a couple of ?'s about Car Washing?!?

[Commando]

after reading some threads about car washing all around F-body forums, i've noticed that everyone perfers to wash their car by them selves and not using powerwash, they just use a bucket and soap, now my question,, is it really that bad to go to a wash station and let them handle ur car?? it's not about the effort coz i love washing my car but i live in an apartment without my own garage, so i have to so in the middle of the street, and there ain't the kinda of stations where u wash ur own car by ur self!!! so what to do?!? also when u clean the inside of the engines bay,, what do u use to clean?! thanks :rockon:

[warriorrun]

Some people don't trust self car washes cause after a while they say they can scratch your car and have swirl marks. And the self car wash, the brushs may scratch the paint if its got dirt and who knows if the brush has touched mud. I would take a bucket and wash the car at a self wash. Some people don't recommend spraying the engine with water, rather clean motor by hand thats what I do. Im sure somone who has washed their car with the hose can give more info.

[warriorrun]

Forgot to say if you take a bucket to a self car wash, I would wash the car at night or early morning.

[Commando]

yup i also prefer to wash my own car, which i used to do, but as i said no i live in this appartment where i park my car in the street so it's really hard to do so,, but i guess i'll start doin it my self.. but i'm mixed up about the Engines bay, it will take like ages to clean by hand!!! u sure no water to be used?

[Chris 96 WS6]

If its an LT1 car, DO NOT wash the engine with a hose or sprayer unless you like replacing the optispark a lot.

The high-PSI sprayers can be bad for the clearcoat over time. I won't say I've never used them but I keep it to rare occassions and I don't put the sprayer right up against the car.

When I lived in an apartment I took a bucket and my own soap and I'd hand wash the car in the car wash bay and then rinse off with the sprayer.

Hand action on the paint is the only way to really break the dirt free.

[Commando]

i'm with u on ur thoughts, but what about the undercarriage, shouldn't we visit the car wash atleast once every 2 months to clean under the car?? and what about LS1 Engines, is't cool to spray water inside the engines bay.. or is the a special chemical to use?

[Chris 96 WS6]

LS1's are less sensitive to the sprayer, but its still not officially recommended.

What I do is wipe the motor down with a soapy rag and then rinse with a rag in clean water. I can control where the water goes better that way.

As far as undercarriage goes...I don't think most people in the US are getting the undersides of their cars that dirty. Maybe the driving environment in Jordan is different.

[1970judge]

Yeah made that spray/opti mistake once car ran like dog shit for about 3 minutes, never again. I always handwash its just better that way and like chris said the pressure from your hand reallys gets the dirt off. Im guilty however of once in a few weeks if its really dirty and i am workign that entier week before work i will give it a quickie wash. But its rare because i drive my car about 5 times a month.

[Commando]

thanks all for the cool info. i know that the car should be trated alot better "when i own one lol", but when i used to own my blazer i used to hand wash at home but sometimes i used to take it to the washing station after an offroad trip,, well, thanks again

[Fenster]

It depends on what kind of time I have and how dirty the car is. I usually hand wash the car, but if I'm in a hurry, or if the car isn't that dirty and just needs a rinse, I will hit up the power spray places. Then go over it afterwards w/ the detailer spray. Like Chris said, a good hand wash is the only way to really get the dirt off.

For example this weekend, I washed the car w/ Dawn b/c I wanted to get all the old wax off the car. Washed w/ Dawn, then was going to claybar the car but got lazy and just sprayed w/ the Zaino Detailer, then added a coat of Z5, small and fine scratch remover, and then spray detailer, and then added a coat of Z2, car show polish. Can't complain w/ the look now!!! LOL

[LiquidFire350]

in the summer time i was it by hand, in the winter time i go the car wash, only because its cold outside and my car has been hit twice and there are thousands of rock chips in the hood, so someday i want to get a new paint job, so for right now im not that picky, come summer its getting a good buff job tho

as for the engine, ive heard many different things, personally i use a soapy mitt and use the hose with low pressure
i have heard of people using Simple Green to get the grease and shit off, but SG is corrosive to aluminum, so its not recommened to sit for more than maybe 10 seconds
and ive also heard of using the spray-on tire foam, just spray it on, let it dry, do a second coat for the spots you missed, let it dry, i have personally seen the aftermath of this, and the engine does look beautiful, but theres something about using that greasey stuff on the engine that im not too found of

[Fenster]

Oh and I never use the auto car washes w/ the brushes. I rarely use auto washes. I just use the power sprayers.

[NviouSS]

i take a wool mit w/me when i go to the carwash. i don't want to ruin the paint with the community brushes that are available.

[LWillmann]

I've washed the underhood area of my LT1 car.

I leave the engine running, spray MeanGreen around in there, let it sit just a moment, then with a fine mist rinse it off. I just stay away from the Optispart, and try not to concentrate on any one area any longer than needed to just rinse the cleaner away.