Pressure Washing your car, does it damage?

[Stay Fresh Car Care]

Hands down a rinseless and waterless wash is the worst idea possible! Who ever came up with the idea clearly just wants a quick buck and whoever sells a product like this, does not care about your investment!

The safest way to wash a car is by pre-soaking the surface numerous times and pressure spraying away as much contamination as possible. Keep in mind, you want to touch the paint as less as possible.

AND when you do touch the paint, you want as less contamination on the surface.

I can give you some slack if you pull up to a car show and use this method, but take your time and be gentle!

Ryan

[LucidMomentum]

What I do depends on the amount of stuff on my car. I'll wash my car once every week or two weeks, and "wash" it once a month.

If I am using ONR with nothing else, I make sure to spray the surface down first, then spray some on the towel to make sure nothing is dry. That makes it almost like washing it with water. Then I make sure to wipe it down again, then I dry it. It uses a ton of towels, but sometimes it's less trouble than getting everything else out.

If it looks like too much dirt and grime has built up, I pull out the mitts and the two buckets. Just makes it more efficient than constantly having to respray with ONR and such.

If that doesn't even look like it'll work, then it's time for the "wash". Pressure washer with Foam cannon attachment. Foam it once and rinse off to loosen stuff up, then foam it again and rinse off to get down to a stage where I can just wash off with ONR or the two bucket method. Then wax.

[Stay Fresh Car Care]

I think this misconception here is this! Nothing about waterless washing or rinseless washing has properties as being a mild cleaning agent.

If I put water in a bottle and sold it as a waterless wash would you buy it? of course not!

The reason why you should Pre-soak the paint is to decontaminate the surface. Letting the car sit and soak drastically cleans the surface, especially if you are using a pressure sprayer.

I have yet to see any proof about encapsulation process!

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by Stay Fresh Car Care

... I have yet to see any proof about encapsulation process!

That's because you and I are not smart enough to see the emperor's new cloths!

[Stay Fresh Car Care]

We just need military grade eye magnifying technology.

[phrosty]

Originally Posted by Hydaral

I have been using the Garry Dean method and his Infinite Use Detail Juice for nearly a year now, a rinse with a pressure sprayer and then a rinseless wash using top quality MF every 2-4 weeks and a coat of carnauba every 4-6 weeks.

Agreed. If there's heavy grime, $2 into my local coin-op to quickly pressure wash to get it off. If not, I just presoak with a spritz of ONR, and then right to ONR with GDWM. I've never found any paint damage due to this.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by phrosty

... I've never found any paint damage due to this.

Have you performed the "flash test" on your paint?

[phrosty]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

Have you performed the "flash test" on your paint?

No clue what a "flash test" is, but since I started doing ONR washes I haven't noticed any more wear on the paint than normal. The first couple times I tried it, I went over the paint meticulously with the bright light I use for machine polishing and did not find any new marks.

I do keep a durable sealant/wax layer, which may help.

[Stay Fresh Car Care]

Originally Posted by phrosty

No clue what a "flash test" is, but since I started doing ONR washes I haven't noticed any more wear on the paint than normal. The first couple times I tried it, I went over the paint meticulously with the bright light I use for machine polishing and did not find any new marks.

I do keep a durable sealant/wax layer, which may help.

Mind posting some pictures?

[phrosty]

Originally Posted by Stay Fresh Car Care

Mind posting some pictures?

In the summer sure. Car is covered with road salt right now.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by phrosty

No clue what a "flash test" is, but since I started doing ONR washes I haven't noticed any more wear on the paint than normal.

What is "normal" wear? Can you describe it? As for the flash test, take a look.

This guy, like yourself told me that his paint was flawless, although he dusted and washed his paint with detail sprays and waterless washes all the time. I asked him if I could see what his paint looked like. I could immediately see the damage that he couldn't. This is what HE saw:




This is what I saw:



Now after I "rubbed" on it for a few minutes, it looked a LOT better and made his daughter gleeful with joy because she was inheriting that car.




So here's what I always say to the ONR, waterless wash and detail spray cleaning guys...






I will be looking forward to your flash test.

[WhiteFRS69]

[phrosty]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

What is "normal" wear? Can you describe it? As for the flash test, take a look.

Okay, so this is basically holding a bright light up. I've never heard of just taking a picture with flash though, that's clever!

Tell you what -- once snow is gone and I've had a chance to correct imperfections caused by winter road debris, I'll take a "flash test" after every ONR wash for a month and post up here.

I think it's really easy to go overboard with detailing and treat paint like it's super fragile thing that gets scratched if you don't look at it through microfiber goggles.

[LucidMomentum]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

This is what I saw:

So here's what I always say to the ONR, waterless wash and detail spray cleaning guys...


I will be looking forward to your flash test.

Here's my flash test. Taken after the 6 month wash last week, with exterior lighting above the car as well.

I use Chemical Guys Mr. Pink when I foam, and ONR for waterless and water based washes. Touch up with Meguiar's final inspection and Meguiar's Tech Wax. I mix between waterless washes every week and full wash and waxing once a month. This was after an ONR waterless wash.





I think it mostly depends on how you clean your car. Sure everyone will have a preference on what they use, but I think you're being a bit harsh on people as a result of your preferences. You can have the best tools in the world and still screw up the job without proper experience. I'm going to try a more detailed flash test when I wash it this weekend, because you have me intrigued now.

*EDIT*

Here's a flash test that I did when I got home. Last washed on Sunday, no touch ups of any kind done. You can see some dirt flecks but I don't see any scratches or the like. The white may hide it well though.