What to do about Winter

G

Ghaleon0721

New member
What does everyone do in the winter time? I know all about protecting your car before winter. I've done all of that, but I'm talking about when it's actually winter. What do you do when there is dirty snow built up in your wheel wells, road salt caked on the sides of your car, and you can't wash it becuase it is 20 degrees outside.



Do you take it to a car wash? (touch free of course), but I'm thinking that they must just recycle all that water so the salt from the last guys car is getting pressure blasted onto my car.



Is it better to just grind it out and repair the damage in the spring?
 
Had enough of them so I've decided to cancel winter! ha



There's no doubt that it's tougher in winter to be sure. I'm not sure about the recycled water in the coin ops - the one near me seems really clean and I wonder if the recycle systems are used more in places with water restrictions - I don't believe it's standard here in the Northeast, especially since there could be lawsuits for corrosive damage because of salt concentrations - besides, we just don't have water issues here that would warrant that.



Anyway, I used Klasse AIO and several layers of KSG. I plan on using the coin op to remove the major road spray and crud, including any ice/snow clods. I was thinking I'd take my pail with Megs GC and brush (after hours), but perhaps I'll just spray off, then bring her home and use Optimum No Rinse and warm water to carefully clean.



Edit: and if it looks like the Klasse LSP is getting weak, I'll add some kind of WOWO spray wax like Optimum or DG - something that I can put on quickly before it and I freeze.
 
I know this is a lot different and in no way is comparable to a real winter, but her in Miami we get a lot of rain during our summertime. When it rains by the end of the day the sides of my car and hatch are completely grey with crud. Instead of just washing it off (fear of causing excessive marring) I go drive through one of the "TOUCHLESS" washes. I'm really happy with its abilities to 78% clean your car along with drying it. I haven't had any issues with my LSP (I spray wax once a month anyway).



The only reason I even considered this method was because 2 months ago I stopped to fill my gf car with gas. The gas station had a faulty pump which leaked a lot of gas onto my car. I was worried to just leave it alone but was not nearly close enough to my house to warrant washing it, so I drove it through their "touchless" wash. I was surprised at how much cleaner it even left the wheels considering she drives a BMW and her wheels had about 5 days worth, which is like 3-4 weeks worth for other people.



So maybe since your winters are cold and require indoor QEW use, you might wanna try running it through a touchless and following it up with you QEW in the garage.
 
I do alot of pressure washing in my garage during winter. Also presoaking is very important to remove the salt. If you dont have a pump sprayer if your planning on QEW'n (like me) I highly reccomend you get one. I mix up a few different mixes with apc, qew, Qd's, bug presoaks. They are pretty diluted so there isnt any protection removal just cuts down on the salt.



Greg
 
My outdoor tap rarely gets frozen so I hook up the hose and hose the car down, under-carriage, wheel wells, rocker panels and gaps. I'll stand out there in a jacket, hat, gloves and all if I have too. I'll even get a bucket of warm water and wash it myself if its just above freezing. My neighbours think I am insane ;)
 
If the temperature is below 0, I will just scrape the snow off the car. If the temperature goes up to above 0, then I will take it to a car wash and wash off the salt.

Salt only attacks when the temperature is above 0, otherwise they just sits there and do nothing. It is more adviseable to wash more frequently in the Spring during the thaw period as salt become more active.

Is that make sense?
 
I've used the touchless a few times last winter. As good as it cleans without touching makes me think they are using some very strong cleaners. Other problem is around here the lines are crazy when the sun peeks out. You are looking at 30-60 minutes waiting in line. This year I'm sticking to the powerwasher with a presoak and I'm also trying QEW. Might even combine both, do the powerwash outside to get most of the crap out and clean underbody, then bring it inside to get the rest.
 
Reading this has got me wondering if using a pump sprayer full of an ONR solution would work. I could spray the car down with the ONR at a spray car wash and then use the spot-free rinse to rinse the car off. The ONR should be gentler than the soap the car wash uses while the spot-free rinse shouldn't be recycled and is very low pressure. It wouldn't get the car really clean but it would probably be safer than the other options. What does everyone think?
 
I don' do anything in the winter, just prep it well and let it go through winter and if necessary I bring it to a DIY pressure gun wash for $2CAD on warmer days under -5Deg C ! Water expanding during freezing is not good for moldings, locks and crevices etc... !
 
during the winter...I use the wand wash..just the rinse water....what I do is put 1 oz of shampoo in a 32 oz spray bottle..before I go in the bay..or in the bay..I spray the truck with the bottle...32 oz's covers the truck good...I let it dwell a minute or so...then I rinse it off....just rinse water....and it comes clean



This has worked good for 3 years for me....it does not come out like a mitt wash..but it comes out 95% clean...some road grime does stay..but very little...



I use S&W or Duragloss Fast Clean and Shine to clean rest up during drying ...and apply Aquawax....good for another month easy....



Al
 
mbkintner said:
Reading this has got me wondering if using a pump sprayer full of an ONR solution would work. I could spray the car down with the ONR at a spray car wash and then use the spot-free rinse to rinse the car off. The ONR should be gentler than the soap the car wash uses while the spot-free rinse shouldn't be recycled and is very low pressure. It wouldn't get the car really clean but it would probably be safer than the other options. What does everyone think?
Click to expand...

Intersesting idea, but then any shampoo mixed with water would work similarly...right?
 
I take my car and myself to Cape Coral, FL for the winter. No snow, no salty slippery roads, no snow brushing, nothing but warm 75-85° days. :chuckle:



When I used to stay in Wisconsin, I would apply a couple coats of sealant and follow with a coat of #16. Protection lasts through the winter.
 
abbeysdad said:
Intersesting idea, but then any shampoo mixed with water would work similarly...right?
Click to expand...



I don't know, maybe. The only I reason I thought about ONR is that I've read several post about people using it in spray bottles and commenting on how well it rinses away dirt. Supposedly it encapsulates the dirt better than regular shampoo, or so I'm told. :nixweiss
 
mbkintner said:
I don't know, maybe. The only I reason I thought about ONR is that I've read several post about people using it in spray bottles and commenting on how well it rinses away dirt. Supposedly it encapsulates the dirt better than regular shampoo, or so I'm told. :nixweiss
Click to expand...

That's why I was thinking to use the coin op to remove the heavey crud, then do an ONR wash back in my garage. Prhaps an ONR spray followed by the coin op waz spray?
 
regular soap in the sprayer would probably leave residue and/or streaking. ONR can just be wiped away and you're good to go (hence the name..."no rinse" wash).



for really dirty/salty exteriors in the winter, i'd run it through a touchless or manual spray wash...then ONR to get the remaining stuff off.
 
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