Effects of car washes

I just recently purchased a membership for unlimited car washes for a monthly rate of $20. I figure if I wash it once a week and spend $10 each time then I might as well go with the deal. Theres no stipulations with the deal, the attendant said I could wash it three times a day if I felt like it.

So I was wondering, what are the negative effects, if any, of washing your truck too much?

I'm open to all opinions on this matter and I'd like to hear what everybody thinks. I'm still going to wash my truck often since it's brand new and I can't stand to see it be dirty right now, but let's get some different viewpoints going in this thread.

 

your tires could get pruney

 

The only negative I see is if you use an automatic car wash with dirty brushes - who knows what type of grit and grime the car in front of you had that is stuck to the brushes. Some machines have chamois-like cloths, some have rubber and some have nylon bristles. Some look okay, but some have been a little scary to me - I only take my company vehicle through the car wash and sometimes I cringe even though it is not my vehicle.

 

If you are constantly washing and never waxing then you are essentially wearing down the finish. As long as you wax every once in a while you will be good.

 

I wash mine once every 2-3 weeks.

Many of my friends consider that too much.

 

Your question doesn't match your poll.

One kinda negative is that you'll need waxing more often.

If not washed properly, the paint will get micro (or larger) scratches.

$20/mo sounds like a gym membership in January. The profits start rolling in around springtime when folks quit going but keep paying.

 

Really, worst case scenario is you're going to put micro-scratches in the finish, and it will require correction at some point. It's not that big of a deal, but if you don't own a decent polisher to do the work yourself then a professional will charge anywhere from $350-1000+ depending on how much work is required ... Most people who like to take care of their paint will tell you to never go through an automatic wash, but if you're okay putting the elbow grease in later to correct the micro-scratches then it's really not that big of a deal ... but some car washes will do more damage than others, especially during the winter time when there is a lot more dirt/grime being cleaned off of cars. However, for some of us it's just a necessary evil ...

 

If they are using two buckets with grit guards, microfiber wash mitts, a wheel cleaner that's not too abrasive along with a boars hair brush, drying with a genuine chamois or a microfiber towel, and wearing no exposed belt buckles any other metal objects while washing, and only washing in the shade, then let them wash it as often as you want. Otherwise, don't let them wash it even once.

 

Depends on what kind of wash you're getting. Anything solid (brushes/cloth/etc) contacting the paint has some hypothetical way of causing minor scratches, and if you get the automatic/spray-on waxes very frequently, there could probably be some kind of issues with build-up on headlight/taillight lenses, and maybe some side effects that could hurt your windshield wiper performance? (I'm not sure what's actually in that stuff and I rarely if ever get it).

If it's a high-pressure wash, doing them too frequently might have some detrimental impact on your clearcoat and might eventually wear into the paint.

I just do my washes in the driveway with a bucket and sponge then rinse with a hose, but my soft topper limits the options I could use for automatic washes, and I don't wash the truck all that often anyway.

 

One of the reasons I bought white (and Silver) is so i CAN use car washes. I pefer to wash the MX 5 but when ti comes to the truck I am all about using car washes then polishing at home a couple times a year, If I have a red or black truck........ Hand washes only. Depends on how dirty it is. Soon pollen will be everywhere. In that case I will hand wash as that stuff is not soft.

But yeah I fear no car wash with m truck. I got rid of my OCD vehicles.....Corvettes...and now have vehicles I don't worry about. whether it comes to parking or washing.

 

YUP!!!

 

I realize it doesn't match. I just threw in the poll at the end to see what everybody would say.
I agree with the waxing comment. I plan on doing all of that myself AT LEAST twice a year if not more.
Like I said, $20 a month for what I'm spending $40 for right now doesn't sound all that bad, and I can go as often as I like.

 

Right, the wash I use uses synthetic brushes that the dirt won't naturally cling to. I realize that these aren't fool proof, but it doesn't bother me all that much. From the research I've done, these brushes are the best possible scenario when it comes to a wash involving contact with your vehicle. I've got a black truck so it looks great when it's clean, but it will get dirty quickly. This includes scratches showing up sooner. I know it will happen eventually so I figure wth why not?

 

This sounds like the ideal car wash located in TW Eden. The one I'm paying for is strictly an automatic wash with a microfiber dry-off of the windows and mirrors afterwards, which I skip due to not knowing how dirty the towels are. I know it's just the windows and mirrors, but I don't think the junior high kid working for minimum wage wiping cars down cares too much about how clean his rag is.

 

Then my driveway is TW Eden. COOL.

 

Does it get cold where you live? If so how do you deal with washing the car during the winter?

 

I wait for a day that is above freezing, use water in the bucket that is as hot as I can stand it and I wear one of my aquarium gloves on my washing hand... goes all the way up past my elbow and water is not penetrable to it.

 

I wash every week and wax almost as much, it doesn't build up it just stays slick as snot, I cant even set a towel on my hood without it sliding off. I use paste wax like every few weeks and like a spray type wax in between paste. it makes you go faster if you have a good wax on it and get better mileage ha ha

 

Cool, that sounds like a good plan

I guess you just use a regular hose to hit the undercarriage and get salt and stuff off?

Sorry for all the questions, but this is my first winter living up North, so just trying to learn how other people deal with this stuff ...

 

Just put

$21 Collinite 845 Insulator Wax-Easy to Use Carnauba+Polymer Wax Sealant-High Gloss Shine+Durable Hydrophobic Beading & Long Lasting Paint Protection for Cars/Boats/Trucks/RVs & Motorcycles (16 fl oz)

Collinite 845 on my truck yesterday and the surface is so slick, I don't think tape would stick to it.