Winter Wash Technique?

Moved to a cold climate and looking for a good method of washing in the winter when below freezing.

 

I have a subscription to the local touchless car wash. $40 for 30 washes. 2 min blow dry at the end. Park in garage after

 

Most self-serve (“DIY”) car washes do not mind if you bring a bucket and your own soap/brush. As long as you’re feeding the machine quarters to rinse and spot-free rinse. (Disclaimer: I own a car wash).

Otherwise you are at the mercy of whatever local car wash you have around. I recommend a touch less car wash with strong underbody rinse for most days and then when a film builds up, a DIY hand brush in the self serve bay. Save the tunnel wash for once in a very great while if you can.

Coming from someone who’s been in the industry for a long time, a lot of tunnel washes do not keep up on maintenance on their brushes etc. and will lead to your clear coat and finish getting battered.

Where exactly did you move to? Is it a place where the roads are salted? If so, you may definitely want to have your underbody rustproofed too.

 

I get the vehicle rustproofed before winter (pick your poison - Fluid Film/Krown/Corrosion Free/Woolwax). In the winter, I just go through a touchless car wash when temperatures edge above freezing. If temps stay below freezing for two weeks, I don't wash it for two weeks.

 

What’s the harm in a touchless wash in freezing temps?

 

^The water will freeze before it drains/dries. Next time you open a door, it can tear the door seal. It's worse than parking in freezing rain because the car wash jet pressure is way higher and goes in all directions, so water goes in places that normally rain wouldn't.

 

In Ohio, I go probably three or four months without washing the truck. But I will give it a water-only rinse on the underside after a road salting. But only in above-freezing temperatures.

 

I wash my wife’s 4 runner several times over the winter especially when that salt is on the ground - pull the 50 foot hose out and hit that undercarriage to remove all the salt with warm water….good cheap insurance

 

Wax On, Wax Off?

 

Norther Idaho. I never use car washes-touchless or not- as I just don't trust them-harsh chemicals, etc. I think the quarter wash route is best, thanks.

I was looking into doing cosmoline on the underside.

 

I wish I had warm water spigot but sadly do not. I have looked at the pressure washers that pull from a bucket but they seem very low pressure and not worth the hassle.

 

I did silicone all of my seals, but I avoid car washes in general.

 

For the undercarriage assuming you get a decent day park one of these guys(or whatever you got)underneath for a while.
Fluidfilm or equivalent before the fact helps for sure.
Move around a few time to hit from different angles. Does an awesome job on road salt.
I’ve never had an issue with frame rust on any vehicle I own .

 

Cosmoline is excellent! Great idea.

And even though you're a ways a way from me, if you ever come to (Northern) Michigan, I'd love to show you around my wash. That goes for anybody here too.

 

Thanks!

 

I didn't even think about this. Great idea.

 

That’s effing BRILLIANT.

 

I bought this exact model a few months ago to wash underneath. It works fairly well, but it needs some weight laid across the base to keep it from moving around while in use.

 

Well this past Christmas I bought my wife a set of golf cleats. Now I know you all are thinking your wife plays golf and that’s a nice gift. She was surprised as well and looks at me after opening her present. She asks why did you get me golf cleats? I don’t play golf. I said it’s so you don’t slip on the ice in the driveway while washing my car in the winter .

 

They also make stuff like this that you can get on Amazon/eBay, etc. This one uses a power washer but a lot of them just use your garden hose. You can do a low-pressure rinse or go full bore (up to 4000psi it says) if you've got a lot of mud caked on. You set the pressure. For $32.29 less 10% with a coupon, not a bad thing to have in your vehicle cleaning arsenal IMO.

$36 RIDGE WASHER Pressure Washer Undercarriage Cleaner, 16" Undercarriage Washer, Pressure Washer Under Car Cleaner with Straight Extension Wand, 4000 PSI

https://www.amazon.com/RIDGE-WASHER...UbZ2yXpkhPr4fKX4KXoqt4PI_37gI_gBoCBecQAvD_BwE

 

Subscription to local car wash.

Funny to watch icicles form when you drive out.

 

Ha! We have those rubber pull on spikes that go over the shoe bottom. I have micro spikes for hiking. It's no joke. Went to the mailbox yesterday with my running shoes, took 10 min to go 200 yards doing the penguin walk.

 

Many years, it seems like we go months of it being below freezing around here.

not this year though

 

I wash it in my garage

 

I've been using touch-less automatic car washes for years. Get a subscription if you find one you like, as mentioned above.

I hope someday to have a wash bay with a lift in it in my garage. Imagine being able to stand underneath and hose the mud off!

 

I'd love to, too many boxes around the perimeter lol.