It won't damage my car in any way, such as car paint and car alignment wise?
Mar 16, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Is it okay to go to an automated car wash?
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA
AARONN
- MEMBER
- 125 POSTS
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If that were the case, there would be thousands of insurance claims every day. At the mileage you listed, you have a lot more to worry about in regard to normal wear of steering and suspension parts, and even that is not really a big concern yet.
As for alignment concerns, some car washes drag the car through by pulling on one of the tires. If the steering linkage can't hold up to that, it surely won't hold up to the more common potholes in the road. Sand is washed off the paint with high-pressure water spray first, then rotating or swinging brushes loosen the dirt film.
My concern with car washes is I live in a northern state where they throw a pound of salt on an ounce of snow. We can pay extra to have the underbody sprayed, presumably to wash that salt off the bottom. I believe that spray forces water and salt to sneak into tiny gaps where it will settle and lead to rust. Some of our rustiest cars are those that got washed real often in winter. I have an '80 Plymouth Volare that has never been in a garage a day in its life, and the paint is merely faded from age. It has never gone through a car wash, and there's no rust on the body.
As for alignment concerns, some car washes drag the car through by pulling on one of the tires. If the steering linkage can't hold up to that, it surely won't hold up to the more common potholes in the road. Sand is washed off the paint with high-pressure water spray first, then rotating or swinging brushes loosen the dirt film.
My concern with car washes is I live in a northern state where they throw a pound of salt on an ounce of snow. We can pay extra to have the underbody sprayed, presumably to wash that salt off the bottom. I believe that spray forces water and salt to sneak into tiny gaps where it will settle and lead to rust. Some of our rustiest cars are those that got washed real often in winter. I have an '80 Plymouth Volare that has never been in a garage a day in its life, and the paint is merely faded from age. It has never gone through a car wash, and there's no rust on the body.
Mar 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM
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