[hl0m4n]

i was in my friends car today and decided to go to the car wash. im speaking of the one where the tires on the rollers and it guides you through the tunnel .

anywho, i noticed that when my friend is on the roller, he goes into neutral and shuts the engine off...

ive never seen anyone shut their engine off during the car wash and thought it was a hazard in case something happened to the rear car, etc and your car is turned off.

so what is the final verdict on this? when going trough the wash engine on or off?

[ililillilillilil]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

so what is the final verdict on this?

dont go to the automatic car wash

[Dan in PA]

Go to a touchless jet wash, man

[BMW F22]

It depends on the system. Some places require that you put the car in neutral and not apply the hand brake. Other places ask you to turn off the engine. It really depends.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by Dan in PA

Go to a touchless jet wash, man

I heard that those are as bad, if not worse, for your paint than soft cloth car washes. The soap mixture that the touchless washes use has even an even more acidic quality to it to compensate for the absence of the brushing effect.

[BTM]

Never heard of that but it doesn't seem that crazy to just turn the engine off...

The previous owner of my car went through too many automatic car washes. Of course I knew this when I bought it and built it into negotiations, but if you care about how your paint will look in a couple of years don't go through autos (even touchless, as was touched upon earlier, which don't leave scratches but can have adverse affects on your clearcoat). I'm currently getting the paint as good as I can get it before I have it professionally done.

Buy a big jug of car washing soap and take the 30 min to do it yourself. That's really the only way it'll get done correctly

[D_o_S]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

I heard that those are as bad, if not worse, for your paint than soft cloth car washes. The soap mixture that the touchless washes use has even an even more acidic quality to it to compensate for the absence of the brushing effect.

Yes, I'm willing to agree... but at least you won't get scratches... what you do is go through that wash, come home, and wax your car... saves some time...

[escobar929]

IMO, its a crime to see any nice car go thru one of those, touchless or not

[Little_Titto]

Originally Posted by escobar929

IMO, its a crime to see any nice car go thru one of those, touchless or not

I don't disagree with you guys, except for I live in an area where during the winter the city puts down so much salt that you would think the roads were covered in snow. So I take it to the auto wash to get washed regularly and do the under body.

Summer time rolls around and there is no way I will be taking the car to the car wash.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by D_o_S

Yes, I'm willing to agree... but at least you won't get scratches... what you do is go through that wash, come home, and wax your car... saves some time...

Truth.

Originally Posted by Little_Titto

I don't disagree with you guys, except for I live in an area where during the winter the city puts down so much salt that you would think the roads were covered in snow. So I take it to the auto wash to get washed regularly and do the under body.

Summer time rolls around and there is no way I will be taking the car to the car wash.

I fold in the winter as well and take it to Mike's, where it is attacked by the "soft" cloths.