Wash to remove salt
01-31-07, 06:39 PM
#16
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Here's the situation:
Temp outside: 5 degrees
Original car color: Black sapphire
Winter car color: Pearl white
The car is covered in salt. Here in Chicago, NaCl doesn't seem to be in shortage. What steps are you guys taking to remove this? The Lexus dealer won't even consider washing it since it's way below 32. I usually only use touchless washes, but this stuff is caked on the car.
Temp outside: 5 degrees
Original car color: Black sapphire
Winter car color: Pearl white
The car is covered in salt. Here in Chicago, NaCl doesn't seem to be in shortage. What steps are you guys taking to remove this? The Lexus dealer won't even consider washing it since it's way below 32. I usually only use touchless washes, but this stuff is caked on the car.
How's it going? Hows your car running? This weather is killing me cause I can't drive my car (no winter tires).
In terms of the wash, a mechanical and hand wash place will both give you swirls. The difference would be one has a track for pushing the car which could scratch your wheels. I have taken the RX through the White Glove in LP (mechanical) and they usually do a good job. During the cold days I usually take my IS to Lexus of HP where I bought it and they do a decent job. Here is a list compiled by citysearch on the supposed best car wash places in the city:
http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/car_wash
I would suggest getting a touchless wash done during the day when it is (relatively) warm. It should be able to wash away all the junk.
01-31-07, 08:19 PM
#17
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Hey Ryan
How's it going? Hows your car running? This weather is killing me cause I can't drive my car (no winter tires).
In terms of the wash, a mechanical and hand wash place will both give you swirls. The difference would be one has a track for pushing the car which could scratch your wheels. I have taken the RX through the White Glove in LP (mechanical) and they usually do a good job. During the cold days I usually take my IS to Lexus of HP where I bought it and they do a decent job. Here is a list compiled by citysearch on the supposed best car wash places in the city:
http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/car_wash
I would suggest getting a touchless wash done during the day when it is (relatively) warm. It should be able to wash away all the junk.
How's it going? Hows your car running? This weather is killing me cause I can't drive my car (no winter tires).
In terms of the wash, a mechanical and hand wash place will both give you swirls. The difference would be one has a track for pushing the car which could scratch your wheels. I have taken the RX through the White Glove in LP (mechanical) and they usually do a good job. During the cold days I usually take my IS to Lexus of HP where I bought it and they do a decent job. Here is a list compiled by citysearch on the supposed best car wash places in the city:
http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/car_wash
I would suggest getting a touchless wash done during the day when it is (relatively) warm. It should be able to wash away all the junk.
Thanks for the info! I am moving to the Lakeview area shortly so I need some good places to go up there... The city and the salt are killing me..
I have a good local touchless wash in Elmhurst not far from my work, so I might go there and then leave the car at work and have the guy at the building dry it off during the day, or do it later... we'll see....
It's supposed to snow again anyway
01-31-07, 08:20 PM
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01-31-07, 08:41 PM
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You must be very young to think the old fashioned conveyor car wash that used to be the norm 30-50 years ago is 'awesome'. 
That's the way all automatic car washes used to be, before the gas stations figured out it was a moneymaker to wash cars, and the boutique 'hand wash' stands opened up. Unfortunately almost all of these conveyor systems use the revolving brush method of getting the crud off your car. I would never recommend putting a car through one of these. It is guaranteed to put marks on your car. Stay away. A conveyor belt system is cool for a Krispy Kreme doughnut, but not for a car wash.
That's the way all automatic car washes used to be, before the gas stations figured out it was a moneymaker to wash cars, and the boutique 'hand wash' stands opened up. Unfortunately almost all of these conveyor systems use the revolving brush method of getting the crud off your car. I would never recommend putting a car through one of these. It is guaranteed to put marks on your car. Stay away. A conveyor belt system is cool for a Krispy Kreme doughnut, but not for a car wash.Anyway, the place I referred to does have touchless wash. And I've been to quite a few different touchless wash places and this one has by far the best equipment there.
01-31-07, 10:22 PM
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Here in NY we have had little or no snow. A very odd year for us. But 2 weeks ago we had a dusting of snow and then here came all the salt. Now in a normal winter they wouldn't do anything for that amount of snow but they have piles of salt sitting there that they need to get rid of. So now the roads are covered in salt. So I wash my car at a "hand dry" car wash twice a week. I hate salt on my car and all the things it can do to a car .
01-31-07, 10:31 PM
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02-01-07, 04:42 AM
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02-01-07, 08:00 AM
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I don't trust waterless washing. And its only good if your car is somewhat clean. Not caked in with salt.
Today is pretty warm and looks like its going to get really cold soon. Hurry up and get it washed. Besides its going to snow more, so more salt is a coming.
I would take it in for a hand wash. If that's not available just go to a touchless. But in all honesty you could just take it to any car wash. Worry about the swirls in the spring, when you'll see them. Just hit it with a porter cable and you'll be good. You're going to want to fully detail the car come spring anyways. All the gunk splashed up and caught in your paint is going to be embedded in there from the winter.
Today is pretty warm and looks like its going to get really cold soon. Hurry up and get it washed. Besides its going to snow more, so more salt is a coming.
I would take it in for a hand wash. If that's not available just go to a touchless. But in all honesty you could just take it to any car wash. Worry about the swirls in the spring, when you'll see them. Just hit it with a porter cable and you'll be good. You're going to want to fully detail the car come spring anyways. All the gunk splashed up and caught in your paint is going to be embedded in there from the winter.
02-01-07, 11:27 AM
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I don't trust waterless washing. And its only good if your car is somewhat clean. Not caked in with salt.
Today is pretty warm and looks like its going to get really cold soon. Hurry up and get it washed. Besides its going to snow more, so more salt is a coming.
I would take it in for a hand wash. If that's not available just go to a touchless. But in all honesty you could just take it to any car wash. Worry about the swirls in the spring, when you'll see them. Just hit it with a porter cable and you'll be good. You're going to want to fully detail the car come spring anyways. All the gunk splashed up and caught in your paint is going to be embedded in there from the winter.
Today is pretty warm and looks like its going to get really cold soon. Hurry up and get it washed. Besides its going to snow more, so more salt is a coming.
I would take it in for a hand wash. If that's not available just go to a touchless. But in all honesty you could just take it to any car wash. Worry about the swirls in the spring, when you'll see them. Just hit it with a porter cable and you'll be good. You're going to want to fully detail the car come spring anyways. All the gunk splashed up and caught in your paint is going to be embedded in there from the winter.
Brace for this weekend though, 3 days in a row with highs of 5 degrees or lower completely sucks.
02-01-07, 12:15 PM
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02-01-07, 02:24 PM
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Been having the same cold weather in Ontario and have been washing my IS in a drive thru touchless wash with no track and had no probems except the odd drop freezing that the dryer did not get. No problem with doors or trunk freezing. Have been doing this twice a week to get road salt off.
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