Washing in cold weather

[jjp023]

So my challenger is covered in road salt from an hour long trip to jersey. I do not want to use my house hose as it runs on cold tap water. Would it be safe if i went to a gas station and just used the coin op machine to at least hose it down just with water ?????

[OmahaRumble]

Originally Posted by jjp023

So my challenger is covered in road salt from an hour long trip to jersey. I do not want to use my house hose as it runs on cold tap water. Would it be safe if i went to a gas station and just used the coin op machine to at least hose it down just with water ?????

I would go to a good car wash that has the option for underbody washing. I go to a place like this every few weeks to get the salt off the body and the underneath.

[jjp023]

I tend to stay away from car washes for a few reasons

1. My car has a custom red pinstripe down the body
2. My Rims are powdercoated black and red (I hate the machines that move the car thru the car wash)
3. They take no responsibility for their actions IE: Dirty Microfibers, poor cleanings, etc
4. Their a rip off.

I usually wash my car on my own once a week this week has been too cold. It is going to be 40 this weekend but i dnt want all the salt and dirty to settle in


Here is a pic of my car for reference

http://tinypic.com/r/seuavs/6

[Horseshoe]

I'm not a fan of car washes. Especially the kind that you drive through on tracks. I worked at one in my early twenties (a long time ago) and saw what happened to cars......

I don't see anything wrong with one of those "coin operated" ones where you hose it down just to get salt off.

A good trick to do the underside is attach a hose to a lawn sprinkler and just push it under and move it around.....

When washing outside in cold weather I use water that is mildly warm but not hot. Hot water tends to take wax or "paint sealant" off.....

Just my .02 cents!

[titanman2789]

Originally Posted by Horseshoe

I don't see anything wrong with one of those "coin operated" ones where you hose it down just to get salt off.

A good trick to do the underside is attach a hose to a lawn sprinkler and just push it under and move it around.....

I have to use one of those coin operated washes because I live at an apartment. I take my own bucket and cleaning supplies in a box and just use the rinse setting on the car wash. Usually spend about $5.

Great idea with the sprinkler.



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[jjp023]

Originally Posted by Horseshoe

I'm not a fan of car washes. Especially the kind that you drive through on tracks. I worked at one in my early twenties (a long time ago) and saw what happened to cars......

I don't see anything wrong with one of those "coin operated" ones where you hose it down just to get salt off.

A good trick to do the underside is attach a hose to a lawn sprinkler and just push it under and move it around.....

When washing outside in cold weather I use water that is mildly warm but not hot. Hot water tends to take wax or "paint sealant" off.....

Just my .02 cents!

Originally Posted by titanman2789

I have to use one of those coin operated washes because I live at an apartment. I take my own bucket and cleaning supplies in a box and just use the rinse setting on the car wash. Usually spend about $5.

Great idea with the sprinkler.



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using AutoGuide.Com Free App

Im assuming the pressure on the coin-op ones are enough to damage the paints and sealants on my vehicle but what about on the rims that are powder coated? Is the pressure to much to handle?

[Horseshoe]

A couple of years ago the winter season was horrible in the Northeast. A couple of times during the season I used one of those "coin operated" car washes since it was too cold/windy out to run my faucet. The pressure on those coin op washes is fierce. I just held the end of wand at least a couple of feet from my truck.....the truck was so filthy at the time I had to do it. Not my first choice and something I would not do regularly........

[DARRENSTOYS]

I always wash mine in the winter I just washed it a few days ago and it was -6 C (21 F) that is about the lowest I am able to go or else it freezes before I can get the car finished lol.

[Ocron]

Originally Posted by Horseshoe

Ocron: Yeah the driveway ices over. That part of the driveway in the pictures runs up the side of the house so we really don't care. Trust me. I almost fell on my ass a few times...... Few towns away? What town?

I'm in Hopkinton near the Ashland border. I do the warm water wash too in the winter. I wouldn't run an outside spigot below 32 deg.

[Fast Freight]

Even here in Maryland, it gets so cold that the hose just freezes up after a minute or so. For those times, I've found a great alternative:

Go Green Waterless Wash from The Chemical Guys.....Really impressive product, will not scratch, cleans and waxes at the same time.....

Take a look at this link and decide for yourself, I keep a bottle in the trunk as a detailer, but it's truly a wash!

Waterless Wash And Wax With Kaolin Clay