Corvette Commandments
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From: Athens, Al
Corvette Commandments
As a recent owner of a C5, I just read the "Commandments" and have a bit of an issue with one of them. Its the one about using an automatic car wash. I own a car wash with touchless automatics and I have several corvettes use them. Nothing touches the car and it has a high pressure undercarriage wash. Am I missing something or is the "commandment" talking about the automatics with brushes or the big floppy chamois? 
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Menands (Albany) NY
Nope..
As far as I've seen and read..........touchless do not count in this manner. I use one here in Albany N.Y. and it is now the ONLY car wash any of my cars will see.
BUT some of the touchless also have a guide rail for the tires which will damage the underside of the Vette as well. So common sense and a good eye would apply.
Welcome to the Forum!
BUT some of the touchless also have a guide rail for the tires which will damage the underside of the Vette as well. So common sense and a good eye would apply.
Welcome to the Forum!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Toledo Ohio
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Don't take it personal. Most guys just want to bond with the Vette and do it by hand.
Your touchless car wash is fine for 99% of the driving public.
From the Vette owners I know- It does not get off the film and leaves water spots. Just my $.02
Your touchless car wash is fine for 99% of the driving public.
From the Vette owners I know- It does not get off the film and leaves water spots. Just my $.02
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 843
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From: Carlisle PA
We sometimes use a touchless carwash here in Carlisle, PA on the vette (would prefer not to but sometimes it's necessary). I am very pleased with how it cleans the car and have no problem using it once in a while. I agree that you have to watch the undercarriage hitting anything along the guide rails but that hasn't been a problem.
Supporting Tuner
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Just say "No" to carwashes 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Chicago (Naperville) IL
When I didn't have a winter beater and drove my C5 most of the winter (and borrowed a parent's car when it snowed) - I ws forced to take it to a car wash when it was below 45 - it waz semi-touches and I could swear I would feel little bumps along the track that were hitting something 
Race Director
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Oldad
Don't take it personal. Most guys just want to bond with the Vette and do it by hand.
Your touchless car wash is fine for 99% of the driving public.
From the Vette owners I know- It does not get off the film and leaves water spots. Just my $.02
Your touchless car wash is fine for 99% of the driving public.
From the Vette owners I know- It does not get off the film and leaves water spots. Just my $.02
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
I'm sure your operation is first class, however no automatic car wash for my Vette. Beyond the obvious concerns of having my car "dragged" down a rail through the wash, I frankly don't want anyone in it to come out of the wash and dry her down. No offense.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Tottenham Ontario
Originally Posted by Washtubman
I own a car wash with touchless automatics and I have several corvettes use them. Nothing touches the car and it has a high pressure undercarriage wash.
Team Owner
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From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by Washtubman
As a recent owner of a C5, I just read the "Commandments" and have a bit of an issue with one of them. Its the one about using an automatic car wash. I own a car wash with touchless automatics and I have several corvettes use them. Nothing touches the car and it has a high pressure undercarriage wash. Am I missing something or is the "commandment" talking about the automatics with brushes or the big floppy chamois?
Much of the issue is with the 'soap' used in these places.
It is, well, caustic to waxes.
Since many of us attempt to keep a wax job or two on the Vette at all times, it makes little sense to take it to a wash, regardless if it is touch less or not, and have a 2-5 minute wash destroy a waxing job that could take hours.
A few years ago I attended a symposium sponsored by a wax company. They actually had the soap(s) used in car washes (must have been 25 samples).
Demonstrations with the soap were put on: and it was, to say the least, disturbing.
The soaps were so strong that placing a regular cup (plastic) in the solutions (that were cut with the proper amount of water) actually made the plastic 'curl' after just a minute or so in the water.
So, most of us have an ad version to using these, regardless of if they are touch less.
Comments??
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,339
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From: Tottenham Ontario
I'm planning on going the Zaino way and need to completely start from scratch. Gonna do the clay bar and then the swirl removing with the new Porter/Cable. Just want to know if the car wash will remove all the old wax. I know I got a lot of work ahead of me, and it will take more than one day, I'm just hoping to cheat a bit on the first step and save some time.
Last edited by MYRagtop; Mar 22, 2006 at 03:46 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by MYRagtop
I'm planning on going the Zaino way and need to completely start from scratch. Gonna do the clay bar and then the swirl removing with the new Porter/Cable. Just want to know if the car wash will remove all the old wax. I know I got a lot of work ahead of me, and it will take more than one day, I'm just hoping to cheat a bit on the first step and save some time.
Use two table spoons per 1 gallon water, and wash away any and all old wax.
this is the best method
Premium Supporting Vendor
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Go stick your hand in front of one of those high pressure jets, and then imagine what that is doing to your clearcoat and paint.
Industrial detergents
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Willfulone
Industrial detergents
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Willfulone
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Tottenham Ontario
Originally Posted by Willfulone
Go stick your hand in front of one of those high pressure jets, and then imagine what that is doing to your clearcoat and paint.
Industrial detergents
Peace
Willfulone
Industrial detergents
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Willfulone
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 39
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the service manager at my chevy dealer told me to not even think of taking it in there unless i wanted to damage my car, because of either scratching the rims scratching the underbody or sucking water into my motor through the intake personally i just prefer when my girlfriend washes it for me lol
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
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From: saginaw michigan
Originally Posted by Rapidity
I read something about even the touchless ones use chemicals that ar not good for us convertible owners. Any truth in this?
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From: Far side of the Moon
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St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
I would never take my Vette's thru a car wash that used the brushes or big floppy towel thingers or anything else that touched my car simply because of the possibility of scratching the clearcoat.
My daily driver is a C5. I live in NJ. It snows and there is salt and sand on the road. It is freezin cold here. When necessary I go to a car wash to keep my car clean.
My daily driver is a C5. I live in NJ. It snows and there is salt and sand on the road. It is freezin cold here. When necessary I go to a car wash to keep my car clean.