PSA: Do not use auto car washes

[Kelbyat07]

I always wash my car by hand and with liight pressure water, unless im washing my rims and undercarriage then I like to use high pressure water. It's so worth it washing with your hands.

[David-Fermani.com]

Originally Posted by russv

I've personally experienced pressure washers taking my paint off. A minor paint chip turned into a dime sized piece of missing paint. Only hand wash for me-ever.

Originally Posted by russv

Try spraying a high pressure water nozzle on your skin. It hurts. Now imagine that kind of pressure on paint. It removes wax and any other protectant and can possibly remove paint if a chip is caught at the wrong angle. .

Sounds like you're using a cutting tip instead of a fan tip. I can take my 1800 psi commercial grade PWer and hold it 6-8 inches from my skin without it hurting. Most coin-op car washes use 1500 psi btw.

It's all about using common sense. I've powerwashed 10's of 1000's of cars and have not had 1 incident of paint flaking/adhesion loosening.

Every car has stone chips to some extent. If powerwashing was that harmful (as you say), you've have chaos at the car washes on a regular basis. I've yet heard of anyone providing documentation that powerwashing can hurt your paint when used properly on stabil, properly applied paint finishes.

[russv]

Originally Posted by David-Fermani.com

Sounds like you're using a cutting tip instead of a fan tip. I can take my 1800 psi commercial grade PWer and hold it 6-8 inches from my skin without it hurting. Most coin-op car washes use 1500 psi btw.

It's all about using common sense. I've powerwashed 10's of 1000's of cars and have not had 1 incident of paint flaking/adhesion loosening.

Every car has stone chips to some extent. If powerwashing was that harmful (as you say), you've have chaos at the car washes on a regular basis. I've yet heard of anyone providing documentation that powerwashing can hurt your paint when used properly on stabil, properly applied paint finishes.

I would rather be safe than sorry. In my experience power washing is not always effective in removing dirt, particularly after the car has been through rain soaked dirt that has been allowed to dry. Noting that you are from Detroit I understand you may not have the option of handwashing in the winter. In your experience does power washing remove wax? I would imagine that it does. Where I live in Northern California we don't get the heavy weather, snow, mud, etc, but mostly winter rain. Summer the car gets a light dust and suicidal bugs. My cars are well waxed and so everything comes off cleanly with hand washing.

[David-Fermani.com]

Powerwashing works great at removing dirt (abrasive particles) actually, but don't be confused with the oily-based road film that coats a car from a rainstorm that remains after powerwashing. You need friction and/or a high concentration of chemical and heat to remove that w/o friction.

The key to safely washing a car (without marring) is to get the abrasives off before you touch it. And that's what powerwashing does. My wash bucket is very clean after hand washing because the only thing I'm removing from the surface is an oily residue which isn't very abrasive at all.

Does powerwashing remove wax/sealant?? I would make an educated guess that the act of hand washing and drying (friction) is more threatening to your protection than a blast from the pressure washer with plain water.

At the end of the day, use what works best for you. I just wouldn't go so far as to suggest that powerwashing strips protection and can damage paint.