MK5 Golf GTI
General => Detailing => Topic started by: Homer on June 27, 2013, 09:18:03 pm
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I have heard a few people say that their cars paintwork has been ruined due to going to a car wash where they use power washers, one of them even said he had to get part of his car re-sprayed.
I usually visit such car washes and am now a bit paranoid about doing so. Any thoughts on this? Cheers.
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dont think the power washer will do damage if used correctly, its prob more to do with the spondge thats washed 100`s of dirty gritty cars and has dirt grit etc on it, speed is king at most these places not care unfortunately.
although there is 1 on my way to town and they take great care and iv heard quite a few people say how can they make any money they take too long :laugh:
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I have heard a few people say that their cars paintwork has been ruined due to going to a car wash where they use power washers, one of them even said he had to get part of his car re-sprayed.
I usually visit such car washes and am now a bit paranoid about doing so. Any thoughts on this? Cheers.
I wil never visit a car wash, as at the right pressure, pressure washers can take some paint off. I did it myself once but I was lucky as a new bumper went on later that week. Other thing to be wary of is if dirt doesn't shift, people get into the habit of bringing the pressure washer head closer to the paintwork. This increases the chance of damage to the paintwork. If any paintwork is damaged there generally won't be any recourse especially with the locals pols round where I am. SCRATCHES! You'll get lots of them going to these places despite what they claim. Again, could damage paintwork from other people's grit from their cars. No grit filters etc used.
Personally i'd stay well away and do it yourself. Pressure washers aren't too dear and can be used things other than the car. Just don't spray too close to the paintwork.
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Quite the contrary.
Not using a pressure washer and just an open ended hose may cause the car to burst into flames. :jumpmove:
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I've been using pressure/jet washes since I was 14 and I've never, ever, ever, had a single problem.
Use common sense and you'll be fine, a good 2ft at the very least in terms of distance. However, the typical drive through car washes, they are bad for your paint end of, you have more to worry about than the pressure washer they use.
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Not using a pressure washer and just an open ended hose may cause the car to burst into flames. :jumpmove:
:signLOL: :congrats:
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Only way it will take paint off is if there's some sort of defect or scratch for the water to get under to remove the paint
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Only way it will take paint off is if there's some sort of defect or scratch for the water to get under to remove the paint
True...I can vouch for that...managed to take some paint off my bumper near the parking sensor a while back :sad1:
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Only way it will take paint off is if there's some sort of defect or scratch for the water to get under to remove the paint
True...I can vouch for that...managed to take some paint off my bumper near the parking sensor a while back :sad1:
I have just scratched my paintwork using a power washer with a brush on it, stupid stupid :stupid:
i hope it can be polished away :sad1:
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I always wash my car with a 3 Phase Diesel Pressure Washer at around 50degrees
Only ever had a problem when the bumper had been smoothed and painted and the prep was rubbish. It didn't matter too much as I wanted to get the bumper done anyway, that just sped the process up
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I do think PW's have the ability over time to help lift lacquer from slightly damaged areas, perhaps adding to the whiteworm effect of the rear badge and wheel centres wheels, ESP. For those who go too close with the lance. Maintain a sensible distance and it'll be fine.
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Quite the contrary.
Not using a pressure washer and just an open ended hose may cause the car to burst into flames. :jumpmove:
This is correct, I have heard countless stories of how innocent people innocently cleaning their car on a Sunday morning, have opted to use their open end hose to cut corners and save a few squid, have been victims of spontaneous combustion of their mad rides! It effects millions of people a year and must be stopped!
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It's common sense.theres some car wash places around near me were the power washers are that powerful they rock the the car almost
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I once took my first car/pride and joy to an 'autoshine express' car wash place and the pressure washer they used lifted the lacquer off my bonnet and front bumper in places. Rediculously powerful. Most domestic power washers won't cause this sort of damage, unless you use the dirtblaster lance :scared:
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NO
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Just use a hose lol, worked for me for how ever long!
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I once took my first car/pride and joy to an 'autoshine express' car wash place and the pressure washer they used lifted the lacquer off my bonnet and front bumper in places.
IIRC that would only have happened if there was already damage eg stone chips as it's then easier for the water to get under the clear coat.
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Only way it will take paint off is if there's some sort of defect or scratch for the water to get under to remove the paint
True...I can vouch for that...managed to take some paint off my bumper near the parking sensor a while back :sad1:
I have just scratched my paintwork using a power washer with a brush on it, stupid stupid :stupid:
i hope it can be polished away :sad1:
NEVER EVER use the brushes at these places , you dont know how many times they have been on the ground , whether a builder has just rubbed half a tonne of brick dust and grit off his van with it etc!!! Also never let the hose touch your car , as that will have been on the gritty ground as well - as long as you just use the foam lance and dont let te hose rub on your car you should be fine tbh.
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They are harmless. Just don't get too close to those seals.
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Is it just me or is everyone missing the point here...its not about the power of your pw its more to do with the consentrate of the soap you put through it,at least thats what i was always told,let the soap do its work then only use your pw to rinse the car,stubborn stains should never be blasted off as there are always cleaners to use in the first instance,or maybe im just being to special with my beloved golf lmao :jumpmove: :drinking:
Dougie
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Soap does not cause your paint to be pulled off if that's what you mean.
You can have the best soap on the car but without a decent source of pressure to blast it off it won't do much. You need to use a quality snow foam and then jet it off.
And also be wary of the concentration of soap as you call it - As if you are too strong it will strip all your wax off it.