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  1. #1
    Newbie Member MountainBound's Avatar
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    Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Hello, I was curious if the touchless style car washes were safe for ceramic coatings? I love to hand wash when I can but I am a user of touchless car washes. Sometimes because it's convenient and other times because I live in Colorado and part of the year is cold and snowy and I'm just trying to knock off some of the road grime.

  2. #2
    Super Member 57Rambler's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    A rinseless wash will not harm the coating, but if it has any gloss enhancing properties it will probably affect the water sheeting/beading behavior of the coating. Also, it might not hurt to use distilled water when mixing up your rinseless wash, just to make sure you get no waterspotting.

    Under the mantra of "ounce of caution, pound of cure", you could use ECH2O.

    CarPro ECH2O Waterless Wash & Quick Detail Spray


    • 500ml makes up to 2 Gallons of (1:15) Waterless Spray
    • 500ml makes up to 3 1/4 Gallons of Quick Detailer (1:25)
    • 500ml makes up to 5 1/4 Gallons of Clay Lubricant (1:40)
    • 500ml makes up to 26 1/2 Gallons of Rinse-less Wash (1:200)



  3. #3
    Super Member fly07sti's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    I would suggest that when you do go through a touchless, just use the most basic service. I would not add all the wax & sealant crap. IME, they don’t always rinse great so the fewer chemicals they slather on the better.

  4. Likes BudgetPlan1, PaulMys, Klasse Act liked this post
  5. #4
    Super Member 57Rambler's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Oh crap, I misunderstood the OP's question ...

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    Super Member PaulMys's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Quote Originally Posted by 57Rambler View Post
    Oh crap, I misunderstood the OP's question ...

    Mix up your meds again, Rob?
    It is no coincidence that man's best friend cannot talk.

  7. #6
    Super Member Sizzle Chest's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    I believe that the harsh chemicals they use will degrade your coating much faster. However, if you need to utilize one, in winter/etc, you will be fine; just have the understanding that it could degrade it by some measure.
    Scott Harle
    Autodermatology
    #autodermatology


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  9. #7
    Super Member SNP209's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Even the basic service is suspect at best. Who knows if even the basic detergent they use rinses away completely without leaving a film. Better off just going to a self serve pay and spray and just blasting off the gunk with water alone.

  10. #8
    Super Member vobro's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    What I found is when continually using a touch less it doesn’t fully clean the paint and in time road film can build up and severely effect the coating. I’ll use them in the winter only when I can’t stand the filth anymore, then I follow up with a rinsleless at home

  11. #9
    Super Member 57Rambler's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Quote Originally Posted by PaulMys View Post
    Mix up your meds again, Rob?
    No. In fact, the local dispensary has been out of stock since the lockdown began ...

  12. #10
    Newbie Member MountainBound's Avatar
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    Re: Touchless Car Wash Safe for Coatings?

    Quote Originally Posted by fly07sti View Post
    I would suggest that when you do go through a touchless, just use the most basic service. I would not add all the wax & sealant crap. IME, they don’t always rinse great so the fewer chemicals they slather on the better.
    Quote Originally Posted by SNP209 View Post
    Even the basic service is suspect at best. Who knows if even the basic detergent they use rinses away completely without leaving a film. Better off just going to a self serve pay and spray and just blasting off the gunk with water alone.
    I typically only use the high pressure soap, high pressure rinse and spot free. I stay away from all the wax or 'gloss enhancer' stuff

    Quote Originally Posted by vobro View Post
    What I found is when continually using a touch less it doesn’t fully clean the paint and in time road film can build up and severely effect the coating. I’ll use them in the winter only when I can’t stand the filth anymore, then I follow up with a rinsleless at home
    I agree, you do end up building up a film. I'd love to be hand washing but in the winter its just tough. I wish I had a heated garage with floor drain, that would make it very easy to tackle.

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