Winter Car Wash Methods

[tjcloutier]

Hi all

I'm very curious to find out what you guys maintenance winter washes look like. Up here in the north we have all sorts of salt and other crap on the roads. I need to drive the GT350 sparingly in the winter and so I'm trying to come up with the best method for maintaining and protecting.

Here's my deal, I live in an apartment and don't have have my own garage or pressure washer. However, I can go to one of the self service car washes.

Does anyone use snow foams in the winter or will those freeze?

Normally I just run my cars through the automatic car wash but the chemicals are very harsh and I don't want to ruin the GT350. Just want to find out what you guys methods are.

Thanks for the help guys!

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[honeybadger]

Check out Larry at AMMO for some great tips. Here’s a recent, winter-focused video.

 

[nimblepony]

I usually simply use the car wash, particularly after they put salt down. Never with brushes of course or anything that touches my paint. Then use the warm air dryers. After that I just drive a little bit to let the air and the warm engine help evaporate remaining water, which is a pleasure anyway even in winter, to let it dry a little more. I've never had a problem with anything freezing.

 

[THX 138]

TJ,

Welcome to the forum. I’m in Indy as well (Brownsburg, actually, and I work in Carmel). I’d suggest going to one of the local car wash facilities that has do-it-yourself stalls, taking a couple buckets, microfiber towels, and decent car wash detergent, and hand-washing it. Spend 5 bucks on 5 gallons of distilled water for rinsing off the soap once she’s clean, and blot her dry with 4 or 5 waffle-weave towels. She’ll look good as new, with no swirl marks.

Don’t use any high-pressure sprayers the stall may have, except for UNDERNEATH your car, just to get as much of the road salt and chemicals rinsed off as you can. A high-pressure sprayer on your stripes would likely cause them to peel off.

 

[jasonstang]

Touchless unless the wheel wells are covered with salt then I use these manual ones first then touchless.

 

[THX 138]

No, I wouldn't even use a "touchless" bay on a GT350 with OEM stripes. The water pressure is just too high. Only a matter of time before the edges of those stripes would start to peel up.

 

[johnny1]

At my Ford dealership they blew the stripes on top of one off (or loose don't know which) with the power washer they use in the detail bay to wash cars.

 

[tjcloutier]

I think I have a pretty good idea of how I want to do this, you guys can let me know if you believe this is a good method or not.

Rinse car(undercarriage as well)
Foam entire car(Griots Garage Foaming Surface Wash + IK9 pump foamer)
Foam wheels(Auto Fanatic Wheel Foam + IK9 pump foamer)
Let sit 10 mins
Wheel Woolie wheels
Two bucket full wash with microfiber mop(Griots Car Wash Shampoo)
Rinse car(undercarriage as well)
Full dry with microfiber towel

 

[blueghost]

I take mine to a high end car wash. It's more expensive, but I can drink coffee and watch them wash it when it's freezing outside. They do drive thru or hand wash. I was a little concerned about the drive through until I saw a Maserati and a new S65 in front of me. I've also seen Ferrari's and Lambo's there. I fit right in with my F150 pick'm truck and Mustang. ROFL

Grace and Peace,

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