Car wash

I wouldn't worry as much about stuffing up the sensors as I would about the brushes getting hooked on the roofrack and perhaps dislodging the roofrack from the gutters and bending the gutters. Then, what do you do with your roofrack.

That's not to mention the tirade from the carwash operator.

There are signs on most car washes saying what is safe and what isn't.

Dave

I wouldnt

Never put mine through one and never will, scratch and go as I call them. (have enough already) depends on the circumstances but I can get mine washed cleaned in & out tyre shine etc for $50 at the shopping centre (and admit they do a superb job (only had it done to mine once was feeling lazy) get the wife's car done fortnightly $40, mine I usually do myself but as Ben has said above raining here in Sydney so wont be washing it for a while, hate climbing on the rear wheel to do the roof LOL.

The brush threads will tangle themsleves on the roof rack and one of two things will happen.
1. They'll tear off your roof rack or
2. You'll destroy the carwash.

Either way it will be an expensive learning curve.

The only 2 cars i have seen damaged by a car wash have both been Prados.

One had a sun visor above widscreen, this was torn off and mangled, then dragged all the way down roof off car, leaving holes and scratches in the roof.

And another, the rear wiper wasnt down in its normal position but was about a quarter way up the windscreen. It was bent and smacked against the rear door until the job was well and truly done on the wiper and window.

Worst thing was i was sitting behind him in my Prado when it happened and i couldnt do a thing to help him.

I now only use the Laser Washs, but they arent that great. Still leave a little to do by hand. Next time i will go the shopping centre car wash i think, they sound good. Dont have to worry about parking then.

Find a high pressure hot water DIY carwash and remember to take a broom or sponge with you.


It usually costs me about $2 to soap the car and then brush it down ( I am now using one of those microfiber glove mitt things ) after that $1 for a high pressure rinse and you are done.

I have seen heaps of cars damaged in car washes the best was the girl friend ( dumb blonde with big boobs ) of a rich guy who drove his Mercedes ( very expensive ) into a car wash. She was bored waiting so she turned the radio on. The auto aerial came up was ripped off and thrashed the panels of the car leaving thousands of dollars damage.

The best thing was the guy had to tell his wife he had done it :-) !!!!!!!!!!

Many years ago the local lads in Adelaide (and probably everywhere else) when they got bored would go to the nearest brush type car-wash late at night and tie nuts & bolts to the brushes.

First car through in the morning got a bit more severe wash than they bargained on.

I believe now the first job in the morning for the staff is to check that the brushes are "clean".

step one: get our or five $1 or $2 coins
step two: select degreaser and spray entire car and under bonnet with motor running (keeps the heat in vehicle and dries water logged sensors quickly)
step three: rinse car with high pressure water go over car really really well.

step four: drive car away, total cost should be around $5 max

7 mins of work

shiny car.

good for trucks as well

Cabs use the one at brisbane airport all the time. They have a single rhino rack with the cab sign and spotties attached. I would have thought they'd get torn straight off, but seeing is believing.

Hi
I am a car wash operator myself. There are so many myths hovering around about car washes it's not funny.
First of all do yourself and the operator a favour and don't try it if you haven't asked him. An automatic carwash costs around $200,000 if you stuff it up you'll pay! Usually there are cameras everywhere and making a runner is even better as you would "leave the scene of an accident". The Police loves it.
Anyway, apart from this it could easily be possible that you can use the automatic. You only have to ask. There are so many different machines on the market saying "huh, I never use a carwash again they scratch" is like saying "I never go to a restaurant again after I had diarrhea last time."

Generally there are touchless machines and brush machines. Both types have advantages and disadvantages. Most newer brush machines use soft foam material that WILL NOT SCRATCH at all. And this is proven by independent studies (TH of Munic, Germany). It is like a stubby cooler material and will not retain dirt. However, since this material is so soft, a roof rack with sharp edges could easily rip a big bunch out of the brush material. I just had to replace such a foam ring - $750. And yes, the guy who went in with a bike rack tried to do a runner! Didn't help him.

The advantage of a touchless (or Laserwash) is that it doesn't matter what shape the car is it can go in if it is lower than 2.1m. However, since the cleaning is done by chemicals and high pressure, harsher chemicals need to be used to get a good result. It's a bit like rinsing your dishes under running water. Nothing really happens unless there is some activity (either rubbing or chemicals). Also a high pressure touchless is sometimes not good for soft top convertables since water can get into the car. Same if you had a paint job that wasn't done properly and the touchless goes over a stone chip if could blow your paint off.

With the soft foam material car wash not all cars are allowed to go in since it could damage the machine. However, if your car is suitable you get a gentle polish und the water consumption can be as low as 30 litres, if the carwash recycles.

In regards to the Prado with the sunvisor: I can put my hand in the running soft foam machine. It doesn't harm me or whatsoever. However, if bits are not properly fitted on the car they can come off. And in my opinion they shouldn't be on the car in the first place because if they came of on the road they could kill somebody. In regards to the whiper: The newer machines change the rotation of the brush when they go over the car. Even if the material got entangled itwould pull the whiper in its normal working direction until the foam material gets pulled out.

Look, I don't want to kidnapp this thread I just thought I give you a bit of insight into this issue.
Cheers.