$4 wash safe for Paint & Antenna & Spoiler?

[MikeS]

Is a $4 Kwiki Mart wash safe for the paint, antenna & spoiler?

 

My Subaru Tribeca seemed to suffer from terrible clear coat scratches from several different washes of this type.

 

Thanks,

Mike

[bbf2530]

Is a $4 Kwiki Mart wash safe for the paint, antenna & spoiler?

 

My Subaru Tribeca seemed to suffer from terrible clear coat scratches from several different washes of this type.

 

Thanks,

Mike

 

Hi Mike. :D If you want to learn about proper paint care/detailing for your car, a good place to start would be these car care/detailing websites:

 

LINK: Meguiar's

 

LINK: Mothers

 

LINK: Autopia

 

You do not need to buy from these websites, just use their "Detailing "How-to" and "FAQ" sections to research and learn about what is best for your cars paint finish. And of course there are other excellent car care/detailing websites, but these three are a good place to start.

 

Hope this information helps.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited September 30, 2010 by bbf2530

[Keldon]

Is a $4 Kwiki Mart wash safe for the paint, antenna & spoiler?

 

My Subaru Tribeca seemed to suffer from terrible clear coat scratches from several different washes of this type.

 

Thanks,

Mike

 

 

Agree w/ bbf2350. Great websites for detailing info. Also, as a previous owner of a detailing business, I can tell you those automatic carwash facilities will scratch the paint on ANY car. We saw it all the time...people brought their cars to us asking us to make it shine like new again after years of neglect and automatic carwashes. This was sometimes possible with an expensive procedure involving claybars, buffing, polishing and waxing. But some of the cars' finishes were so scratched up that only a paint job would fix them. While the carwashes that use high speed cloth "spinners" are the worst offenders, even the "touchless" ones aren't good for paint. There are 3 reasons for this. One, they all employ some system of high pressure water, which essentially beats the dirt particles into your paint. Yes it removes MOST of the dirt, but its the equivalent of sandblasting a building. You may not notice the scratches at first, but if used enough times you will. Two, they often use very harsh detergents to remove stuff like bird poo, tar, sap, etc. These detergents strip any protection you may have on the car, making it even more vulnerable. Three, (possibly the biggest reason for scratches) is the towel guy at the exit. Automatic carwashes NEVER remove ALL the dirt from your car, and toweling it off afterwards just rubs those tiny dirt particles around all over your car. The only way to prevent scratch and swirl marks on your car is to HAND WASH it, and wax it at least twice a year. If you must go through an automatic carwash, make it a touchless one, don't go when your car is extremely dirty, and above all, AVOID the towel guy! Just wave and drive on by. Air drying your car may result in some water spots, but it won't do any further damage to your paint.

[drolds1]

Agree w/ bbf2350. Great websites for detailing info. Also, as a previous owner of a detailing business, I can tell you those automatic carwash facilities will scratch the paint on ANY car. We saw it all the time...people brought their cars to us asking us to make it shine like new again after years of neglect and automatic carwashes. This was sometimes possible with an expensive procedure involving claybars, buffing, polishing and waxing. But some of the cars' finishes were so scratched up that only a paint job would fix them. While the carwashes that use high speed cloth "spinners" are the worst offenders, even the "touchless" ones aren't good for paint. There are 3 reasons for this. One, they all employ some system of high pressure water, which essentially beats the dirt particles into your paint. Yes it removes MOST of the dirt, but its the equivalent of sandblasting a building. You may not notice the scratches at first, but if used enough times you will. Two, they often use very harsh detergents to remove stuff like bird poo, tar, sap, etc. These detergents strip any protection you may have on the car, making it even more vulnerable. Three, (possibly the biggest reason for scratches) is the towel guy at the exit. Automatic carwashes NEVER remove ALL the dirt from your car, and toweling it off afterwards just rubs those tiny dirt particles around all over your car. The only way to prevent scratch and swirl marks on your car is to HAND WASH it, and wax it at least twice a year. If you must go through an automatic carwash, make it a touchless one, don't go when your car is extremely dirty, and above all, AVOID the towel guy! Just wave and drive on by. Air drying your car may result in some water spots, but it won't do any further damage to your paint.

 

Well said, well said. Take it from an expert.

 

Eagle1 once ran a series of print ads. One of them was entitled, " I had a nightmare. I dreamed I paid somebody to wash my car." That's what I go by.

[MikeS]

Yikes! I had no idea kwiki mart washes were so hard on a car till my current car. I've never hand washed a car (cause I live in the city and have no hose).

 

That being said, it left me to wonder whether the subaru paint was simply less hardy than my accords & taurus's years ago.

 

Does anyone out there use the $4 washes, or are people who read this forum more likely to love their car and treat it well?

 

Mike

[2010SEL]

NO automatic car wash is safe for ANY paint!

[MikeS]

I'm sure that's true, but I suspect that some paint is better at weathering (no pun intended) the ravages of automatic washes than others.

 

My hondas seemed better than the subaru.

 

I wonder how the fusion will handle it?

 

However, based on this thread, I'm not sure I'm comfortable running it through an automatic wash, even though it's a leased car.

 

Mike