Car Washes

2862 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by darelldd, Oct 17, 2001

schuckb

Discussion Starter · Oct 16, 2001

Does anybody have any opinion about bringing their Ody to a car wash? OK, the feelings are probably overwhelmingly negative, and I prefer not to either. But there are times (like in January here in the northeast) when it is tough to get out and wash the car. It is necessary sometimes just to get the road grime off the car.

I have been to car washes, and I know they aren't the best for the car. But are there any issues specific to Ody's and car washes that anyone would like to share?

Thanks.

Bryan

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Jim F

· #2 · Oct 16, 2001

I run mine through the one at my local Texaco. It's brushless and the Ody fits fine.

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Jim
'01 GG EX w/stuff
'93 Nissan Sentra SE-R with more stuff

3Boyz

· #3 · Oct 16, 2001

Soft Cloth or Touchless ONLY! NEVER plastic bristles! Bypass the special waxes and rinses. Pay for the underbody spray in the winter to get the salt off.

I also unscrew the antenna - it should be OK but who wants to take the chance on bending the fender if a brush decides to take a turn for the worse?

My $.02

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Keith
2001 MB EX
Mud Flaps, Wheel Locks, Cargo Tray, Thule Crossbars with Cargo Box, 6.8" LCD TV System with FM Modulator, Accord EX 6 Disc/Cassette Double DIN Head Unit, Pioneer 1655/1086 Speakers

hachiroku

· #4 · Oct 16, 2001

I never take any of my vehicles to a car wash but if I were to do it, it'll have to be toucheless or the cloth type. No brushes.

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-ROB-
'01 GG LX "Lagreat"(with stuff,just S-T-U-F-F)

http://community.webshots.com/album/18601743AkjQIJiKqK

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Steve Pert

· #5 · Oct 16, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by 3Boyz:
I also unscrew the antenna - it should be OK but who wants to take the chance on bending the fender if a brush decides to take a turn for the worse?
</font>

I had read the sugestion a few months ago to unscrew the antenna in a car wash. I tried it at home and it comes off very easily. Are there any concerns about water getting into the antenna's socket? I don't know if there is any wiring down there, or if the socket just stops there.

It just occurred to me that when parking an Odyssey for a long time in a lot, like at an airport, or parking in a less-desireable area, it might be a good idea to remove the antenna, given that it is so easy to remove.

hondacaddy

· #6 · Oct 16, 2001

I always take my cars to car washes because I'am lazy but I always re-do the inside of the Ody [vacuum,windows,dash,carpets the car wash does not do a good job

homeric

· #7 · Oct 16, 2001

There is a definite environmental concern here as well. The runoff of the washed car does not contain just dirty soapy water, it also contains the brake lining dust among other "baddies". Car washes recycle their water. Your car rinse at home goes directly into the (insert water table, river, ocean, lake, whatever name here) nearest to you. Here in southern California it has been determined that this runoff (not just car wash of course) but everything that is left on the street, even human feces, is the main ocean polluter. Huntington Beach has been battling this for a few years. The point is that anything we leave behind comes back to bite us all somehow. Home oil changes have their concerns too, proper and legal disposal of the used oil.
Mark

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darelldd

· #8 · Oct 17, 2001

Homeric -

You brought up an excellent point about the environmental impact of self-car washes. In fact, it is illegal in some communities do wash your car in the driveway now, because of these concerns. (don't ask me where, but that's the report I get from members of a detailing board I frequent). However, like with most things, there are many hidden negative environmental effects of filtered-water car washes. The big one is the large amount of power they consume. For those if us in CA, that is a large issue, and even for other states, generating electricity typically produces pollution. So, although your brake dust, etc. is not being washed directly into the streams, lakes and oceans, the automatic car wash still has to dispose of the crap they filter out (into a land-fill?) and they use polluting electricity.

Just rambling thoughts to consider....

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-= Darell =-
2002 Ody EXL-Nav (TW) ordered, and now maybe coming on November 2!
I haven't had a date in months (well, years actually, but that's a different story)
2001 Civic EX

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homeric

· #9 · Oct 17, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by darelldd:
Homeric -

You brought up an excellent point about the environmental impact of self-car washes. In fact, it is illegal in some communities do wash your car in the driveway now, because of these concerns. (don't ask me where, but that's the report I get from members of a detailing board I frequent). However, like with most things, there are many hidden negative environmental effects of filtered-water car washes. The big one is the large amount of power they consume....
</font>

As with any consumer item, as an example, disposable diapers vs. cloth (with all of the attendant water and electricity etc.) a personal decision must be made. Do I help fill up the landfill or do I wash and use electricity and water etc.....
It is also hard to make these decisions based on faulty or incomplete information which is sometimes all that is available.
These are the trade-offs (there are no correct or perfect decisions) that we as U.S. consumers must face all of the time.

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darelldd

· #10 · Oct 17, 2001

Funny - I'd actually typed in a blurb on the diaper debate, but then removed it before posting. That really is the perfect example. I have friends who use traditional diapers, and swear they are doing the right thing for the environment. While my family does two loads of laundry a week, they do seven. And meanwhile, I add to the pile in the local landfill.

Yes, everything is a choice, and the more informed we are, the better choices we can make.

------------------
-= Darell =-
2002 Ody EXL-Nav (TW) ordered, and now maybe coming on November 2!
I haven't had a date in months (well, years actually, but that's a different story)
2001 Civic EX

czygmont

· #11 · Oct 17, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by darelldd:
For those if us in CA, that is a large issue, and even for other states, generating electricity typically produces pollution. So, although your brake dust, etc. is not being washed directly into the streams, lakes and oceans, the automatic car wash still has to dispose of the crap they filter out (into a land-fill?) and they use polluting electricity.

Just rambling thoughts to consider....

</font>

Daryl,
Being an employee of an electric utility, and working as an engineer in a fossil plant, I can tell you that the two main efluents from the plant are the emissions that go out the stack, and the ash left over from the combustion of coal. Most electic companies (at least ours) are concerned about what comes out the stack. We have federal limits we must adhere to, but basically you get some ash, sulphur (though minimal because of the type of coal we burn), and sometimes NOx (also controlled). The fly ash that falls out of the gases are collected and "washed" out to a lined pond. So in essence it's not a "landfill" exactly, because nothing else is stored there. And... as a matter of fact, this ash has some value now. It is used as a component of cement. So even it is being recycled.

As far as the whole washing your car vs going to a car wash or disposable vs cloth diapers, I think a lot of it comes down to economics. Its cheaper for me to wash my own car and I get a sense of acomplishment from it. As for diapers. The less I have to deal with them the better. ;-)

------------------
'02 SS EX-L RES on
order, build date 10/28 (Sunday?)
'98 Explorer XLT
'94 Prism Lsi

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adam1991

· #12 · Oct 17, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Funny - I'd actually typed in a blurb on the diaper debate, but then removed it before posting. That really is the perfect example. I have friends who use traditional diapers, and swear they are doing the right thing for the environment. While my family does two loads of laundry a week, they do seven. And meanwhile, I add to the pile in the local landfill.</font>

Not to mention the sanitary efffects of disposables vs. cloth.

Add that to the equation, and disposables win hands down.

Just goes to show you: nothing is a black and white issue. There are many things to consider. In the end, you pick the *least* objectionable method. That doesn't mean it's perfect in every way; things rarely are, if ever. But you live with the imperfections and you ignore those who would scream because of even a single imperfection without offering an alternative, for those people are kooks.

schuckb

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 17, 2001

Based on the amount of attention to detailing I read here, I thought car washes would be anathama. I am glad to hear some useful tips. I will have to find a brushless car wash. I will still detail and wax on my own.

Thanks for the tips.

Bryan
'02, SS LX

p.s. we use disposables

cmt4

· #14 · Oct 17, 2001

THIS is why I love this forum so much! Only here can you start out talking about car washes and end up with diapers.

I'm keeping a stockpile of old diapers in my basement... anti-terrorist weapon of unstoppable power!

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darelldd

· #15 · Oct 17, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by adam1991:
for those people are kooks.</font>

I think Adam has summed up my outlook on many subjects.

Yes, excellent discussion all the way around. I never would have guessed that this subject would have gotten so "deep" so quickly. Even the simple things are complicated, aren't they?

------------------
-= Darell =-
2002 Ody EXL-Nav (TW) ordered, and now maybe coming on November 2!
I haven't had a date in months (well, years actually, but that's a different story)
2001 Civic EX

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