Wash car in winters

[Nicotinebar]

I am based out of Canada and was wondering how do y’all wash your car in winters?
I ask as I got my car ceramic coated and I don’t want to go through a regular car wash.
I tried touch-less but it doesn’t do a great job.
What do y’all do for winter car wash maintenance?

 

[HerbieTheCar]

Last winter, I had an unlimited car wash pass to Mr. Carwash, a national chain down here. It was decent but it was not touchless. I canceled the subscription after winter ended. I think what I'm going to do this year is to go to my local touchless car wash and get it done after I drive in the snow. Since working from home, there's really no need to commute so I suspect there will be fewer car washes to be had. The wash doesn't have to do a great job, I think as long as it gets the salt off, it's good enough.

 

[Oglar100]

I am based out of Canada and was wondering how do y’all wash your car in winters?
I ask as I got my car ceramic coated and I don’t want to go through a regular car wash.
I tried touch-less but it doesn’t do a great job.
What do y’all do for winter car wash maintenance?

I've lived in the United States NE, and Currently the PNW. I was told way back when that in the winter it really depends on how much snow/salting your local area does. In the NE I was told I should wash my car every ~3 weeks, and do it only if the temperature is over 40 degrees F. Other then the temp watch you do it the same way. This is all under the stipulation I haven't owned a car "worth" washing in cold weather since 2004, until I got my Stinger 2 weeks ago. I'm curious what others do.

 

[Nicotinebar]

Last winter, I had an unlimited car wash pass to Mr. Carwash, a national chain down here. It was decent but it was not touchless. I canceled the subscription after winter ended. I think what I'm going to do this year is to go to my local touchless car wash and get it done after I drive in the snow. Since working from home, there's really no need to commute so I suspect there will be fewer car washes to be had. The wash doesn't have to do a great job, I think as long as it gets the salt off, it's good enough.

Makes sense with not much travel this year 2 - 3 weeks or wash would be great. But then I haven’t found a good touchless that’ll wash and do a great job. I don’t want to go to a regular car wash cause it will ruin the ceramic coating. Will getting a power washer good option n if so till what temp I can wash the car?

 

[Nicotinebar]

I've lived in the United States NE, and Currently the PNW. I was told way back when that in the winter it really depends on how much snow/salting your local area does. In the NE I was told I should wash my car every ~3 weeks, and do it only if the temperature is over 40 degrees F. Other then the temp watch you do it the same way. This is all under the stipulation I haven't owned a car "worth" washing in cold weather since 2004, until I got my Stinger 2 weeks ago. I'm curious what others do.

The weather dips below 0 degrees so is it better to get a touchless though not a great one near me? Recommend getting a power washer and wash it on my drive way? Winter times r crazy here in Canada and not sure washing car in my drive is a good option...

 

[bearstinger]

I kept my 06 prius and we have a 05 subaru baja, awd, and a few other cars one of them, a big old van, can play in the snow, the rest get no salt on them.

The stinger is not allowed out if they salt the roads. It does get to play in the rain.

They salt aggressively here, a hint of maybe snow and the trucks are out, the roads are white with salt. We had more salt on the roads last winter than we had snow.

 

[Transmetal]

I was thinking about washing mine this morning but it's only 14 out, gotta love winter

 

[bearstinger]

I was thinking about washing mine this morning but it's only 14 out, gotta love winter

When I moved back here, after a 40 year absence, I wanted to surprise new hubby washing his truck...........well the water froze on it..........opps. Moving from the desert back to the cold sort of forgot about that. It was sunny, but the air was COLD!

 

[Kamauxx]

Makes sense with not much travel this year 2 - 3 weeks or wash would be great. But then I haven’t found a good touchless that’ll wash and do a great job. I don’t want to go to a regular car wash cause it will ruin the ceramic coating. Will getting a power washer good option n if so till what temp I can wash the car?

A power washer/foam cannon is a good idea. Anything north of 32 (f) should be fine, I'd guess. I've washed cars in below freezing temps and the only negative is the door handles will stick shut if you wait too long. After doing so I just parked them in the sun to let the ice droplets melt off. It might not be pretty but it'll be salt/dirt free.

You'll also want to consider how you'll clean the undercarriage. You might want to find a drive-through touchless carwash for that job.

 

[TODDK]

I use salt away in the foam cannon once a month for the cars that drive in salt.

Most of my cars do not see the salt.

 

[RedCal]

I am based out of Canada and was wondering how do y’all wash your car in winters?
I ask as I got my car ceramic coated and I don’t want to go through a regular car wash.
I tried touch-less but it doesn’t do a great job.
What do y’all do for winter car wash maintenance?

I do touchless washes... not great, but it cleans the salt off (including the underside) Shell does wash "Passes" much cheaper that pay as you go... IIRC $100 /10washes but you get the premium $15 wash without buying fuel

 

[BUZSTINGR]

I am based out of Canada and was wondering how do y’all wash your car in winters?
I ask as I got my car ceramic coated and I don’t want to go through a regular car wash.
I tried touch-less but it doesn’t do a great job.
What do y’all do for winter car wash maintenance?

The car washes in our area have separate bays with pressure washer. Some even have a warm air blower to dry off the excess water and get the seams (Doors & Windows & Gas Hatch) so they don't freeze.

As a note they still use the stronger detergent like the regular car wash, but still safe for Ceramic Coatings.

I normal do a fast (Less then 10 minute) @ $4 for 3 minutes, to get the majority cleaned.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Short history of car washing the Stinger: I've been through two winters, and first winter I bought monthly car wash passes and used them each time that I had to drive out on soaked, salted roads. But in February my car got put in the tunnel incompetently and rashed both left rims all the way around. I got them powder coated gloss black and finished out the winter in trepidation; but no further damage. Last winter I made it through without a car wash pass and only minimal visits to the "tunnel". How? Well, down here at least, most winter days rise above freezing in the afternoon, and, "Any day above freezing is a good day"! I hand wash with Optimum No Rinse and straight hot soft water (I prefer distilled water if it's not too cold). I have, since March of this year, sworn off ever using a tunnel again; they rashed my LR rim all the way around aaagain. That is it.

My campaign for this winter: use ONR anytime it is above freezing and wash my car myself: I actually enjoy washing my car and have a routine down that I call "the half hour wash". This leaves the undercarriage unattended to. I'm going to pay Luxe Automotive to hand wash out my undercarriage at $75 a pop whenever I "feel" the need. And if we ever get a long spell of sub-freezing weather, I will also pay at the same time to hand wash my car (indoors, it is, of course). By the way, when my car is thoroughly grimed, and I am about to do an ONR wash, I will first go to the hand wand car wash and spray the crud off, then finish it up in my carport.

 

[HerbieTheCar]

Makes sense with not much travel this year 2 - 3 weeks or wash would be great. But then I haven’t found a good touchless that’ll wash and do a great job. I don’t want to go to a regular car wash cause it will ruin the ceramic coating. Will getting a power washer good option n if so till what temp I can wash the car?

You can probably just go to a DIY car wash and do it yourself. I wouldn't really want to wash my car in my driveway during the winter.

 

[legbuh]

I wash my car in my shop in the winter. I only do it when it's REALLY cold out (ie, the roads aren't wet). In MN that happens often. That's so the car STAYS clean. I see people on "nice" days (ie, just above freezing) lining up at the car washes and laugh... the car will be a mess before they get home again.

If it's going to be really wet and sloppy I usually just wash it and tuck it away until it gets really cold again (or spring hits) and drive my "winter beater" which is a 16 nissan frontier. I know not everyone has that option, but even an old cheap winter beater can be worth saving your nice car from being driven in salt/sand too much.

I agree that once in a while going through those washes with the underbody wash is a good idea as well. I normally put my car up on my quickjack and power wash that way to get the underside.

 

[MerlintheMad]

even an old cheap winter beater can be worth saving your nice car from being driven in salt/sand too much.

I almost changed my mind about selling my '94 Voyager exactly because of this philosophy. And a few times since, wish I had kept it: usually on really crappy days when I can hear and feel the slush beating up into my wheel wells. Hah.

 

[legbuh]

I almost changed my mind about selling my '94 Voyager exactly because of this philosophy. And a few times since, wish I had kept it: usually on really crappy days when I can hear and feel the slush beating up into my wheel wells. Hah.

Well, my problem is I'm still in the honeymoon phase... I drive it any chance I get now.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, my problem is I'm still in the honeymoon phase... I drive it any chance I get now.

I am almost 32 months into my "honeymoon".

 

[legbuh]

I am almost 32 months into my "honeymoon".

That's what I'm hoping for me as well! But come spring I have a couple other toys hehe.. Convertible zl1 is so fun too.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That's what I'm hoping for me as well! But come spring I have a couple other toys hehe.. Convertible zl1 is so fun too.

You rampant polygamist.