Automatic Car Wash?

[sweetguy]

I have a new black 2008 and have seen some references to swirls created by automatic car washes. There's a modern auto car wash near me with all new equipment. What's the consensus on whether I risk damage or risk getting the paint damaged? The one time I went there, the attendant removed the antenna and handed it to me before sending me through. Is that necessary? Any other part that could be damaged?

[Whiteyprius]

Originally Posted by sweetguy

I have a new black 2008 and have seen some references to swirls created by automatic car washes. There's a modern auto car wash near me with all new equipment. What's the consensus on whether I risk damage or risk getting the paint damaged? The one time I went there, the attendant removed the antenna and handed it to me before sending me through. Is that necessary? Any other part that could be damaged?

There was a new car wash built right near my house several months ago, just in time for the arrival of my 2008 Touring, (wasn't that nice of them). It's a touchless type, and does an amazingly good job. It has several levels of cleaning - and the top of the line even includes a blow-dry. I usually waste a couple mpg's and blow off my own going back home, then use the microfiber mits on each hand and dry what moisture's left. I'd be leary of any of the brush types, especially those that look like they're made out of weed-eater material! ...particularly w/ black. Enjoy!

[prius729]

Originally Posted by sweetguy

I have a new black 2008 and have seen some references to swirls created by automatic car washes. There's a modern auto car wash near me with all new equipment. What's the consensus on whether I risk damage or risk getting the paint damaged? The one time I went there, the attendant removed the antenna and handed it to me before sending me through. Is that necessary? Any other part that could be damaged?

That was nice of the attendant to remove the antenna, good possibility that it might get ripped out. I personnally will not use a touch type automatic car washes. If the car's really dirty I'll put it thru one of them touchless ones. Hand washing is best but I know for some of us that's not possible.

[morpheusx]

Originally Posted by Whiteyprius

There was a new car wash built right near my house several months ago, just in time for the arrival of my 2008 Touring, (wasn't that nice of them). It's a touchless type, and does an amazingly good job. It has several levels of cleaning - and the top of the line even includes a blow-dry. I usually waste a couple mpg's and blow off my own going back home, then use the microfiber mits on each hand and dry what moisture's left. I'd be leary of any of the brush types, especially those that look like they're made out of weed-eater material! ...particularly w/ black. Enjoy!

And I'm the opposite of you, I feel that the automatic washes with the brushes do a much nicer job of cleaning your car then the touchless ones. I usually wash mine myself at home though because the price is better, but I feel the car shines brighter and looks better with the dirt scrubbed off rather then sprayed off. Last time I went throught a good touchless I pulled through the dryer part then stopped in the car washes parking lot, the car looked pretty good but I pulled out a micro fiber towel to wipe off the few parts that were still wet and my towel was filthy afterwards.

[SparrowHawk60]

Stay way from anything with brushes, moving cloths and the like! Touchless are ok, but the ones I've used never seem to do a very good job.
I use the power washer to get off the grime, then hand wash.

[xsmatt81]

yup sparrow is right, avoid common brush washes like the plaque, especially with BLACK. I should know I own black, and still have some swirl's after hand washes. It comes down to washing technique and grit in the mit..some swirls will always happen on any paint colour, your just going to have to live with the fact that black will show everything possible and could cause stress, especially if your anal about cleaning things. In hindsight i would have bought a silver/white prius now. It's my first black car, it looks gorgerous waxed though, but man is it a PITA to keep it clean. Toyota should move away from the pearl base paints, and go with mettalic flecked style on newer paints. It will still swirl, but wont show up as badly as opposed to the pearl black, and similar pearl paints.

[fred]

ive got a car wash near me that is just like a regular attended one except that i "drive" it through myself. does a great job. has swirling "brushes" doesnt hurt a thing. i dont even take my antenna off although ill probably pay for that laziness. the only thing i make sure i do is to flip the exterior mirrors in. i really like the car wash and have gone there many many times.
ps i used to have an 04 black prius and ran it through all the time with no damage. i did need to wax it more often since as stated , it does show swirls a lot.

[rochesteruser]

Originally Posted by morpheusx

And I'm the opposite of you, I feel that the automatic washes with the brushes do a much nicer job of cleaning your car then the touchless ones. I usually wash mine myself at home though because the price is better, but I feel the car shines brighter and looks better with the dirt scrubbed off rather then sprayed off. Last time I went throught a good touchless I pulled through the dryer part then stopped in the car washes parking lot, the car looked pretty good but I pulled out a micro fiber towel to wipe off the few parts that were still wet and my towel was filthy afterwards.

What the Automatic Car Washes don't post is the type of soap that they use to clean your car. The soap is VERY HARSH. Almost a pure degreaser. If you have a wax coat on your car, it is surely washed off by the end of the cleaning cycle. Also, think about this, as if the harsh soap wasn't already enough. The cars that have all gone before you in a Brush type system all had crap and grime all over their cars, right? Well, where did that grime and crap all end up? You guesed it! All over the brushes and mop wrags dragging all over YOUR dirty car!!! In my mind, I liken it to fine grit sand paper. Because that is what the Brush type systems really are. Paint and Clear Coat destoyers. Better of handwashing your baby every 10-14 days.

[xsmatt81]

rochestor is right, normally the shampoo's these auto washes use is very harsh and strong and will strip most wax/sealents right off after only one or two washes. This is a money maker for alot of car washes as they can charge people for wax jobs(way overpriced). And then have you come back the next week and that nice wax job will be stripped...so the cycle repeats. For people who dont have time to wash weekly or bi weekly, it's understable to use auto washes, but at least try to find a high quality wash place, touchless if you can. They are hard to come by though

[Darwood]

I used to manage a car wash, so I have some insight here.
Touchless are the safest, obviously. They do an OK job, but if the car's really dirty, you need friction to get it clean. The washes with plastic bristles or that are unattended are terrible. We called them spray and prays. For a quality wash, you need a soft cloth wash from a reputable provider. A reputable car wash A) presprays the cars to remove the bulk and keep that stuff OFF the soft brushes 2) Uses freshly washed towels for each and every car at the drying end 3) and would never allow a rustbucket to pass through. (Since the loose rust will come off and scratch the next few cars).

Other points:
1) Car wash soap does not remove the wax. the soapy water beads off of it. That's the whole point of wax. Also, they use only as much soap as is needed, those chemicals are EXPENSIVE! It comes in 50 gallon drums and is very harsh at that point, but it is diluted into a bucket that the actual machinery draws from.
2) Car wash "wax" treatments, underside spray, clearcoat protectant do VERY LITTLE. Just stick with the regular wash.
3) Remove the antenna. It's just not worth the risk and the wash works better when it doesn't have to work around it. The only other worry is loose trim and moldings.

It's always preferable to handwash yourself. But you can't do that in the winter in most of the country, so carwashes are needed. Here in MN, the wash I ran would do 800+ washes on a good day in the winter, and 100 on a good day in the summer. Pick a reputable wash by observing the cars that exit and make sure no rusty cars enter before you. And always hand wax twice a year in the fall and spring.