Car Wash Scratches?

That is reality for some of us and beyond buying ones with beds that can carry a lot of standard work site items, it is an impossible to avoid matter.

I'm not sure the problem here is any different than our total and Toyota models history. Our grey 2015 would show the scratches more than opaque white. Some periodic attention has helped our vehicles last long. For all of these new generation everyone's still got a window of time for warranty claims for true or significant paint problems. At least for us Toyota has stood out among several brands for post-sale and warranty claims.

The not at all expensive and easy to work with Turtle Wax ceramic polish has seemed great so far. It looked nice after a later fall cleanup and helps keep winter dirt off.

 

Perfectly said! Loaded with facts! Nice job!

 

Everyone has their .02 but I’ll tell you what has worked 100% for me - zero swirls whatsoever on my Bronco or wife’s Pilot after 2-3 years both bought new. Learned my lesson in 2017 when I took my brand new Tacoma through a car wash. Never again as long as I live.

1) chemical guys mits (used for wash and dry):
https://a.co/d/hnKtJdg

2) probably doesn’t matter but chemical guys tough mudder soap:

$41 Chemical Guys CWS20264 Tough Mudder Foaming Truck, Off Road, ATV and RV Heavy Duty Wash Soap,(Works with Foam Cannons, Foam Guns or Bucket Washes), 64 fl oz (Half Gallon), Lemon Scent

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077TPG55M

3) Most importantly, ONLY washed by hand in my driveway every time since new

 

Wholeheartedly agree... Car wash establishments should have some liability for scratching vehicles. Those supersonic spinning whatchamacallits are terrible on paint finishes. Unfortunately, there's very little a customer can do unless pictures are taken, of your vehicle, before and after the wash. Then good luck wtih a claim...

 

No deep scratches on my vehicles from drive thru car wash. Sure hand washing it would be great. Done it for years on vettes black camaro etc. Not practical for me on a daily driver. Of course I'm getting clear coat scratches can be easily polished out. My point is not washing a vehicle for long periods thru the winter is not good on vehicle either. Pick your poison. It's not going to be perfect if you drive it!!!!

 

There are always pros and cons to everything unfortunately, the hand wash thing has worked for me so I stick with it , still don’t trust car washes . But again that’s me

 

This is super common, unfortunately what you’re seeing looks like micro-marring or light wash-induced scratches, especially visible in direct sunlight on darker or metallic paints. Even "touchless" or soft-cloth automatic car washes can cause this over time due to the leftover grit on the brushes or recycled water not being filtered well enough. It doesn’t take much to leave those fine marks, especially if the surface isn’t properly pre-rinsed. If you want to prevent it moving forward, switching to a two-bucket hand wash with clean microfiber mitts is the safest route. A proper paint correction followed by a ceramic coating can help reduce how visible this gets in the future.

 

LOL. No. Car wash establishments should have zero liability for damage to a customers car. Hand wash, DI water tank, lint free cloths washed with scent/dye free detergent between every use, etc etc ... or accept scratches.

 

Keeping paint nice I mean really nice on any vehicle is a big commitment, especially if the vehicle is always outside . You have to be on it all the time . Most people don’t have the time or want to put aside the time . That’s why car washes do well. Certain areas have to much sun , certain areas are too wet , or too cold . It’s always something. The best thing you can do is ceramic coat or if you don’t want to spend your money on that is wash it when you can and keep it waxed a good amount of time . It’s also important to stay on the wheels / for brake dust, plastic trim and uv protection as much as you can. Dark colors will always show more marks in the paint . Lighter colors get the same stuff , you just can’t see it as much . The down side of lighter colors / trade off is depth of gloss .

 

I never use a car wash ... hand wash on a cloudy day or out of the sun.

 

If you are going to take your truck through touch car washes the WORST suggestion is ceramic coating. You are literally flushing the money right down the car wash drain. Ceramic coating takes special care and an auto car wash is not it.

 

You could be right in that respect . I know it beats up wax on car paint also . For me , my cars never see a car wash , so worrying about this is not even in my thought process. I hand wash or it is dirty until I do .. I don’t like them and never did . When I used the dealer for a few of the TSB things they ask if I want a wash and I say no.

 

Do yourself a favor and head to your local autozone or advanced auto store and purchase a meguires scratch polish tube. It will remove those scratches.

 

I park outside 24/7/365. I have way too many other time commitments to be a slave to keeping my truck showroom ready and the paint perfect. I wash regularly and keep the interior as spotless as I can. However, as a commuter, it's going to get some nicks in it just from simply driving it on the highway. It's not a collector vehicle or something that is very rare. I take care of it the best I can without driving myself nuts every time it rains, gets pollen on it, gets splashed with mud/dirt, etc. Life is too short to always worry about stuff like that.

 

It all comes down to time and what your into.

 

I stopped taking my car to car wash, huge mistake I made when it was brand new. They don't maintain brushes obv, so when a bristle almost plastic brush gets on your car paint, yes thats what happens.

I wax my car a lot and it hides it but i wish i have never taken it to auto car wash

 

Truck owners can be funny. On one hand, they cringe at driving through a high quality car wash (yes, there are high quality car washes that maintain their equipment to prevent damage to customer’s vehicles), yet on the other hand they go out to trails and thrash their trucks; and say anyone who doesn’t drives a pavement princess.
Car washes today are NOT the ones they used to be. The good ones, that have solid reputations, maintain their equipment and facilities, and don’t use those hard plastic bristled brushes anymore. The good ones aren’t going to risk their reputation and business by allowing their equipment to damage customer’s high end cars.
In the end, do what YOU want; it’s YOUR truck. Others will do what THEY want; it’s THEIR truck.

 

Amen so true.

 

First couple of years on my 3rd gen hand wash after that car washes it will be the same when/if I get a sport/Hybrid...I guess I fall into its just a truck...OP's scratches look like dealer prep work..jmho

 

OPs scratches are highly likely from machine. Assuming it wasn't offroad bushes, they are too long and lateral.

But really, the only major factor about not being able to properly wash is if you don't have a house and garage. I didn't care so much when I was moving a lot and parked outside 24/7.

Use quality car care products -- I still use Zaino today and sure that will cause some to groan and call me a dinosaur. Pulled out the DI tank, washed 3 cars (wife helped spray off each section immediately after I soaped it), and zero work to dry due to the DI tank providing <0.002 PPM TDS. Quick hit with EGO lead blower, and wipe down with UV/anti-static spray.

If there was anything that took the most time, finally got sick of the gunky Armor All crap the dealer put on the tires, that was brown and gross. Scrubbed by hand and drill brush, then applied 2 coats of liquid satin-finish.

Thought about doing a quick layer of maintenance sealant, but maybe after the summer at this point.