Yep, I'm a dumbass.

Yesterday i washed my car in freezing weather and I kept washing it even though ice formed as soon as I squirted the water on the car.

This morning, I go to leave for school, and then put it in reverse. Nothing. I was like hmm, parking brake? Then I look and its off. Now I give it a lot of gas, get it up to like 2500 rpms while releasing the clutch. I hear a loud crack. I was like wtf. I get out of the car and see nothing. I get back in and then try to back out more. Now I'm going really slow backwards and I'm pissed. Then I realise it.

MY ****ING BRAKES WERE FROZEN >> >>

Heh...thats why you go to a car wash, because they use warm water. So you need new brakes?

i go to the quarter wash... the 3 dollar drive through things arent good for the car...

So instead of the 3 dollar wash look for the 6 dollar lazer washes =D

I NEVER NEVER NEVER take my car to the wash. My uncle has a body shop/detailing shop. He says that the pressure from the nozzle will damage your clear coat over time and leave swirls in the paint as well. Plus, it's a rip off.
Also, when I was in college I took a body shop class cuz I was gonna do the same thing as my uncle and they told us the same thing. I went to Iowa State University. (ISU)


3 dollars each time you wash it. No way. Here's what i do:


Turtle wax zip wash. 1 U.S. Gallon, good for 128 washes. At 1 ounce of fluid each wash. $9.97
The absorber drying chamoile= $4.97
Sponge=$3.28
Total= $19.36 with 6 1/4 % tax added in.
So 128 washes for $19.36


3 dollars method= $384
6 dollar full wash=$768

Umm.... I know which one I am gonna do. In the winter it's not really worth it to wash your car cause of all the salt, slush, etc. There are those warmer days that do allow for washing out side. Other than that those pay 3 or 6 dollar washes are simply and clearly ripping you off.




Matt




Edit: Decide what you want but think about it first. I don't think that I was my car 128 times in a year but if I did it would definitely be worth it to do it by hand.

This post has been edited by igotta5S-FEturbo: Feb 6, 2003 - 11:56 PM

celicacicle... >>

QUOTE

In the winter it's not really worth it to wash your car cause of all the salt

Im sorry dude but that is the precise reason that you wash your car in the winter. SALT EATS CARS! dumbass... but yeah that is the way to wash your car, i have a big jug of car wash **** and some other stuff i got for X-Mass from my aunt...

This post has been edited by Seth6Gen: Feb 7, 2003 - 1:00 AM

I lifted this from a autoparts site:

QUOTE

Washing The first step in maintaining your automobile is to wash it often. Car wash products are made of a light detergent formulated for washing the surface dirt and grime off your paint. Regularly washing your vehicle, at least once a week, will do far more in the long run to keep your automobile looking clean and shinny. Most people don’t wash their automobile often and let dirt pile on which eventually causes fine scratches. When washing your car, the key is to use a product specifically prescribed for use on a automotive paint. Household detergent and cleaners are too strong and will remove the wax on your car and over time strip the clear coat on your vehicle. It will also remove any protective layer of wax on the car, leading to more scratches. Most car washes are pH balanced and have small amounts of wax or gloss enhancers that add some protection to the surface of the paint. When washing the car, make sure to first fully wet the car’s surface and applicator sponge. It is a good idea not to use a nozel on the hose, this allows the water to gently fall on the car as opposed to a hard pressure hitting your delicate paint. Once the surface is wet, start from the top and work your way down. Try to use a wash mitt rather than a sponge as the mitt allows the dirt to move up the fibers and not scratch the paint. Always do the fender flares, wheel wells, and rocker panels last, as that is usually the most dirtiest part of the vehicle and you want to keep your wash mitt as clean as possible. When finished, rinse the car gently and allow the water to sheet off, instead of spraying the vehicle causing water spots. This will leave minimal water on the car and significantly reduce the drying time. Use of soft synthetic chamois for drying you car. Leather chamois are not recommended because they contain acids that strip the wax off the paint. Start with the top, then work your way down to the rocker panels, don't forget to open the doors and dry all areas with that have water on them. In between washing and during the winter months, you can use detailer sprays that keep your vehicle clean of any dirt and add a thin layer of protective wax. More frequent washes are needed during winter, as salt and dirt can cause damage to your paint. It is mandatory that you wash you car at least once a week by either taking it through an automatic wash or using self-served wash centers.

So yeah. It's true that the high pressure will strip the clear coat...if you wash your car every other day at the quarter places. It's better to wear your clear coat down a bit rather than have salt EAT it away.

This post has been edited by MrCodyFantastic: Feb 7, 2003 - 1:15 AM

LOL LOL I'm sorry i know it's not funny but i just can't help myself. just don't wash your car when the temp. is 32dagress or lower.

--MrCodyFantastic+Feb 6, 2003 - 11:15 PM

QUOTE (MrCodyFantastic @ Feb 6, 2003 - 11:15 PM)

I lifted this from a autoparts site: QUOTE Washing The first step in maintaining your automobile is to wash it often. Car wash products are made of a light detergent formulated for washing the surface dirt and grime off your paint. Regularly washing your vehicle, at least once a week, will do far more in the long run to keep your automobile looking clean and shinny. Most people don’t wash their automobile often and let dirt pile on which eventually causes fine scratches. When washing your car, the key is to use a product specifically prescribed for use on a automotive paint. Household detergent and cleaners are too strong and will remove the wax on your car and over time strip the clear coat on your vehicle. It will also remove any protective layer of wax on the car, leading to more scratches. Most car washes are pH balanced and have small amounts of wax or gloss enhancers that add some protection to the surface of the paint. When washing the car, make sure to first fully wet the car’s surface and applicator sponge. It is a good idea not to use a nozel on the hose, this allows the water to gently fall on the car as opposed to a hard pressure hitting your delicate paint. Once the surface is wet, start from the top and work your way down. Try to use a wash mitt rather than a sponge as the mitt allows the dirt to move up the fibers and not scratch the paint. Always do the fender flares, wheel wells, and rocker panels last, as that is usually the most dirtiest part of the vehicle and you want to keep your wash mitt as clean as possible. When finished, rinse the car gently and allow the water to sheet off, instead of spraying the vehicle causing water spots. This will leave minimal water on the car and significantly reduce the drying time. Use of soft synthetic chamois for drying you car. Leather chamois are not recommended because they contain acids that strip the wax off the paint. Start with the top, then work your way down to the rocker panels, don't forget to open the doors and dry all areas with that have water on them. In between washing and during the winter months, you can use detailer sprays that keep your vehicle clean of any dirt and add a thin layer of protective wax. More frequent washes are needed during winter, as salt and dirt can cause damage to your paint. It is mandatory that you wash you car at least once a week by either taking it through an automatic wash or using self-served wash centers. So yeah. It's true that the high pressure will strip the clear coat...if you wash your car every other day at the quarter places. It's better to wear your clear coat down a bit rather than have salt EAT it away.

Your not a rep for some car cleaning product manufacturer are you? >> >>

personally I just use the high pressure quarter wash, it may strip the clear coat over time, but to me it save's time and is a hell of a lot more effective than those gas station car washes. The fact that it strips clear coat doswen't bother me, I just wax it regularly(or have someone wax it for me)

Logically, if you wax your car as regularly as you wash it, the wax will protect your paint. >>

not to sound smart but did ur uncle that works at the body shop tell u that chammois actually damage ur paint in the end? really small microfibers in the chammois scratch the paint, i know from experience on my last car, terry cloth is the only way to go man..... i just pay for the 20 dollar wash >> every 2 weeks, makes the car smell good looks professional, and for some reason stays clean longer. what do u guys think is the worst color dirty wise? i think black or white.. u?

I think having black car in winter is the worst. I have a black one and this winter it's been looking garyish white from all the damn salt and snow. I am starting to get a little tired of washing it to just have snow and salt get poured on it the next day...I think Mother Nature has it out to get me >>

haha, yea thats what i use Turtle wax all the way, it leaves your car Turtle fresh...lol.., and the shine last long too.

I 2 own a black celica and believe that black is clearly the worst color becuse it gets all yucky quick, i might not have all the salt and snow, but i got Baton Rouge/Denham Springs road Ignorance, and thats enough for me.

Actually, turtle wax isn't really that great. An excellent wax is p21s, sold under the name "s100" at harley davidson stores for 15 bucks a jar. It's absolutely phenomenal, the best carnuba (opposed to polymer types like zaino) wax you could buy, according to many, many professional detailers. It's very easy to use, too, wipes on and off as easy as any liquid. And it's pretty durable, it's been shown to last pretty strong for 2-3 months. Combined with the "p21s gloss enhancing paint cleanser" aka the "s100 shine enhancing paint cleanser", a polish, it looks -stunningly- deep and wet. And waxing every week won't really do much more than say every month or even every other month...as long as water is beading, the wax is strong.

For polishing/waxing/drying, microfiber towels are the best. Some are horrible, they'll lint like crazy, but the good ones are so incredible...they soak up amazing amounts of water for their size, and they make applying and buffing polish and wax a lot easier. Usually I'll run the hose on low power over the car and sort of sheet the water off (when the wax is still intact, it'll run off quickly and take most of the water with it), drape terry cloths over the damp parts (they usually don't pick much water up though), and dry the rest with a small hankerchief sized microfiber towel.

For the actual washing itself, a chanelle glove (I think it may be chammoise, I'm sure it isn't though, it's less abrasive than cotton) and meguiar's deep crystal wash seem to do a really nice job.

During the winter it's a pain in the ass to polish/wax... right now I really need to wax the car again, but instead I just keep washing it every other week after it accumulates salt... even then I only basically survive by running warm water the hose from the laundry room faucet (2 feet away from the garage thankfully), and leaving it in the garage for a day or two, not really bothering to dry it out with towels

This post has been edited by Mage: Feb 16, 2003 - 7:32 AM

is the eagle one wax as u dry a good wax?