Do you take your Model A to the local self serve car wash?

[Eccentric Old Guy]

OK, I realize this is probably a newbie question......but, it seems quick and easy to take your Model A to the local self serve car wash...

The pros are obvious, but what about the cons?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I don't go to the car wash because we have a steam cleaner at the shop. I just don't run the boiler but use the high pressure water. With me at the shop, if I get the electrical a little wet, I am not stranded until it dries.

It is just like anything, -use common sense on what you spray with the wand. Also realize, that using a pressure washer is just a shortcut for a method that can be done by hand. Typically as with any shortcut, the outcome is never as quality as cleaning it right, but time always plays a factor in any task.

[WHN]

Would wash your Grandmothers antique China in the dish washer?

[Sunny the Model A]

That was a good one WHN!

[nkaminar]

Would you dry your miniature poodle in the microwave? Dumb joke, sorry.

I wash my car by hand using car soap and a clean terry cloth rag. Then I dry it off with the leaf blower. Our water is not hard but blowing it off helps with the water spots. I then use a cleaner wax.

If needed I will use a hand polishing cream, not machine polishing.

As a side note, the instruction book that came with our new Toyota said not to take the car to a car wash because the brushes would degrade the finish.

[ronn]

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Would wash your Grandmothers antique China in the dish washer?



I would. she left me crap............

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

I don't go to the car wash because we have a steam cleaner at the shop. I just don't run the boiler but use the high pressure water. With me at the shop, if I get the electrical a little wet, I am not stranded until it dries.

It is just like anything, -use common sense on what you spray with the wand. Also realize, that using a pressure washer is just a shortcut for a method that can be done by hand. Typically as with any shortcut, the outcome is never as quality as cleaning it right, but time always plays a factor in any task.

You know the only time my A left me stranded was at a car wash 50 years ago! Yep let the smoke out of the wiring, after the wiring dried out and after putting the smoke back in, drove her home.

[DBrer]

Hand wash only with a microfiber wash mitt and dry with a woolly mammoth towel.

[Oldbluoval]

Are you speaking of one the coin operated pressure washers? Could have cautious application. Surely not one of the tunnel type. Those are for today’s aerodynamic cars.
Too may thingys exposed like cowl lights, visors, bumpers……would be demolition derby.
Many folks I know dry wash/dry wipe and never fully wet them.

“Hand wash only with a microfiber wash mitt and dry with a woolly mammoth towel.”
Is the answer

[Patrick L.]

The old roadster doesn't like the automatic car washes. Well actually, the car doesn't care. But I do since the top is always down and I don't like getting soapy and slapped around.

[Vern]

"As a side note, the instruction book that came with our new Toyota said not to take the car to a car wash because the brushes would degrade the finish."

I've wondered if that is why clear coat is peeling on so many cars.

[Anteek29]

Originally Posted by DBrer

Hand wash only with a microfiber wash mitt and dry with a woolly mammoth towel.

Heartily concur

[JOHN CT]

I hand wash with a Micro fiber mint. When it comes to drying I use a drying aid with sio2 for gloss and lubrication so I don’t scratch the paint. Call me crazy!!

[daren007]

Drive it in the rain as Henry mention it to be.

[holdover]

All four of mine are hand washed and dried, usually with the help of the two grand kids. Even my wife helps....

[Eccentric Old Guy]

Originally Posted by Oldbluoval

Are you speaking of one the coin operated pressure washers? Could have cautious application. Surely not one of the tunnel type. Those are for today’s aerodynamic cars.
Too may thingys exposed like cowl lights, visors, bumpers……would be demolition derby.
Many folks I know dry wash/dry wipe and never fully wet them.

“Hand wash only with a microfiber wash mitt and dry with a woolly mammoth towel.”
Is the answer

Yes, I was speaking of the coin operated car wash with the pressurized wand. I've never done it, but have been tempted. So far, all I've done is use a soft cotton rag and a water mist, followed by a terry bath towel to dry....all used very gently.

I see there is a video by Paul Shinn on YouTube with cleaning advice. Anyone here fans of him?
https://youtu.be/ZaO4-4aa9fQ

[Ray in La Mesa]

In the 70's I drove my mostly disassembled '30 cabriolet to the DYI car wash on an early Sunday morning with ramps & a creeper. Spent about 45 minutes with goggles on pressure blasting the under carriage clean. Then drove it home & had a great time finishing the disassembly w/o 90% of the grease & grime. The body & EPA regulations sure won't let me do that today!

[TerryH]

I hand wash, with minimal water and hand dry. I use microfiber cloths. I try to dust it carefully once a week, and use a detailer spray and buff out with cloth. A car wash would get lots of water where I wouldn’t want it.

[Stingray70]

Originally Posted by TerryH

I hand wash, with minimal water and hand dry. I use microfiber cloths. I try to dust it carefully once a week, and use a detailer spray and buff out with cloth. A car wash would get lots of water where I wouldn’t want it.

This is exactly what I do. Works great and I drive the A about 150 miles per month but not in the rain.

[todd3131]

Yes I have for 40 years. My father lived on a half mile gravel road so it was the best way to clean the spokes. Now I have well water and the outside taps are not filtered or conditioned so it water spots like crazy so I use the hand sprayer, I have never had an issue and I am not rubbing a hand towel over the paint picking up small dust particles and scratching the paint which I have done once.