Are Automated Touchless Washes Ok?

G

globe9

New member
Just a quick question. My car is black and pollen season is coming up...My car gets more dusty than dirty really, and with pollen season coming up, I'll have a lot of that yellow dust. Instead of handwashing constantly, since the car isn't really dirty, is it ok to go through one of those automated touchless washes? Or will this be harmful to my car?



The one I'm thinking of using costs $9.00 and does a pre-soak, rocker panel blasters, coat of soap, high pressure rinse, some kind of multi-colored foamy stuff for shine I think, etc.



Just want to make sure it'll be ok for my car.



Thanks!!
 
The water and the soap are pretty harsh on a cars finish. I tried it once and it was the last time I would do it (but that is me)
 
Probably better to go to the self-serve powerwashes and bring some waffle weave towels with you for drying.



I do it in the winter (in Toronto) since the salt and crap is probably worse than the harsh soaps. If you detailed your car with waxes etc...probably better to not go through as it might break them down. I think automated car washes spray something similar to APCs onto your car.
 
Most commercial washes, either DIY or Automatic use reclaimed water for many of their cycles. Depending on how the system is running, it can be from perfectly safe to worse than leaving your car alone, it all depends on how well the operator maintains the equipment. A good sign is how clean the actual facility is kept, but its not 100%. Even with a good running setup, the chemical are harsh, as they have to be to get the grime of the general public's car. While generally safe for paint, I have seen trim impacted poorly with regular use.
 
I wouldn't do a touch-method drying with any kind of non-Autopian wash; IMO you'd be grinding dirt into the paint. Let it air/drip dry instead.



Yeah, the touchless washes depend on *strong* chemicals (often/usually mixed with recycled water) to do the cleaing (which is only so-so anyhow) and that can cause issues, from LSP stripping to maybe even some kind of damage to any fragile finishes (maybe the clear anodizing on Audis?).



OTOH, Accumulatorette usually runs her A8 through a touchless in TN when she's visiting her family, and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. Makes the post-trip cleanup a little easier for me when she gets home and keeps the car presentable while she's on the road.
 
I use the touchless sometimes mainly to get the brake dust off my rims when I know I won't be able to wash my car. I only use the power rinse and no soap. I do the rims 1st then with the time left rinse the car off. It does a decent job but a film of dirt is usually left on the panels. The power rinse does a good job on my rims.
 
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