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Drive thru car wash (cloth)

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by TheBlackPearl, Aug 14, 2020.

  1. Aug 14, 2020 at 12:37 PM
    #1
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl [OP] Newish member

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    They're bad...stay away from them. You know the ones, they seem to be popping up on every corner in my town and probably yours. Attendants motion you forward, spray and brush the front and rear of the vehicle and the automated system takes you through (the pretty smelling foam though!). The cloth (brushes) contain the dirt from all the vehicles before yours and act like sand paper. It will literally take your clear coat off your vehicle...ask me how I know. At first, I thought it was great that one opened up so close to my house. Well after a few years, it was apparent that my clear coat was gone, especially on my hood and roof. In fact, one of the deciding factors on trading in my original black pearl was because my paint was in such bad shape. I learned late and hope that this post can help someone.
     
    Buildn, ToyoMafia and GODZILLA like this.
  2. Aug 14, 2020 at 12:45 PM
    #2
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Trying not to mod it
  3. Aug 14, 2020 at 1:21 PM
    #3
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    I know there are risks involved, but I use the car wash every week. I use my truck on construction sites so it gets dirty. I pressure wash it at the office to get the majority of the dirt off (I don't want to add more dirt and grime to the car wash's brushes) and then go for a quick wash on my way home at least once a week. I realize that it might not be the best for my paint but leaving the dirt on there for too long is certainly not good either, and I don't have time to wash it at home. The car wash offers a monthly unlimited deal for just about the same price as a single wash, and the company pays for it. I get to vacuum the inside also while I am there.

    It often looks like this by the end of the week:
    upload_2020-8-14_16-13-1.jpg

    Because of this kind of fun:
    upload_2020-8-14_16-14-10.jpg

    And then I get it nice and shiny before the weekend:
    upload_2020-8-14_16-18-31.jpg
     
    Cofeemud, yoshi82, JMB and 2 others like this.
  4. Aug 14, 2020 at 1:36 PM
    #4
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    Yep go with a hand wash and get some good sealer on it. Do check out the detail threads and if you have any questions feel free to post them. The members on these threads know their stuff.
     
  5. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:17 PM
    #5
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl [OP] Newish member

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    Boerseun likes this.
  6. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:18 PM
    #6
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl [OP] Newish member

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    Will do, thanks
     
  7. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:20 PM
    #7
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    I didn't mean to imply your post was redundant. I don't know that anyone has done a thread to specifically point out how bad they are on paint. I was just giving you the links to are kick ass detailing threads. lol
     
  8. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:45 PM
    #8
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    I'm going in....
    IMG_20200814_174424.jpg
     
    Black Wolf and TheBlackPearl[OP] like this.
  9. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:51 PM
    #9
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl [OP] Newish member

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    Mmmm, I can smell it.
     
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  10. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:52 PM
    #10
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    If I recall correctly Super White has single stage paint and has no clear coat to damage........:thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2020
    Boerseun[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Aug 14, 2020 at 2:53 PM
    #11
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Always hand wash!
     
    ToyoMafia likes this.
  12. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:08 PM
    #12
    briarpatch

    briarpatch New Member

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    Make no mistake....you can cause damage by hand washing if done so improperly. I took my truck through a car wash many years ago, after a really bad stretch of snowstorm after snowstorm. I'm sure there were scratches caused, but to me, it was less than the damage the salt would have caused. If you must use a car wash, look for a touchless. The soaps are still more harsh than what you would wash at home with, but it's better than those brushes at the Swirl-O-Matic.
     
    ToyoMafia likes this.
  13. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:09 PM
    #13
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Two bucket hand wash method is the way to go!
     
    WILLINH likes this.
  14. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:09 PM
    #14
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    yeah proper hand washing is a must. I’ve found those touch less washers kinda suck they don’t seem to get a dirty car clean maybe a dusty vehicle.
     
    Boerseun[QUOTED] and Black Wolf like this.
  15. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:10 PM
    #15
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Yep....
     
    ToyoMafia[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:14 PM
    #16
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    I don't disagree if my truck was a garage kept occasional-use vehicle, but in my case I am not going to spend all Saturday washing and waxing it if I know it is going to be covered in dirt before Monday lunch time.
     
    Black Wolf[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:24 PM
    #17
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    My BLAAAAACK tunny isn't garaged and I hit the mountains here a lot this time of year. Tomorrow actually. I only two bucket my tunny once a month. I hit the self wash and use only high pressure rinse once a week. $2...ha!
     
    Boerseun[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:28 PM
    #18
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    Perfect
     
    Black Wolf[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:35 PM
    #19
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I've waxed it once! Last summer. I'll do the @War Machine go over again after this hunting season once I can't get back up there when snow shuts me down! Pointless to keep it spiffed up now.
     
  20. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:45 PM
    #20
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    That man knows the deal. Wash decon griot 3-1 skip the wax if your doing it once a year
     
    Black Wolf[QUOTED] likes this.
  21. Aug 14, 2020 at 3:45 PM
    #21
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Wait a minute.....I was out in Melbourne in 2004. June to September. First Charlie, then Francis, and to rub it in....then fracking Ivan. It f^^^ing rained badass hard every afternoon when there wasn't a freaking hurricane blasting thru! What do you need a car wash for?????
    FYI...if you live in Florida.....have one or two generators. I didn't need them because my leased condo was new and had underground power to the substation. Never lost power thru 3 hurricanes. I'd look across the street... homes had no power! Ha! I left. Didn't like living IN the zoo...heh...heh.....and I prefer at least some elevation over 2 ft in altitude....heh...heh
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2020
  22. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:20 PM
    #22
    briarpatch

    briarpatch New Member

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    A lot of folks really like the two bucket method....I used to be one of them. I now use one bucket, with multiple mitts....much the same as Dave from Apex Detail. Dirty mitts do not go back onto the paint. There is a guy, I think he is British or Aussie, that advocates the 'no bucket, no foam' method. Pretty interesting angle. Here's a link to his video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76UHGYuqGSo
     
  23. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:33 PM
    #23
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    Yeah I’m a one bucket guy that’s all I can afford
     
    Black Wolf likes this.
  24. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #24
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I've done that method too. Got 3 mitts. Even with two bucket I change mitts. Doesn't take much to scratch black at all. I'll prolly get some new scratches tomorrow up in the mountains although I try to avoid that but it comes with the territory. Either that or mall crawl and I hate malls!
     
  25. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #25
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Come on! 2 Homer buckets. $8!
    I'm cheap too. Recently bought a Flowmaster knock off for $30. Same thing same sound! Modding on a budget...
     
    ToyoMafia[QUOTED] likes this.
  26. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:48 PM
    #26
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    Why does that need to be a 2 hour long movie

    cliff notes?
     
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  27. Aug 14, 2020 at 4:51 PM
    #27
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Kuul "movie". I always thought those OZ's were getting dirty in the outback! Even they spiff things up once in awhile too:thumbsup:
     
  28. Aug 14, 2020 at 5:24 PM
    #28
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    I’m just f’ing around I got plenty of buckets
     
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  29. Aug 14, 2020 at 5:27 PM
    #29
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Got pics? Haha....at my age I have knocked off a few bucket list things, but easier to collect different buckets......
     
  30. Aug 14, 2020 at 5:40 PM
    #30
    ToyoMafia

    ToyoMafia SSEM #15-3MW-RGBA#?-@toyomafiaworld Vendor

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    I knocked most my bucket list out in my 20’s now married with kids I don’t do shit
     
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