Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Car wash...

I wash my car only by hand. I don't trust the machines for that matter. Beside the salt spread as an de-icer on the roads, in the winter the snow comes with a lot of salt in it so after a snowy winter you will shurely find a lot of salt deposits anywhere on your cars. So I believe that especially in the winter is best to wash the car by hand with plenty of water, as the salt could be very abrasive. This is true love for the car....

I wash my car only by hand. I don't trust the machines for that matter.
Beside the salt spread as an de-icer on the roads, in the winter the snow comes with a lot of salt in it so after a snowy winter you will shurely find a lot of salt deposits anywhere on your cars. So I believe that especially in the winter is best to wash the car by hand with plenty of water, as the salt could be very abrasive.

This is true love for the car....

Ok... I'm reconsidering my option towards an automated machine.
I've noticed that in neon light and under a very wide angle the paint surface has minor ... marks let's say... In daylight they can't be seen ... nor at night under normal lighting conditions. It has to be blue/white xenon/neon light and under a certain angle but the marks are there and they all are paralel with the sides of the car. Could not be made by anything other than the brushes in the automated washing machine.
Next time I'm going to a manual auto wash ... only ! Active foam + watter jet and no brush or anything else !

I've always wandered if that is really doing the job - no sponge, or brush. I've tried it and I have my doubts.

My clio will soon turn 4, and in 90% of the cases, it was washed by machines. the "spider-web" scratches are there, but they do not seem to worsen. with a good waxing, the car looks quite good.

[...] with a good waxing, the car looks quite good.

I think that's the purpose of the waxing.... it's there to hide those web scratches.

I've always wandered if that is really doing the job - no sponge, or brush. I've tried it and I have my doubts.

My clio will soon turn 4, and in 90% of the cases, it was washed by machines. the "spider-web" scratches are there, but they do not seem to worsen. with a good waxing, the car looks quite good.

I have seen those "spider-web" scratches on most of the cars. I don't think they're made only by machines. Just think of the various particles in the atmosphere, the pieces of cloth used to wipe the car and you'll find the sources of scratches. I think it's almost impossible to avoid those scratches in the everyday use of your car; prehaps if you keep it indoor and you dust it and wax it every 3-4 days.

And if you want to make the car look good when you sell it, just wax/polish it after you decide you want it sold and keep it in a garage until you sell it.

@Danco
washing your car in the winter by hand is not a very good idea you get very cold.

I said i wash it by hand, but it doesn't have to be mine. I pay weekly for a handwash and i'm very happy with the results.

This is true love for the car.... 

Not quite, the auto wash facility is located right next to my office building, so i don't even bother to stay there, the guys working there knows me and they bring the car, once is ready, to my parking lot and bring me the key, very convenient.

This post has been edited by Danco: 17 Jan 2006, 20:48

I washed my Logan yesterday at OMV gas station....
Is it smart/harmfull to wash car in mechanical car wash, such as OMV's Top wash????
Now you can find "micro" scratches on color which was not there before washing.

What are your's experience?Does it caus harm on car color?Or it is normal.......?

@Denny
I suppose you had the misfortune to wash your car next after another one very, very dirty. Sand microparticles could remain sticked on the "riddles" of the rotating brushes and scratched the paint on your car;
Or:
The washing installation was badly adjusted and the rotating brushes got too close to the car, so the brushes friction on the car body was higher (they are not so soft, these brushes).

Anyway, I don't like the mechanical car wash units, because:
- I don't trust a machine taking care of my car;
- I have to unscrew the car antenna every time, to avoid breaking it;
- If I misplace the car by few centimetres, I risk damaging my side mirrors;
- The car never gets out completely dried form the washing stand.
Finally, last year I installed a set of loggage supports on the roof, so, bye bye mechanical washing.
In Romania, the outside manual washing costs the same and the quality is better.
Of course, I can get wonderful results if I tip the washing guy!

This post has been edited by voicamic: 6 Apr 2006, 16:22