Optispark,
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 148
Likes: 107
From: New Mexico
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I have 3 corvettes..... NONE have ever or will ever see a car wash while in my care. Optispark is the least of issues.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Absolutely will. The mere presence of water isn’t the problem. Dumping coolant on it from above or spraying high-pressure water directly on it is, and neither of those things happens at a car wash.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 231
From: Hawthorne CA
I use Chemical Guys stuff too, their factory is a few miles from me here in Cali. The waterless ecowash is great. I wipe my cars off every other day with this stuff and they never get dirty.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
I would not. I would never use any automated car wash, period. The affordable ones are known to leave fine scratches and the expensive ones, well they're expensive.
Plus with the wide tires and the low chassis, the C4 could have problems with the car wash tracking / channeling system and that just sounds like a potential nightmare.
Plus with the wide tires and the low chassis, the C4 could have problems with the car wash tracking / channeling system and that just sounds like a potential nightmare.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Well I've been driving my 95 for 15 years and back when it was my year round dd there were probably a dozen times I drove it through the carwash with no ill effects. As noted previously it seems to be water from above that causes the problems. I've driven thousands of miles in the rain with no issues at all.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,958
Likes: 9,345
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
the only ill effects of running it though a car wash is you can watch and look at all your water leaks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,358
Likes: 3,253
From: Hartford WI
I would not. I would never use any automated car wash, period. The affordable ones are known to leave fine scratches and the expensive ones, well they're expensive.
Plus with the wide tires and the low chassis, the C4 could have problems with the car wash tracking / channeling system and that just sounds like a potential nightmare.
Plus with the wide tires and the low chassis, the C4 could have problems with the car wash tracking / channeling system and that just sounds like a potential nightmare.
I'm sure it could have problems but I haven't seen it yet. Every one I have seen has been wide enough the rims won't scratch on the guides unless you are trying to do it. Now if you have something exotic, I don't know but I have seen them drive it through the wash when I had them detail it and there is enough space.
BTW, I have THIS scoop. It is open in the front and rear. I have gone through both brushed and brushless and not had any issues yet. The front of the scoop is open and I have only an open element K&N filter so I turn off the engine. I'm sure some spray gets on the filter but I doubt it will ingest water in sufficient quantities that will cause trouble. At least, not yet.
Last edited by aklim; Apr 16, 2021 at 11:49 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I think for me it isn't the issue of the optispark or any damage a touchless car wash would do to my car, but rather I enjoy cleaning the car myself. My truck goes through the car wash at least 3 times a month in the winter, never hurt nothing, The cars are so small that a detail and microfiber wipe down doesn't take much time at all. I think its just a matter of what you like or prefer.
Although the thought of my convertible corvette getting power washed, with those big mechanical arms moving up and around the car, makes me nervous, While it doesn't happen often, if that thing doesn't sense the car right, it could smack a mirror off, or sumthin,
Now I'm going to say something that might be controversial, I've spent a better part of 2 years looking for my Red/Red LT4 convertible, I don't think I can replace it that easily, or IF I could! sooooooo, I'm not driving through a car wash for nobody.
Just sayin
Although the thought of my convertible corvette getting power washed, with those big mechanical arms moving up and around the car, makes me nervous, While it doesn't happen often, if that thing doesn't sense the car right, it could smack a mirror off, or sumthin,
Now I'm going to say something that might be controversial, I've spent a better part of 2 years looking for my Red/Red LT4 convertible, I don't think I can replace it that easily, or IF I could! sooooooo, I'm not driving through a car wash for nobody.
Just sayin
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,958
Likes: 9,345
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
I ran my 94 through car washes all the time. Drove it doing a heavy down pour rain many of times with no problems. But that ten dollar coolant bypass hose cost me my opti once...
