Is it safe to go through car wash?

[RideWithYanu]

This has become quite the circular conversation

 

[SHCKR]

To add to the original question, you gotta turn off the auto hold, if you do have it enabled, before you go through the car wash

 

[Jack_]

I suggest putting a Small strip of painter's tape over the ever-realigning rear wiper before going through a non-touch-less wash. It will adjust it for you otherwise. Also, the nanny tech will absolutely go bat-shit crazy as the spinning soap slingers come at you. But "Keep your foot off of the brake and hands off of the wheel" and just let Elsie bitch and moan until you’re out.

 

[Code54]

Go a few time a week though the local carwash. Seems fine.

18 degrees today so I ran through the car wash while I was out. Figure it is better than leaving salt on it until it warms up.

 

[BMFS33]

If automotive soap is corrosive, imagine what magnesium chloride deicer does to paint.

While you’re thinking about that, consider that when the mag chloride gets on there it might be three weeks before it’s warm enough to keep the water you spray on your car from turning your driveway into a hockey rink, and when it is warm enough it’s on a Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 but it gets dark at 5.

Or you could run it through the wash on the way home.

Many a time I’m the winter on a nice sunny day above freezing I wash… and turn my drive into a scaring rink because the cement is still so cold (north facing). I bought another hose for more length to get it on to the cul de sac blacktop. Luckily I have that option.

 

[Esquire]

I always seem to keep a thin layer of Midwest winter dirt until the weather is tolerable for hand washes.
I have a drain and hot water in my garage, but there is no way in hell I'm going to wash anything in the garage in the middle of January....

 

[Bucky Badger]

I go thru a "brush" wash multiple times per week (Tommy's). I have a black LC and so far so good. The way I figure is that the winter Wisconsin salt on roads is a lot more damaging then a car wash. I have found that the "touches" car washes, at least around here, are insufficient in getting the vehicle clean.

 

[Matsayz]

I always seem to keep a thin layer of Midwest winter dirt until the weather is tolerable for hand washes.
I have a drain and hot water in my garage, but there is no way in hell I'm going to wash anything in the garage in the middle of January....

Why’s that? We’re closing on a house with the same thing, drains go outside to day light and it’s got hot/cold water from the utility room right in the garage. I need to finish the drywall once we move in though

 

[cruiser_ss396]

Been on a road trip for over a month now. Been using brushless car washes but my OCD is getting to me. Today I took to the wash and then spent about two hours cleaning it after that and to me it’s still not clean….LOL!!

My OCD for any of my vehicles is keeping them spotless…..that’s not to say the off roaders don’t ever go off road; they do and get nice and dirty as well as muddy. It just takes me several days of cleanings to get it back to the way I want it.

Living in Tucson it’s easy enough for me to keep it clean and detailed. I typically hand wash all the time but don’t have an issue using a car wash. I prefer a brushless wash myself.

 

[TurboLC24t]

If a LandCruiser can’t go thru a car wash that is pretty sad… This isn’t a rag top Jag or an ‘88 Firebird with t-tops.

 

[Esquire]

Why’s that? We’re closing on a house with the same thing, drains go outside to day light and it’s got hot/cold water from the utility room right in the garage. I need to finish the drywall once we move in though

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The main reason with my garage is I don't have it heated. So it is absolutely ice cold in there on frigid days. Although it is a side load garage with southern exposed windows on the front side of the house.
The other reason is I have two other cars in the garage, which makes it tight and have to be moved outside to wash one car. And one of them I never drive in the winter and keep it covered and tucked out of the way as much as possible.

 

[Matsayz]

The main reason with my garage is I don't have it heated. So it is absolutely ice cold in there on frigid days. Although it is a side load garage with southern exposed windows on the front side of the house.
The other reason is I have two other cars in the garage, which makes it tight and have to be moved outside to wash one car. And one of them I never drive in the winter and keep it covered and tucked out of the way as much as possible.

Ah that makes more sense. Ours has a big o'l propane heater that the previous owner installed, turn it on for 10mins and it's toasty in there.

 

[Esquire]

Ah that makes more sense. Ours has a big o'l propane heater that the previous owner installed, turn it on for 10mins and it's toasty in there.

View attachment 57645

That's the way to go. I need to get one installed as well. You can basically hang out in the garage all winter long. Love it.