Dealer car wash bad for finish?

The dealer I take my truck to offers a free wash with warranty service using those big swirly brushes. Makes me nervous.

I've read about bad things happening to the paint.

I have to take my 2015 in for it's first birthday warranty service next month.

Should I say "no thanks" to the car wash?

I'd rather carefully do it myself by hand.

 

Paint now days is much better and durable than in the past. It can flex and stretch. If anything i would say it may scuff the clear coat but the material they use is supposed to prevent that. Also a wax job will make it look new again if that were to happen.

May also look into mobile auto detailing. Can get pricey but they usually do great work, plus they can do it in your work parking lot if there is room.

 

Never never never use a car wash with brushes. It will finely scratch the clear coat and you will spend a weekend with a buffer trying to remove.

Wash it yourself if you can or spend the money on a good commercial wash. Many are hand wash places with no brushes.

I tape a sticky note to the steering wheel every time I drop off my truck at the dealer: Do Not Wash.

You are better off with a dirty truck than one that just went through the brushes.

 

That's what I thought. I put a lot of work washing it by hand and waxing it with Maguiars and don't want the was washed off anyway.

 

As above, I would never let a dealer wash my truck. When I used to have dealer do oil changes I got nervous just watching how employees treated/handled my truck.

 

Stay away will scratch it up.

 

Ever see a rental car covered in swirl marks? They are usually new vehicles but still in the right light you can see fine scratches everywhere. This is from improper washing and drying. Absolutely avoid the free dealer wash or any wash that isn't touch less if you care about the way it looks and clearly you do.

 

I forgot to mention NOT to wash it after some service once, and I had to get my buffer and and go over the whole truck.

But, I'm kind of a detail nut ... I don't do it as a part time job, I'm just extra particular about my nice, clean rides

 

Since mine is well pin striped from the forest service roads I'm not worried about it, but I do maintenance myself.

 

Now that is a nice set up!

 

Dealer wash just spreads the dirt you have on your truck to a larger area. It literally does nothing to clean the truck. Now I just ask them not to wash it, "because I'm going wheeling the next day"

 

Trust the majority here, OP. Do NOT let the dealer wash your truck. Ever. One bad wash and you have swirls that can only be removed with machine polishing (unless you wanna spend several hours/days hand buffing).

 

Another don't do it vote here!

 

thanks SoCalSteve

 

When I brought mine in for the first free oil change, they "washed" it. It came out with a foot long grease streak across the passenger door. I showed them, and they were a little annoyed that they had to take it back in to clean it off. After that, I did my own oil changes.

 

just a reflection ...

 

looks like you answered your own question here, just do it yourself.

 

As others have mentioned-- as for automatic car washes, stick to "touchless" car washes only. You'll be so much happier in the long term.

 

I'm a porter/ shuttle driver at a Toyota dealership... And ehhh they're not too good. If it car is a coupe years old, it's fine. For a new car like OP's? I personally wouldn't, they paints too new and precious haha. Of if you've recently detailed/clay/compound/wax. Don't do it.

I only do my 2012 if I've gotten it really muddy and don't want all the dirt on my driveway.

 

Looks like you got the basis for making a solid decision. NFW would I let them wash mine.