Car wash question

[AAAA]

When taking WK2 through a twirling and dancing rags car wash, do your fold in your outside mirrors? So far I have only gone to touchless, but spinning rags is closer to home. Thanks.
:detailer:

[Navy1]

I take mine through one that is very reputable where I live and they always push the mirrors in. I only run it through during very cold winter days when there is salt I need off. Otherwise I wash myself.

[mjw930]

WOW, brace yourself for all the anti-car wash crowd to tell you how you are going to permanently ruin your ride.....

A lot will depend on the type of wash but you can't go wrong folding them in. I don't think it will cause any harm either way but why tempt fate.

[AAAA]

Thanks. I know a lot of people envision the dancing rags as full of sand, but I never have had a scratching problem. After all there is water being sprayed continually on them and they are spinning.

As far as outside mirrors go. After driving my wife's new Volvo through a couple of years ago, I noticed that the driver's side mirror cover and directional light were gone. We went back to the car wash. The attendant stopped the wash and came out with 3 left side mirrors for us to pick among. They paid over $500 to get us fixed... cheerfully I might add!

[JDM12]

i was instantly reminded of this lol r7nKEEnBPtw

on the damage topic....i have had noticeable scratches after years of auto washes. I would rather have some repairable scratching than rust from the unreal amount of road salt they use around here.

[OneCent]

i think if you bring your car to a "car wash" just take a look if its well maintained. If you do a handwash, you have to be carefully too not to scratch the paint.

[mjw930]

i think if you bring your car to a "car wash" just take a look if its well maintained. If you do a handwash, you have to be carefully too not to scratch the paint.

Agreed. I'm lucky to have a very highly rated and well maintained automatic wash 1 mile from the house. They use the latest soft cloth, slow rotating "brushes" and spend a lot of money maintaining their equipment. You wouldn't believe the number of Merc's, BMW's and high end SUV's go through there every day. I put my last 3 SUV's through that wash at least twice a month and both were sold with finishes that were as good, if not better than the way they were delivered from the dealership. I also make sure I keep the paint properly treated and sealed and trust me, the abrasive action on my local car wash is much less than the road debris the truck is subject to on a rainy day going down the interstate.

[GTOGreg]

I mix the two, handwashing and going through the auto wash if it is cold out. It is ok, just don't follow a snow covered vehicle through. Do not use the kind with brushes, you want the one that has the long towel attachments (whatever they're called). These are safer than many handwashes, especially the outfits where the driers come up and start drying the car in a circular motion - that is what creates your spider webbing right there. You will notice that the auto washes I mention have soft surfaces and touch the car just in the way wind moves over the car...this is the appropriate way to clean the car.

The reason I mix between auto washes and hand washes is that I've heard that the chemicals used in the auto washes can delaminate clear coat over time. When I have some spare time it is a fun activity to do anyway, as well as gives me an opportunity to inspect the vehicle. It also gives you the chance to clean those little areas the auto washes can't reach. Lastly, I "Zaino" the car(s) twice a year to cover any light scratches and protect against new ones.

Another thing: If you have the option to pay $3-$4 more for a deionized water option, do it. It will make a big difference in how your car looks as it doesn't dry with water spots. Drive in, drive out, in less than 5 minutes. It's a beautiful thing.

[mjw930]

Another thing: If you have the option to pay $3-$4 more for a deionized water option, do it. It will make a big difference in how your car looks as it doesn't dry with water spots. Drive in, drive out, in less than 5 minutes. It's a beautiful thing.

$3 - $4!!!! I've got well over $400 into my personal hand wash water treatment :D

I know, you were talking about an option at the carwash, I'm just saying it's a no-brainer.

http://crspotless.com/images/magick_cache/pgroup_4_image_260_shadow.jpg

[GTOGreg]

Yeah, I have the same one. Got it at Costco a couple years ago. The refills are what's expensive, especially with the DC20. Does a great job! I wash with regular water and do a final rinse with the DI water. Lastly, follow it up with a dedicated leaf blower until totally dry. My neighbors think I'm crazy I'm sure...they may be onto something.

[MasterWK]

Use touchless if you're going to use a machine... Otherwise do it by hand. Never use the rag-slappers.

[Cperez]

Yeah, I have the same one. Got it at Costco a couple years ago. The refills are what's expensive, especially with the DC20. Does a great job! I wash with regular water and do a final rinse with the DI water. Lastly, follow it up with a dedicated leaf blower until totally dry. My neighbors think I'm crazy I'm sure...they may be onto something.

I bit on the Mr. Clean carwash system a couple of years ago, the one that uses the cartridges to de-ionize the final rinse cycle. I thought it worked pretty well but got tired of buying the refills.

[RageOfFury]

Use touchless if you're going to use a machine... Otherwise do it by hand. Never use the rag-slappers.
+1:thumbsup:

[mjw930]

Use touchless if you're going to use a machine... Otherwise do it by hand. Never use the rag-slappers.

That's a fairly generic statement that has little basis in facts. I use a high end wash with "rag slappers" and I will challenge anyone to see the difference in finish to a Jeep that's only washed by hand. Ask the last 3 people who purchased my previous vehicles and they will attest to the quality of the finish.

My time is far too valuable to spend hours washing my daily driver and there's little to no payback come resale time so it's "rag slappers" for me until I retire and have the time to worry about it. Besides, a WK2 isn't a show car, it's a UTILITY vehicle.....

[VermontHobbit]

My time is far too valuable to spend hours washing my daily driver and there's little to no payback come resale time so it's "rag slappers" for me until I retire and have the time to worry about it. Besides, a WK2 isn't a show car, it's a UTILITY vehicle.....

I agree... I hand wash our Porsche, but you have to take climate into account when people talk about their choices. Here in Vermont the Porsche is stored nearly six months per year, while the Jeeps are 12 month vehicles of course.

Not fun hand washing at 28F!

[MasterWK]

A matter of opinion. I don't have much time either, but I can usually find time to atleast get out of my car and spray it down at the do it yourself station. The rag slapping machine is simply out-dated and poorly designed. All of you wk2 guys might sometimes forget that on the top of your car is an antenna. The sensors that the machines use to go around your car cannot detect them and you run a higher risk of getting it torn off. Also the rags in the machines are made out of abrasive materials that create lots of tiny scratches. I care and love my car, and I see it as much more than a "utility." I find calling my car something like that to be just plain degrading to it. I respect my car, and therefore, I'll think twice about how I'll clean her.

[mjw930]

I care and love my car, and I see it as much more than a "utility." I find calling my car something like that to be just plain degrading to it. I respect my car, and therefore, I'll think twice about how I'll clean her.

WOW, Maybe you and your Jeep should get a room :pimp:

(wink wink) I'm just kidding but it was simply too easy to pass up.

[jeep2011]

Yeah, I have the same one. Got it at Costco a couple years ago. The refills are what's expensive, especially with the DC20. Does a great job! I wash with regular water and do a final rinse with the DI water. Lastly, follow it up with a dedicated leaf blower until totally dry. My neighbors think I'm crazy I'm sure...they may be onto something.

Why would you have to dry it with a blower if those systems are suppose to produce spot free water?

[JTS97Z28]

A matter of opinion. I don't have much time either, but I can usually find time to atleast get out of my car and spray it down at the do it yourself station. The rag slapping machine is simply out-dated and poorly designed. All of you wk2 guys might sometimes forget that on the top of your car is an antenna. The sensors that the machines use to go around your car cannot detect them and you run a higher risk of getting it torn off. Also the rags in the machines are made out of abrasive materials that create lots of tiny scratches. I care and love my car, and I see it as much more than a "utility." I find calling my car something like that to be just plain degrading to it. I respect my car, and therefore, I'll think twice about how I'll clean her.

Although I do see where your coming from I do have to disagree with you. If you truely know how to detail your car, using a drive through rag carwash is usually just fine. I am a super anal car detailing guys who owns Corvettes as well (and if you know any vette owners you know they are the pickiest of picky) and I have no problems taking my year round daily driven vehicle through the car washes. As long as you detail the car on a regular basis its going to be fine. I have some pictures of my daily driver cars that go through Chicago winters and car washes that would blow your mind.

James

[wreckdive]

Ever hear the one about the guy who wouldn't wash his brand-new car for at least 6 weeks after delivery, convinced the clearcoat needed time to fully cure to its maximum hardness? He would, however, rinse and flush dust and grime with the softest boar bristles and freshly-cleaned microfiber mitts. ;)

[GTOGreg]

Why would you have to dry it with a blower if those systems are suppose to produce spot free water?



cause sometimes it flushes out dirt that isn't spot-free. Don't want to be wiping that s#!t across the vehicle after it's done. Works great. My whole fleet is black, well except for my '67 Goat. No problems.

[Bob WK2]

That's a fairly generic statement that has little basis in facts. I use a high end wash with "rag slappers" and I will challenge anyone to see the difference in finish to a Jeep that's only washed by hand. Ask the last 3 people who purchased my previous vehicles and they will attest to the quality of the finish.

My time is far too valuable to spend hours washing my daily driver and there's little to no payback come resale time so it's "rag slappers" for me until I retire and have the time to worry about it. Besides, a WK2 isn't a show car, it's a UTILITY vehicle.....

I'm with you on the difference in finish. Bought my 2000 Limited new, washed by hand in warm weather otherwise it was the car wash. When I sold the WJ after 10 years the Silverstone clearcoat looked like it was still new.

[mofeen]

Is it safe to use the power sprayer from those coin-op washes on my new WK2?

I just want to rinse the salt off but I obviously don't want the wax to come off right away or harm the clear coat and or paint.

[netcoolery]

WOW, Maybe you and your Jeep should get a room :pimp:

(wink wink) I'm just kidding but it was simply too easy to pass up.

Why? The Jeep has a very functional back seat :D

[Cperez]

Is it safe to use the power sprayer from those coin-op washes on my new WK2?

I just want to rinse the salt off but I obviously don't want the wax to come off right away or harm the clear coat and or paint.

I think it's very safe, mofeen. Like everything, a little common sense goes a long way. When I used a coin-op wash I didn't nail the vehicle at close range with the full power setting. I also didn't hit the badging or any obvious seam points too hard. I have a pretty nice self-serve operation nearby...hot water in a few of the wash settings and de-ionized (or ionized, can't recall which it is) to minimize spotting for the final rinse. This goes on in a gentle mist and then flows right off. The detail/show car gurus may disagree but like you, I think a good rinse makes sense and when it's cold out only the hardcore will be using the two-bucket method with grit guards, lambswool mitts, etc. Enjoy your new ride.

[01grand]

I have been using the spinning rag washes for years, haven't noticed a scratching problem related to them. There is one attendant that will fold mirrors in, the others dont. Sometimes the rags fold my right side mirror for me, but I have never had one break. The WJ's dont have painted covers though, so I cant speak for those.

[77rednecktruck]

What is this car washing thing? I thought that is what rain is for. :)

I run my cars through a car wash maybe once a month in the winter to get the salt off. Sometimes in the summer my kids will ask to wash the cars (they are 9, 7, and 3 years old) and I give them a bucket, some soap, some rags, and they are good to go for an hour or so. I think they make it dirtier than when they started though. :)

I have had my new Jeep for 2 weeks now and haven't washed it yet. I did take it through a few mud puddles and a few fire roads by my house though.

[AAAA]

Great, thanks for your input on folding in the mirrors and dancing rags.

Now I want to know about the standard equipment roof antenna. The local dancing rag car wash has a dryer blower with small rollers that rolls over the vehicle while it is blowing. The velocity of the blower allows the roller contact with the car to be light.

Have you had any issues with the antenna going through this type of car wash dryer? Thanks again.