Drive through car washes

Anyone take their 3rd gen through the automatic car washes and seen any issues come from it? Debating subscribing to one to one of these unlimited washes, but concerned about long term issues with the paint. I don’t have time to wash it myself is why I’m considering it along with living down a dirt road.

 

I do touchless washes all the time, just make sure to fold in the mirrors.

 

You will see damage to any vehicles clear coat with repetitive use of those automatic washes. The pads that brush against the truck will have dirt and debris stuck in them that will scratch the clear coat. You will start to see tiny scratches in the clear over time and it is more noticeable with black paint. I prefer getting it hand washed by a mobile detailer. With that said... I used the automatic wash once on my 3rd gen with no issues.

 

I've gone through the automatic car wash a handful of times. Realistically it will cause swirl marks in the paint and having a black truck makes it very noticeable to see (in my case). I go to a touch less wash now but you'll be fine going to the automatic car wash just beware you will see light scratches eventually show up. I'd suggest going to a touch less car wash if you have one available in your area.

 

The only way you would get me in one is living in a condo with no where to wash, but understand the truck will need a full bar/polish/seal ( or ceramic ) annually.The detergents will strip any sealant off your paint I polish/seal annually on mine anyways as we have Canadian winters to remove from the piant so it requires correction. It isnt as difficult as the detail shops make it out to be.

 

I only use the touch-less auto washers, or do it by hand. The auto washers that use brushes/flaps make me cringe when I think about what they do to the clear coat.

Matt

 

I use the petro auto brush wash couple times a week, it’s swirled the paint like a SOB and added a few scratches but I’ve given up on trying to keep a vehicle mint. My truck is always clean and it’s great in the winter, truck colour will determine how bad the swirls get but it’s not very noticeable to most people.

 

Agreed. I'd rather have a clean truck with some swirls you can see under a microscope than a dirty one. I don't have time to mess with doing it by hand, and if I did, I'd be doing something else. These aren't Lamborghinis.

 

Here in AZ there are good and bad drive through washes. The age of the equipment is frequently the difference in getting your car/truck f'd up or not. Not sure where you're at but we have a chain called Super Star Car Wash here and they are the only ones I trust driving through that aren't the touchless ones that only use water pressure.

There is another called Clean Freak Car Wash and they will literally rip parts off your vehicle because their equipment is all tattered and gets snagged on corners and edges of stuff. I'm sure it's loaded with dirt as well. I watched a brand new $30 wiper blade get completely ripped of my F350 and broke in half a couple of years ago and then they tried to say it was my fault somehow. Never again.

 

This is a good point. In Missouri, we have Club Car Wash, which is a legit business with a bunch of locations. They occasionally run promos for massive discounts, and I'm currently doing $10 a month for as many washes as I want. It's a fantastic deal. After 3 months, it will be raised back up to standard pricing(I'll cancel at that point), but I suspect there will be another promo around then.

 

I've already got pinstripes, not too worried about a car wash.

 

I had to quit one of the automatics. It was scratching the tailgate. The primer on AG is white BTW. Wish they would use a grey primer for middle spectrum colors. A few more years and I won’t give a damn

 

I have unlimited washes package and go through the car wash about once a week. Sometimes twice. With my previous truck, 2018 Tundra, I did that for 5 years, and I never saw any significant swirls marks or scratches. The 22 is only a year old now, but same thing; no scratches yet.
I try to keep my truck nice, which is why I keep it clean, but it is a truck and I use it as a truck, so fine swirl marks is not the end of the world for me. At least it is clean.

 

I haven’t ever been through an auto car wash but yet still have spiderweb in the clear coat , I’m guessing the stuff they have to use now a days just kinda sucks but meets epa standards.

But no, no rotating brushes for me

 

Scratches give it character.

 

I’m ceramic coating my truck and will be utilizing a monthly membership at a local wash.
It’s newer, and they pre rinse, and presoak before the wash.

plan is to hand wash in the summer, but I’m finding as I age my time is my most valuable asset. Not sure I want to spend it washing a truck.

I’ve dialed back considerably my detailing “sickness”. At The end of the day no one cares, or notices. As long as it’s clean and shiny all is good.

I’m done with perfect paint, and looking for swirls in sunlight, at the right angle.

 

I have used one for a couple years. My wife does as well on her Highlander. Every few times I use a spray on ceramic or wax. Both our vehicles look great. I’m with the camp that sees these for what they are. They aren’t show pieces.
In 10 years I’ll sell it and the new owner won’t have a clue that it went through so many auto washes.

 

It’s a truck.

I visit a local reputable carwash when it’s time. Sometimes I’ll even splurge on a wax/polish. My Tacoma had single stage Super White and was easy to keep looking fresh - time will tell with this Lunar Rock experiment

 

I got auto wash I go through about 3 times a month. So far so good. No swirl marks. Just good clean truck.

 

So does anyone know if since I got the aftermarket ceramic coating from the dealership if they’ll cover the swirling or whatever the auto car wash does? It has like a 7 year warranty, but I don’t know if they’d cover that.

 

No one,will cover swirls from a car wash. I wouldn’t get a y year from dealer.

I’d just instal one yourself. If you can wax a car you can instal a coating. It’s just a bit more prep work.

 

I can't speak for the Gen 3 specifically.

I had a coworker take a brand new Super Duty (work truck) through an automatic car wash. At some point, the guy in front of him had his antenna ripped off by the overhead brush and it whipped down my coworker's truck laterally leaving dozens of sharp dents I wish I was a fly on the wall for the phone conversation where my coworker explained that to our boss.

I realize that was a one in a million occurrence, but I am very cautious of which vehicles I get behind when using auto washes. If it is a work truck or an older vehicle, I will not proceed. If the vehicle in front of me is absolutely caked in mud or clay, I will not proceed.

 

Most reputable auto car washes will refuse “muddy” vehicles.
Those people usually go to a wand wash later at night.

 

I was using the vacuum at my local carwash today. It has an auto wash bay with the brushes/flaps. I watched an F250 that was absolutely caked with mud go thru it. I remembered this thread, so out of curiosity I walked over to look at the brushes/flaps when the F250 was done. They were loaded with grime. There's absolutely no way I will ever take one of my vehicles thru one of those contraptions.

Matt

 

The touchless ones use really strong chemicals. They pretty much strip the wax off.

 

This is the way.

 

I live in the boonies. The nearest pavement is 7 miles away, so my trucks often get filthy with mud and/or dust. I run my trucks thru a touch-less auto wash at least once every week. I never use wax, because that only makes dust stick worse. Here's what my 2015 with 150K miles looked like before I sold it for $20K. Waxing/ceramic coating is overrated in my opinion.

Matt