Touchless car wash ?
03-28-2019, 08:58 AM
#21
Race Director
Got to talking to a car wash owner one day. He mentioned buying hydrofluoric acid.
I'm like, "WTF!" That stuff will etch glass!" HF is one of the strongest acids out there. One drop will burn right through your hand to the other side.
I asked why they used it.
Well, in snow country, where nowadays they're spraying liquid mag chloride instead of slinging rock salt, a little HF helps get the corrosive MgCl off the undercarriage, rocker panels, etc. You've probably seen the gray film it leaves behind after a drive down snowy lane.
So I've stopped going to drive-through car washes except with beaters.
I realize "the poison is in the concentration" but still.... HF???
I'm like, "WTF!" That stuff will etch glass!" HF is one of the strongest acids out there. One drop will burn right through your hand to the other side.
I asked why they used it.
Well, in snow country, where nowadays they're spraying liquid mag chloride instead of slinging rock salt, a little HF helps get the corrosive MgCl off the undercarriage, rocker panels, etc. You've probably seen the gray film it leaves behind after a drive down snowy lane.
So I've stopped going to drive-through car washes except with beaters.
I realize "the poison is in the concentration" but still.... HF???
Not likely be something you will notice after a wash or two, however may walk out to your car at some point and think 'what the hell happened to the beautiful finish I had on my C7".
If a beater, DD or you are of the 'it's just car' philosophy and your C7 has or will get scratches/blemishes anyway, then car wash can certainly save you time and energy.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 03-28-2019 at 09:29 AM.
03-28-2019, 10:33 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
Maybe one day we will all be like the OP, having limitation to manual labor.
Id guess touchless car washes could work for the OP.
All depends on their "detail" level.
Water intrusion, water spots...that's the risk...but same risks for any car.
Nothing extra ordinary about a Vette exterior (plastic panels), paint, aluminum, weather stripes etc over every other car so
again touchless may work for the OP.
OP asks about H/L seals and that is a manufacturing failure, or loose seal at the bulb that occurs only to some Vette.
Lane assist radars etc...should be designed to withstand cold, heat, rain, snow & high winds so again unless a seal fails I'd say A-O-K.
Only options for washing are hiring staff to clean car for you, hiring a detail company (weekly obsession perhaps) all cutting into a fixed budget, perhaps.
Or finding ways to continue to clean the car yourself.
Roller seat, foam guns, leaf/ air blowers, other special car washing tools, medical knee bracing et al or assistance from your bikini glad female nurse (haha).
Anyway, good luck.
I'll reiterate IMO Touchless may be okay for the desired detail level with no ill effects to a Vette's construction, as the construction is very similar to any other car.
Id guess touchless car washes could work for the OP.
All depends on their "detail" level.
Water intrusion, water spots...that's the risk...but same risks for any car.
Nothing extra ordinary about a Vette exterior (plastic panels), paint, aluminum, weather stripes etc over every other car so
again touchless may work for the OP.
OP asks about H/L seals and that is a manufacturing failure, or loose seal at the bulb that occurs only to some Vette.
Lane assist radars etc...should be designed to withstand cold, heat, rain, snow & high winds so again unless a seal fails I'd say A-O-K.
Only options for washing are hiring staff to clean car for you, hiring a detail company (weekly obsession perhaps) all cutting into a fixed budget, perhaps.
Or finding ways to continue to clean the car yourself.
Roller seat, foam guns, leaf/ air blowers, other special car washing tools, medical knee bracing et al or assistance from your bikini glad female nurse (haha).
Anyway, good luck.
I'll reiterate IMO Touchless may be okay for the desired detail level with no ill effects to a Vette's construction, as the construction is very similar to any other car.
03-28-2019, 12:04 PM
#24
Safety Car
Member Since: Feb 2016
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
Posts: 4,980
Received 3,818 Likes
on
1,614 Posts
I always have micro fiber drying towels with me on a trip. They'll dry out overnight in the motel room. Nothing wrong with a touchless when that's all you've got.
03-28-2019, 07:27 PM
#25
Premium Supporting Vendor
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Manassas Park VA
Posts: 36,681
Received 421 Likes
on
322 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Think about it for a second...
Touchless...
False and impossible just on its own use of the English language...
If nothing touches the car, than nothing changes
Chip
Touchless...
False and impossible just on its own use of the English language...
If nothing touches the car, than nothing changes
Chip
__________________
..................Click for
..................Click for
03-28-2019, 09:53 PM
#26
:P
But ain't English wonderful? It can be used in wondrous and myriad ways.
03-28-2019, 09:53 PM
#27
Pro
I did a touchless wash once. The blow driers were too much for my convertible top and blew a small amount of water into the car. Quarter car washes are fine as long as you don't get too close to the convertible top and don't us the brush.