Automatic Carwashes?

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Just thought i'd post this question on here, as out of all the forums i visit .... this one appears
to have the greatest "knowledge".

I often take my vauxhall zafira through the local arc automatic carwash.
I noticed several months ago they had a pile of "rock salt ... for snow clearing" (so it says on the bags).
This pile has been getting smaller and smaller over the past few weeks, so they're obviously
using it in the machine.

Now forgive me if i'm wrong, but surely using rock salt in the "water softening" part of the carwash
machine is wrong .... i thought they should use purified salt as rock salt contains extra chemicals
that can damage the active filter parts of the softener?

I have also noticed a lot of salt-streaks lately on the vauxhall after leaving the machine.

Any comments?

(My other car gets washed by hand, and rinsed off with distilled water. ).

 

[numbnuts]

I've been driving 40 years and still use a bucket of plain water and a sponge

 

[Archie_tect]

I think I've cleaned my car once in the 3 years I've had it....
or that might be the one before.

 

[tyred]

Garages often use salt in their car washes. I know this from someone who services the equipment. Washing your car with salt will give it a lovely shine for now....

 

[Mr Phoebus]

If you're cycling and get a sudden attack of the cramps, then lick a newly washed car.

 

[Archie_tect]

If you're cycling and get a sudden attack of the cramps, then lick a newly washed car.

...as long as you don't put your dirty paws on it!

 

[Gareth]

I think I've cleaned my car once in the 3 years I've had it....
or that might be the one before.

I think it has been about the same amount of time since I last cleaned my car..... inside or out

 

[Archie_tect]

I think it has been about the same amount of time since I last cleaned my car..... inside or out

...INSIDE? Is that allowed?

 

[Archie_tect]

That was his day off.

 

[screenman]

I love car washes, they earn me a fortune in the damage they cause.

 

[Archie_tect]

Repairing or suing?

 

[Gareth]

...INSIDE? Is that allowed?

We were going away on Holiday in my car, and 'er-indoors insisted that I give the car an internal clean, if I didn't want my hearing damaged any more than it is.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Back in the day when I used to give a shoot about cars and used to wax my current pride and joy at least once a week I would never dream of putting it through one of those. I used to have a very condition Civic VTI-S in pirates black and it was covered in tiny scratches and swirl marks, I was convinced that it was from the previous owner using an automatic car wash. It would of easily cutted out if I could of been arsed. Blacks are terrible for showing up scratches. Now that my main car is silver it is awesome you just cannot see them so I never wash it and go to a local IMO car wash and it only costs me £2.40 for a wash one and it does a great job. I also believe that metallic paints do not need to be polished as often like solid colours as they do not seem to fade. This is great considering that I am an ex petrol head that really does not give a crap about cars anymore, they are just a necessary money drain to me now. I never skimp on servicing and if it has any faults they always repaired, but the rest I really do not care about. I also usually buy cars about 6 or 7 years old and run them into the ground so I am not that bothered about the cosmetics.

 

[screenman]

Cheesny, solid colours now have laquer over the base the same as matelics in most cases.

Archie-tect, repairing.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Cheesny, solid colours now have laquer over the base the same as matelics in most cases.

Archie-tect, repairing.

Ok cheers mate, I have learned something new might buy a solid coloured car next then.