Quick Question, have to wash car now!

[Spittin Game]

Since our weather here has been the worst that Ive ever seen/remembered, I havent even been able to wash my car for almost 2 months. Now that the streets are somewhat not filled with snow, and its too cold for me to wash it myself. Would it hurt if I took it to the local car wash that to get it cleaned? It still has the brushed in the wash, or should I take it to the manual car wash where you use the brush they provide (where you put in like $5-$6 and change the setting for each different part of it). Would this hurt my brilliant black paint or will I be ok? I just cant lookat the car like this anymore.

[Spittin Game]

Oh, I forgot to add that the car is caked with dirt. With all the snow melting recently and all the cars driving on the road its completely filthy. Will that stuff scratch the car as well if its being touched by a brush? I usually dont leave the house when the weather is like ****, but its been this way for the past 2 months, so I had no choice. Ive only hand washed her up until now and thats really not an option right now.

[Rambit]

Whatever you do, DON'T put your car through a brush car wash!!! You have a BB car and I guarantee you'll end up with swirls afterwards. Touchless car washes will not get rid of all the dirt and will leave a film, but it's a lot better than leaving it dirty IMO. Be aware that touchless car washes use an alkaline based soap to remove dirt. Just make sure it gets rinced off well.

Rambit

[2006_Black_SRT]

This time of year I like to remind people of a study done by Avis in the mid 80's. They tracked the the number of car washings and reported problems with body rust expecting that the more a car was washed the less it would rust. Ironically they found just the opposite. In an effort to explain their findings they were submitted to a university chemical engineer Dept. The results were interesting.

Apparently...rusting is a chemical reaction between salt and the iron in the steel. Only the salt actually touching the steel will cause this reaction...once the reaction is completed the the sight of the reaction in neutralized and no further reaction occurs. However...washing the car...removes the neutalized salt and exposes fresh steel to fresh salt allowing for a brand new rust resulting chemical reaction. Logically this makes sense...though it yields a rather ugly car for the winter.

Obviously materials and rust proofing have come a long way in 20 yrs...However, the laws of Chemisty have not changed.

Bottom line...don't over wash the car in the winter...You are inviting rust...not avioding it.

[Spittin Game]

Well the good thing is here in CO they dont use salt on the roads, they use sand.

Anyways, I was driving by the local car wash and I pulled in and I guess they changed from the brushes to a brushless. Their was a bunch of black cars too. I got it done and it came out beautifully clean. In summer I will only hand wash her, but when it needs it in winter, now I atleast have an option.

[Rambit]

Originally Posted by 2006_Black_SRT

This time of year I like to remind people of a study done by Avis in the mid 80's. They tracked the the number of car washings and reported problems with body rust expecting that the more a car was washed the less it would rust. Ironically they found just the opposite. In an effort to explain their findings they were submitted to a university chemical engineer Dept. The results were interesting.

Apparently...rusting is a chemical reaction between salt and the iron in the steel. Only the salt actually touching the steel will cause this reaction...once the reaction is completed the the sight of the reaction in neutralized and no further reaction occurs. However...washing the car...removes the neutalized salt and exposes fresh steel to fresh salt allowing for a brand new rust resulting chemical reaction. Logically this makes sense...though it yields a rather ugly car for the winter.

Obviously materials and rust proofing have come a long way in 20 yrs...However, the laws of Chemisty have not changed.

Bottom line...don't over wash the car in the winter...You are inviting rust...not avioding it.

Not saying you're wrong, but this goes against everything else I've ever read. Most recommend washing your car, especially the underbody once a week. I think trapped ice/snow/salt would eventually cause more rust long term, especially when it melts. I also think underbody anti-corrosive treatments to metals have come a long way since the 80's.

There's always a study somewhere to dispute another study or popular belief. Who knows what the study consisted of and whether it was scientific or not.

Rambit

[turbomangt]

for all your answers to this question and others on car care., get my dvd..go here to purcahse, this is exactly why I made it, becuase of this post, Perfect Auto Finish - Gary Kouba - Auto Detailing