I live in Northern NJ. It snows once in a while, the rest of the time there's dirt roads with salt deposits and other crap on them.

So after several days of driving my car gets dirty... now usually I've been able to wash the car myself (and Zaino it)... even down to 32 degrees.

However, right now its like 16F outside and it's impossible for me to wash. It's been this cold for like a week now, and today I decided to finally take it to a car wash.

You know, one of those "brushless" ones but not TOUCH-LESS (because I couldn't find one... maybe someone can help me in the NJ area??)

Afterwards, the result was what I expected. Swirl marks in the light (my car is Daytona Blue color), other than that rather clean without much problem. But swirl marks visible all over in direct light...

So now, after I Zaino these swirl marks away, I won't be able to take it to regular car washes anymore... and it's really pissing me off.

What can I do ? I do NOT want to put the car away for the winter... I don't have a garage, I need it, and I love to drive it, even in the cold.

Please, I beg of you, my fellow owners and cohorts, guide me in the right direction. Perhaps one of you might know of a completely touch-less wash I can use somewhere here in Jersey... or perhaps an alternate method altogether ?

Until then, I'm without much choice..

Regards,

-slay

 

I was just telling my wife last week that we needed to open up a *unique* car wash business. We'd buy a warehouse that would have about 20 car wash stalls, and we'd charge by the hour. Let people come in out of the cold, bring their own supplies, and wash their cars inside with warm water.

Sound like a good idea?

When I was in the Air Force in Germany, we had an auto skills center on base where you could work on your car, wash it, etc. It would always be full in the winter with people washing their cars.

 

I take my car to the wash right next to the Menlo Park Mall in Edison- on the corner of Route 1 South and Parsonage Road. Instead of using the automated wash, they have car wash bays - you pull your car in, get out, and wash it yourself using the high power washer that they provide. You drop about 6 bucks in quarters to do the entire car.... I dress very warmly when I do this- ski pants & stuff... it's not so bad b/c you're moving around...

I bring my own fresh sponges and chamois for drying - it works great. No damage to the car whatsoever. There probably is a place up in N. Jersey (I'm originally from up there...) but I can't think of one offhand.

Anyone else in the area up for a group car wash....? That might be fun.

Ethan

 

I wash here, when its in the 30's, best way Ive found is to use hot water in the bucket, and warm cloths, so your hands dont freeze. works good enough.

but swirl marks are sorta unavoidable... enjoy the car, dont worry about it all the time, it was meant to be used.

 

Thanks to both of you guys for the replies.

I agree swirl marks are inevitable... but to an extent. I've never caused them myself while washing/waxing my car, since I took proper care in doing so..

I would prefer not to let some greasy auto-wash place ruin that.

The place in Edison is about 45 min away from me (I'm exit 165 off Parkway)... but I think self-service washes are definitely the answer in the winter... just gotta find one up here =0

-slay

 

The bucket's pretty good, but you can't spray all the salt off the underbody that way. I do a combination of bucket and sprayer, with the hose hooked up inside my house to a utility sink, so the water is very warm. I get the underbody with the long spraying arm and soap the top and sides then spray them too. Then I go around with a towel and bucket of warm water. The bucket comes in handy as the water starts freezing on the car before I can dry the whole thing, so I pour some warm water over an area and dry it before it freezes again. Then out with a hair dryer on an extension cord to hit all the little spots that froze up, and get the frozen water out of the rearviews and the hatch, hood, and light seams. I have also used the coin operated self-wash places and they work well, but I like free better, even though my driveway is sorta an ice skating rink now.

BTW I live in S Jersey and I'm hating this subfreezing crap. I mean, 30 is bad enough, but single digits in the morning, AARGH! I just got the factory car cover yesterday and it protected me from a lot of frost last night.

 

Well, I haven't tried to wash in 16 degree weather, but have in 25 degree +.

If I see salt/crap on the car I do the following. I get a plastic 2 gallon watering can (ya know...used to water flowers) and a small container (? 20-30 oz). I fill the watering can with clean warm water and and in the small container, maybe 1/2 capful of carwash and fill with warm water. Then, I just wash small sections and wash it off with the watering can. Usually I can do the whole car w/ no refill of the carwash container and maybe 1 refill of the watering can.

Yes, the neighbors do get a good laugh, but hey, I get a clean Z!.



Oh..for those who live where you do get snow...DON'T YA JUST HATE:

On the days after the snow, when the roads are dry and you're driving a nice shiny car..you get on the highway and then a cloud of windshield washing fluid is released in your direction by one or more of the schmo's ahead of you who are driving cars that have windshields that look like someone smeared them with vasoline and then sprinkled flour on them?? I wish all cars had the windshield washer nozzels in the wiper arm!!




VG

 

You buy yourself a $ 1000.00 beater and quit driving your car in all that salt they put on the road in winter.

 

Slay, your savior has arrived

I live in New Milford. I have a G35c. This is what I do.

1. I bought myself the EuroBlaster. It's a cheap $20 hose attatchment you find on those TV infomercials. It's basically a high pressure wash. It also has a soap / detergent compartment, so it can soap your car also. It is also great for the under carriage of your car too! All you have to do is just dry your car before the water freezes.

2. Where in Bergen County are you located? 165... upper saddle river? There is a 24 hour touchless laser wash in Hackensack. They don't use recycled water, so that's a plus! It's on the corner of Hackensack Ave. and Cedar Lane. Although, I'm not sure it's called Cedar Lane anymore when it hits Hackensack. It's adjacent to SEARS. You have 4 options at that place. 1) the regular machine wash. 2) a wash and detail area - no clue about how great job they do or the cost. 3) DIY area - which is basically a EuroBlaster type setup. 4) the 24-hour laser wash.

There are 3 different options for the laser-wash. It's in a standalone garage door thing. $5, $6, and $7 I believe. The 6 and 7 one will make sure the under carriage of your car gets cleaned. Very DIESEL!!! When you are done, you just have to dry your car before the water freezes. Just be careful of the guard rails. You don't want to scratch your rims.

No matter what time of the day you go, there are always going to be a couple of cars there. I've gone at 3am on a weekday and have seen people in line for the wash. MAKE SURE YOU DRY THERE!!! The water will freeze on your car even if you drive one mile.

I figure these 2 solutions are good enough for me until it gets above 35 degrees so I can wash it properly again. Method 1 takes me 30-45 minutes tops. Method 2 takes me 15 minutes, but I think the soap they use might strip the Zaino.

Hackensack still might be a little far for you. Follow this link and change the location to your town. Then just work your way down the list till you find one like the one here in Hackensack. Just make sure they don't use recycled water!!! You want 100% well water! Yahoo Yellow pages: Car Wash

As for the winter beater thing... obviously you people have never lived in NJ. It is going to cost you more to insure the beater than it will for the cost of the car. Insuring a car that is only going to see the light of day in winter is a waste of money, unless you are $$$$. I'm 23 and have a clean record. It costs me $1,300 to insure my POS Taurus for six months. I bought that car for $500!!! It's costing me $2,100 for the Infiniti which is a 4 seater. I can't imagine what it would cost me for the 350z.

 

Holy ****...

You are my saviour!

Right on the money about the beater insurance... agreed 100%.

I'm in Paramus. You live about 10 minutes away from me, and I'm about 10 minutes away from this Hackensack place which I've never even heard of before

I will 100% MOST DEFINITELY use it as my exclusive self-service and/or laser-wash place. Speaking of the laser wash, how does this thing work ? And is it safe ? If not I'll stick to the self-service wash =)

Also, you mentioned about something possibly stripping the Zaino off the car... which option were you talking about ?

In either case, you're exactly my age, you drive my "cousin car" (Nissan Z/Infiniti G35), you read these forums, and you're about 10 minutes away from where I live. I'd say this is enough cause to get together, check out the rides, etc

I sent you a PM. Thanks much for the info, I desperately needed it!

-slay

 

You drive up to the garage door. Next to it is the device where you enter your dollar bills in and select the type of wash you want. the 5, 6, or 7 dollar wash. Once you put your money in, the garage door opens and you enter. If you get the under carriage blast, you will have to turn your wipers on so you can see where the tire guard rail is. You have to be very careful with the rail, you can scratch your rims if done improperly. I would go there during the day and ask the manager about how wide the rail is, so you don't scratch your left side rims.

Option 1 with the EuroBlaster will not strip your Zaino if you use Z-7 in the soap dispenser. It will strip your Zaino if you use Dawn in it or another strong detergent. Option 2 may or may not strip your Zaino. You'd have to check with the manager to see what type of detergent they use. I've used this wash in the past, but haven't been there since I started using Zaino and the EuroBlaster.

Glad I could be of assistance!

 

I've heard that these blasters actually are bad for the paint cause the force can actually drive dirt into the paint. Every place that shows you how to wash the car never suggest using one.

 

Slay2k.. what's up! I live in Paramus too.. and Sometimes i go to the place in Hackensack.. but there is also another place where I like to get the car washed. It's a hand car wash and they do a pretty good job. It's located on Rt. 17N in Carlstadt, at the Clocktower Mall.. right after the Paterson Plank exit.

 

I've actually visited the place in Hackensack today... just to observe.

I bet the people there were wondering WTF a kid was doing watching them wash their cars and asking stupid questions like "You ever wash that baby in freezing temperatures ?"

Haha, anyway. Mike! What's up my man! You mean there's actually another Z right here in Paramus ? It can't be

Or do you drive a different car ? Tell me more about this place in Carlstadt... why would you let someone hand-wash your car ? Even the smallest things, such as a design pattern on a towel, or a towel being reused, or not 100% USA-made cotton, or the wrong detergent, can all be harmful to the paint/clear coat of the Z.

I'm VERY picky about **** like this. I don't let anyone get close to my car anymore without signing a waiver In reality, the car kinda needs this because my particular dark color (DBlue) shows EVERY single swirl mark if it's got a direct-light source (Sun, etc) pointed at it. And those swirl marks seem to be VERY easy to attain... or so I've learned after taking it to that wash on Rt. 17 in Hackensack (by Party Box).

Now on a color like Chrome Silver, it may not show at all... but... this is the price I pay for having the color I want.

Anyway, I'll send you a PM... let's talk cars

-slay

 

Amen to that.

I bought this car to drive. It is not a garage queen.

I drive it every day. I have other cars, yes, but that's not why I bought this. I didn't buy it to say "hey look, I have a Z but I'm in my truck today, my Z is in my garage so it can stay clean".

F that. Really.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Z just as much as anyone else and I have probably less free time than most (comes with being an IT Manager) so finding time to keep it clean comes at other expenses.

But ya know what? I enjoy cleaning my car. Call me sadistic or whatever, but to me it's kind of a zen thing. I appreciate it more and more every time I clean it all up and she's all pretty.

Folks, drive your cars. I know they're our babies but.. I dunno. It's not like it's some super rare one-off Ferrari or something. It's a Z, yes. But it's still just a Nissan. And by summer, they'll be everywhere.

You can always get another one if you thrash this one.

But like Ares said, drive your car. Enjoy it. That's what they are meant for. Don't obsess over every little nick and scratch because it will only dampen the experience.

Sorry to go off on a tangent/rant, but I had this exact same discussion/argument with someone earlier today. Needed to vent a little I guess.

 

Yeah... I enjoy washing my car as much as I do driving it! I like to work on it myself whenever possible. I made the mistake of washing my car yesterday pretty late in the day. The water would freeze within 4 minutes of contact. It was the wind that did it. I was stupid to wash it in an open part of my driveway. If you guys do brave the elements, park your car on the leeward side of your house/garage if possible. Otherwise wait until the next day when its less windy. My absorber would freeze every 4 minutes also, i had to keep running inside the house to thaw it out.

 

Right on the money....

Well said, thats why I bought the car....To Drive no to keep it in the garage. I live in NY, its freezing but that will not stop me at all. I love when everybody turn their heads around to see my Z...love that feeling....

 

I will agree with you 100%. That's funny I work as IT Assistant Manager and most of the IT peoples have the same kind of reaction...

 

In defense of the beater idea..

Well, I just bought a 1990 Nissan Stanza with 150k miles on it. Runs great and doesn't look bad. New tires, new timing chain, doesn't burn oil. Sony XPLOD stereo came with it too, I paid 500 bucks total. Runs like a champ in the snow. I pay 100$ more a year to insure this car. I didn't get collision coverage, just liability, and if it were my only car that would have made it 400$ a year to insure (i'm 29,PA, good record). Because I have 2 cars, I get a 2 car discount which means money off both cars. The net result is I am now paying 100 bucks more a year for this beater . I only use my Z for recreational driving now. I highly recommend doing this if you don't mind commuting to work in an old econobox. The days of leaving my z in a parking lot all day where people can mash their doors into it are over, and it didn't cost me much at all.

My insurance company if anyone's interested:

www.greatamericaninsurance.com

 

Or...um...you could just live somewhere where "cold" means 50 F. =)