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.

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by 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.

Take it to the brushless wash! Brush type are a thing of the past!

[CatMan1]

Originally Posted by Eccentric Old Guy

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

If you do, and I haven't, the car wash has the 'spot free rinse' option that might not be as bad.....maybe.... I saw a video on the 'Model A Archives' youtube channel where they did wash it in such a manner.

[old ugly]

here in alberta if you drive a gravel/dirt road the clay will glue its self to your car and when it drys you won't get it off. under the car needs to be washed with a hose and maybe a pressure washer. i try to avoid gravel roads.

the body i wash with a hand spray bottle, small amount of soap/water and rag, just a light spray to dampen the surface. i don't like running the hose on it as the water leaks into all the seams and into the car.

ou

[JKY]

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

Take it to the brushless wash! Brush type are a thing of the past!

That's odd, the brush type are about the only thing we have around here.

[CarlG]

I use the hand wand coin operated high pressure wash only after one of our tours that typically includes gravel roads. Otherwise, a spray bottle of RainX and a yellow micro-fiber towel (from Costco) does the job quite well.

[dansluck]

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Would wash your Grandmothers antique China in the dish washer?

I would. When my 4 brothers visited Gran Ma, we were served pancakes on tin plates and syrup from a Jack Daniels bottle. She wanted boys to be boys. Born in 1868 she died in 1972. She was great. I live on dirt roads when it gets muddy I go to the car wash and spray off the under side.

[Chris in WNC]

I drove my Tudor on Ormond Beach for several years on Thanksgiving weekend.

Always took it after to the wand car wash for some careful cleanup, focused mostly on the undercarriage......

[AL in NY]

WHAT!!!! Are you kidding!!!! I wash it myself!!!!

[redmodelt]

Many many years ago, took my 1962 VW Microbus (Komby) through the brush type car wash. The top roller/brush got caught on the windshield over hang (which would be like the sun visor on an A)! Was not a happy camper!

[Eccentric Old Guy]

Originally Posted by AL in NY

WHAT!!!! Are you kidding!!!! I wash it myself!!!!

Hmmmm.....a self-service car wash isn't doing it yourself?

[Gene F]

It would be my choice of last resort. Did you know that these wand car washes are 99% recycled water that goes through a filter?

[1crosscut]

I don't see an issue if you are careful to keep water out of places you don't want it to go like around your doors and into the interior. Keep a towel with you to dry things off during and afterwards. If you wash your engine compartment be prepared to dry out your distributor if it gets wet inside. A bit of caution and it shouldn't be a problem.
If you wash your undercarriage I would suggest greasing it afterwards to push out any water that gets into things.

I've washed quite a few A's using a power washer to get years of grease and grime off of them prior to working on them. Never had one not start afterwards due to water and have not damaged anything else during the process.

[Russ/40]

Well, seeing as I have no top, the obvious answer is no to the carwash. I also say no to water. Never let the stuff touch my truck.

[todd3131]

The only issue I have ever had in using a spray washer is the soap on single stage enamel it can raise hell with it. I always just use water and the ro water and never and issue. Bother cars are converts and I wash with the tops down you can be carefull with them..

[Redbird]

Only for tires, wheels, and undercarriage!