Thoughts on drive through touch less carwash

Are they to harsh on factory finish? I was never a big fan especially when they had the brushes.

 

Never heard of them myself. I can see that maybe they could get dust off but I'm not so sure about road film???

 

Personally, I think they are "ok" at best. As mentioned, they're great for getting dust and light dirt off during late spring through early fall weather conditions. I'll use them 2-3 times in between hand washes in the summer. But, the ones I've used are nearly worthless when trying to get winter road grime off.

 

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I see people soap there car/truck down good with the hand wand then drive it through the touch-less car wash. Never done it myself but you could get most of the road grime off before the touch-less wash doing it that way.

 

The touch less machines that do a good job must use a very strong detergent that can't be good for the finish. I could be wrong about that, but I use those sparingly just in case.

 

thats my question. Its good to get salt, snow and dirt off the body, but are those chemicals bad for the finish.

 

(I work at toyota)
We use the touchless car wash on cars that dont look that dirty or only have some dust across them. Anything else and we have to get out and power wash them first then drive them through. The old ass shammies we use will do more damage to the car than the actual carwash

 

This is just my opinion but I don't think touchless washes will hurt the clearcoat/paint but I'm sure the harsh detergents will hurt any wax/sealant on your truck. I only use them in the winter time to knock the salt off the truck in-between washes.

 

I've found the cleaners and waxes they use do more harm to the plastics than the paint finish

 

I've detailed vehicles for over 20 years and I'm real picky about my both Tacoma and my 2006 xB. Unfortunately, I live in an area where we use tons of road salt from December through March. As much as I hate to, I have both vehicles signed up for an "Unlimited Wash Plan" at the local "touchless" car wash. Although no spinning brushes are used, there is a section of the process where long strips of material hung from above do contact the vehicle's finish as you're pulled through.

What do I think of the process and the effects on the vehicle? I believe the chemicals used are harsh enough to remove Carnauba type waxes in about one wash. Synthetic Sealants seem to last about two washes. C.A.R. Bullet Proof coating seems to last a month or so. Given that, I use the Bullet Proof and run each vehicle through as needed - which works out to 3-4 times a week for each one - and re-detail each vehicle about once a month. I haven't seen any damage I can attribute to the wash system in two full winters. Oh, and the xB is totally rust free so far.

So why would I put my vehicles through a wash that's harsh enough to remove most waxes that fast? I believe the removal of the wax is more than made up for with the full removal of road salt that the local process (Delta Sonic) offers. (Yes, there is an undercarriage spray.) As soon as the weather gets warm enough, I go back to washing by hand in my driveway.

 

Been using the touchless car wash at my local Exxon for 6 years. No harm to plastic trim or to the clearcoat. No need to remove the antenna, which is convenient. In the winter I wash once a week or whenever temps go above freezing.

After off-roading I flush out all the wheelwells and suspension with a garden hose, then take the truck through the touchless wash.

 

Ive used them on my challenger over the winter. Seems to work ok.
My truck, I take to the local car wash and get it fully detailed once a year for $100.

 

I haven't washed my truck since last June. Not sure going through a car wash is going to help me on this time around. But when I first bought my truck I wouldn't take it to a car wash. Always by hand. After a few scratches and a small dent I said screw it!! They make hundreds of gallons of paint every day and new trucks every day.

 

I saw a 2nd gen today at Walmart that was painted a matte battleship gray maybe a little darker. If a guy had a paint job like that he would not have to bother waxing and he could run it thru the touchless whenever he pleased with no worries! The older I get the better I'm liking the idea.

 

This is always an option

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/truck-painted-with-bed-liner.387804/

 

I am also kicking around the idea of Line-X Body Armor if I decide not to trade up in a couple years. Probably have to trade down to the SR as high as these trucks keep getting.