Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

[BYB]

Hi guys,

I'm quite torn here. I heard from some detailing guys that washing our cars at the Petrol Kiosk Manual car washes is very bad for our rides. they say that the water that's used in the car washes are all recycled and may contain all these sediments from the washed cars. If these sediments are not filtered properly, then when they jet the water onto our cars, its like sandblasting!!!!

Is that true?

BYB
I love the convenience of these kiosk manual washes....But i love my ride more!

 

[louis]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

i don't know abt the sand blasting part, from even if they use sediment free water, the shampoo used, especially in those that offer a "snow wash", is potent stuff and can remove the protective layer of wax you so lovingly coated your car with.

 

[rodders]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Plus you wouldn't know if the sponge they're using is clean.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Dunno abt any technical stuff.

What I DID notice is there are more and more micro scratches as I use the petro kiosk manual wash.

I have stopped going for those washes for over 2 months, and guess what? No more new scratches...

From my own experience, anything you rub on the paintwork is going to scratch it. Can you remember how many times you've seen the carwash attendents accidentally drop their sponge or cloth on the ground, pick it up and continue to use them on your car? Just imagine the sand (both from the ground and the 200 other cars before yours), brake dust.. etc being rubbed around on your paint?

I just kick myself for not thinking about it sooner.

Another thing I've noticed is it takes just one wash to strip off any wax layer. I used to polish my car and it's disheartening to watch your effort destroyed in 3 minutes.

So now my new regiment is:

1) Wash my car at most ONCE a week
2) Use NO soap
3) Use only real sheep mitt to loosen dirt while running water over that surface
4) Use real leather chomois to DAB dry, not wipe dry

Then every half yearly apply a few layers of sealant.

 

[BYB]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Ya, now that you mention it, there must have been millions tiny shrapnel in these innocent sponges!

So where can i buy these accessories? I went to the Shell station and couldn't find any real sheep mitts. And what about all these miracle towels that dry? Any experience?

 

[Mockngbrd]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

i only go to those petrol station car wash whne there's lots of semi-dried up bird shit on my car...

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Bought my sheep mitt from San Francisco, so I dunno where to get them locally.

Many years ago I bought a leather chomois from Autobacs. It really looks like a piece of natural leather. The shape is not square or rectangular but rather, it just looks like a piece of cow skin. But the 1st time I used it, I knew I was not gonna go back to using anything less. It's simply in a different league from the "miracle" or synthetic chamois. But it's like $50 a piece.

 

[Puny]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Bought my sheep mitt from San Francisco, so I dunno where to get them locally.

Many years ago I bought a leather chomois from Autobacs. It really looks like a piece of natural leather. The shape is not square or rectangular but rather, it just looks like a piece of cow skin. But the 1st time I used it, I knew I was not gonna go back to using anything less. It's simply in a different league from the "miracle" or synthetic chamois. But it's like $50 a piece.

Hi chickenbackside,

You can get sheepskin mitt from Autobacs or Carrefour..
Autobacs stock some japanese branded mitt.
Carrefour carries those from Meguire (I think).

Cheers,
Alvin.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Thanks for the heads up Alvin!

Now I know where to get them when mine wear out...

 

[alefbet]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Hello,

Not all kiosks do a shoddy job. Take your car to a Esso station at Stevens Road. As you exit the PIE towards Jurong at Stevens, its the first installation on your left. I take my car there every 2 weeks for its hand wash. The guys there are efficient. Hope this helps.

 

[BYB]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Thanks Alefbet,

do they jet spray the car or do they simply rinse the water? And is it like one of those snow washes?

I've taken to washing my car myself in the meantime. But there are some weeks where i'm just so tired....

byb

 

[Puny]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

It really depends on the outlet... I had a pretty bad encounter.

It was an average waiting period of about 20 mins in the late evening. Everything seemed okay and I even watched them wash from start to finish for the car before which was a very nicely kitted red rex sti.

When my turn came, they started spraying the foam - whilst doing that, both attendants were flinging their sponges & accidentally dropped their sponges on the ground. The first one picked it up, threw it into the water bin then re-used it. The second attendant, picked the sponge up from the ground and immediately started with the bonnet..

A little too late to get out of the car by then, I prayed the sponges didn't pick up any serious grit.. It was too dark to notice anything until I got back. Under the carpark lights, the rest of the car was fine, but the bonnet had long 20cm marks that were highly noticable and polishing only managed to reduced their appearance.

Rinsing the sponges should be the least they could have done, to at least rinse off the grit and dirt from the ground (or the previous car)...

It also helps to avoid taking turns after a mud-covered SUV.. keke..

 

[sszone]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

i usually bring my ride for wash with sealant at my usual polisher, the shampoo is supposed not to wash off the polishing stuff i got on my car and they add an additional layer of sealant after the wash. all for 5 bucks, where to get.....hehe

 

[BYB]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Wow, where's your polisher man? I would like to get to know him!

 

[silky6]

Re: Petrol Kiosk Car Wash Damaging?

Thks for the recommendations alefbet. Been looking ard for a gd car wash when I'm lazy to wash it myself. Went Spaforcars for a manual car wash once, finds it v gd but seems like hard to book a timing for a wash.