the label on the back of the bottle:dblthumb2:

 

[builthatch]

i have been using temperature controlled water to wash for years, year 'round.

that means the rinse water as well as the wash solution.

the number one thing to be careful of is using too warm/hot water on very cold glass, esp large panes imo like windshields and panoramic sunroofs. thermal shock = crack.

in the winter, i keep the hot side of the water input about half as hot as normal. i also have an order of operations with initial rinsing that helps keep the poss of thermal shock down, at least it has so far over the past decade or so lol.

 

[swanicyouth]

I'm probably wrong on this, but it always seems to me hot water may have more minerals / gunk / sediment in it from the pipes due to the temperature being higher in the hot water pipe.

 

[FUNX650]

but somebody please comment on the hot or warm water.. i've heard it strips wax and what not.

Here's a "what not"...

I always like to throw this monkey wrench into the works:
"Hot water will freeze faster than cold water"...


Bob

 

[SameGuy]

That's unlikely. Otherwise your dishwasher would be useless.

Whenever our city water supply drops below 60° I start using warmer water for all my wash methods, even through my cheap electric PW (yes, it's a "cold water" unit but I'm comfortable with water up to about 115° going through it). Mid-winter when our water is below 40° I use straight hot (water heater set to ~125°) in my buckets and by the time everything is ready the temperature is comfortable for my bare hands and quick dunks and swirls against the Grit Guards.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I'm probably wrong on this, but it always seems to me hot water may have more minerals / gunk / sediment in it from the pipes due to the temperature being higher in the hot water pipe.

Not wrong, there is likely rust and sediment in your water heater, you are supposed to flush it periodically. I'm sure there's a YouTube video for that.

 

[PiPUK]

Hot water is, undoubtedly, superior for cleaning. You can get dramatic improvements in cleaning with elevated temperatures. In some applications, you can replace chemicals with heat.

 

[builthatch]

Here's a "what not"...

I always like to throw this monkey wrench into the works:
"Hot water will freeze faster than cold water"...


Bob

correct. i was actually going to mention that...and i've seen it happen whilst rinsing. it will freeze on the surface faster.

Not wrong, there is likely rust and sediment in your water heater, you are supposed to flush it periodically. I'm sure there's a YouTube video for that.

correct. i am super duper sensitive to water quality as i have well water and a multi tank softener/acid system. if you are using the "treated" water as the feed, it should be significantly less but there are just too many reasons why no matter what, your statement is going to be true. i'm amazed at what comes out of my water heater when i flush it.

Hot water is, undoubtedly, superior for cleaning. You can get dramatic improvements in cleaning with elevated temperatures. In some applications, you can replace chemicals with heat.

correct. those little molecules and such are moving around a lot faster than cold water and doing a lot of work for you! haha

 

[SameGuy]

Domestic pipes are either plastic or copper these days. How would extra impurities be introduced or precipitated out by a normal domestic water heater temperature setting of 115-130°?

 

[SameGuy]

And just to be clear: hot water can sometimes, under some conditions freeze more quickly than cold water, however the blanket statement that hot freezes quicker than cold is simply untrue.

If you're attempting to wash a car outdoors in below-freezing ambient temperatures that has been cold-soaked to below 32°, your water will freeze on the car, regardless of its initial temperature.

 

[damaged442]

It's fine to use warm water to wash your vehicle.

 

[builthatch]

Domestic pipes are either plastic or copper these days. How would extra impurities be introduced or precipitated out by a normal domestic water heater temperature setting of 115-130°?

hot water/ heating elements do funny things re: bringing things out of water over time. also, it's a basin, in a way, where water is just sitting for extended periods of time, so even though city water is treated and such, mains have sediment and it can collect in the bottom of the unit.

 

[FUNX650]

And just to be clear: hot water can sometimes, under some conditions freeze more quickly than cold water, however the blanket statement that hot freezes quicker than cold is simply untrue.

:laughing:

If you're attempting to wash a car outdoors in below-freezing ambient temperatures that has been cold-soaked to below 32°, your water will freeze on the car, regardless of its initial temperature.

:laughing:


Bob

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Domestic pipes are either plastic or copper these days. How would extra impurities be introduced or precipitated out by a normal domestic water heater temperature setting of 115-130°?

hot water/ heating elements do funny things re: bringing things out of water over time. also, it's a basin, in a way, where water is just sitting for extended periods of time, so even though city water is treated and such, mains have sediment and it can collect in the bottom of the unit.

Sure, water piping is generally copper, perhaps PEX for new construction, but the water heater IS NOT. It's steel. It rusts. And I'm sure PiPUK will tell us why hot water precipitates out more minerals. And there are going to be copper ions in the water from the copper pipes, and some iron from the iron or steel supply system.

 

[builthatch]

And just to be clear: hot water can sometimes, under some conditions freeze more quickly than cold water, however the blanket statement that hot freezes quicker than cold is simply untrue.

If you're attempting to wash a car outdoors in below-freezing ambient temperatures that has been cold-soaked to below 32°, your water will freeze on the car, regardless of its initial temperature.

hahaha i'm about to get a stopwatch out next time i rinse in the cold.