Hydrofluoric acid in auto car washes

[dbinott]

Just read this article and was curious about the Hydrofluoric acid. Is that actually true for ALL automatic car washes? I know the other stuff is pretty much true, but it's kinda obvious. I always use touchless and dry myself after if I have to go in one.

https://www.thrillist.com/cars/nation/why-car-washes-are-bad-for-your-car

[Audios S6]

Just read this article and was curious about the Hydrofluoric acid. Is that actually true for ALL automatic car washes? I know the other stuff is pretty much true, but it's kinda obvious. I always use touchless and dry myself after if I have to go in one.

https://www.thrillist.com/cars/nation/why-car-washes-are-bad-for-your-car

Not necessarily. A lot of the owners don't know a thing about the chemistry and rely on the vendors to set up their system.

I know of at least one brand not sold here that makes automatic car wash chemicals along with bulk detailing. Their particular system is:
high ph first arch - sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate
low ph second arch - phosphoric & benzenesulphonic acids, triple foam - surfactants
Tire cleaner - sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate and potassium hydroxide
Wheel cleaner - sodium metasilicate

Simoniz doesn't have an HF cleaner in their prime pak line of auto wash chemicals or thei touchless chemicals from what I see.

So no, not every single car wash has HF.

[ronkh57]

This was from years ago....... Was/is also responsible for etching/discoloration of things like bmw window frames etc.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/ronkh/touchless.gif

[dbinott]

:wow:

did not know this. thanks for the info. :xyxthumbs:

[runrun411]

That is great information that we geekers know and try to explain to the rest of the world. Here's a challenge. Try to explain to the guy that works at the coin op that the microfiber brushes in the machine do in fact scratch your car.