Hi I just got my Z about a week ago and its getting really cold here in the east coast. So I have this question : is it safe to run my Z through a car wash ? I'm asking because of the antenna.

 

Why would you ever put your Z through a car wash?

 

Most definitly. Avoid running it through when its below freezing, cuz then u get into a whole new set of problems like ice in places you dont want it.

But for the most part its safe.

As for the antenna, it should always be removed before washing. Just grab it at the base and twist. It is just screwed in there. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove. Wash the car with it off, and then just put it back on when the car is dry.

Be sure to avoid ANY AND ALL brush washes. I don't care how safe they say they are, these things almost always have a way of ****ing up your paint. The best thing you can do is a touchless wash. Make sure you use a high quality wax too.

If you use Zaino Wax, you can get by 6 months without having to rewax. I'm not sure with others, but these are designed to help protect your clearcoat and paint.

Hope that helps.

 

I once owned a 1986 Renault Alliance that I took through a car wash, and the clear coat was completely removed.

Seems as though some dumbazz put incorrect chemicals in the car wash machine. A degreaser chemical I think.

Do you really know what chemicals a car wash is going to spray on your car ????

 

Why would you want to take your Z to an automatic car wash? Spray wash it or hand wash only. Also, taking the antenna off is not a good idea . . . the base will probably rust or worse, there may be a hole in the base where water will seep thru (I don't remember if there's actually a hole or not).

 

You just made me sick. If you were not a member of this forum (i.e. a non-enthusiast Z owner), then I could have kept it down, but...nope......there it goes again.

Hand wash it. Buy a rain suit, and wear thermals underneath. For the love of god, respect your car man! Take care of it properly!

P.S. If for some reason you do bring it to a wash, that has brushes (gasp!), then make sure you LOCK the doors. A buddy told me a bad story about the door getting knocked open.

 

Get some Optimum No Rinse, keep a jug of distilled water in the house to keep it warm so your hands don't get cold, and then wash when needed using the ONR and distilled water.

FWIW, I'm on the east coast too and when the car got too dirty for me to feel comfortable with ONR I would take it through a brushless wash first. The wash chemicals are so harsh though that they removed my sealant after a couple times through. Now I just go to one of those DIY stalls with the high pressure washers to rinse of the worst of the dirt with just water and than go home and ONR the car.

 

I've run my roadster thru the automated car wash 3x since I got it new in August. I once forgot to take the antennae off and it came thru fine since its flexible. I do take the precaution of picking a time not preceded by a lot of bad weather. In winter, with snow/grit on the ground, I intend to wash it only on a mon or tues since everybody takes their cars in on saturday and the foam sweeps get gritted up and scratchy (found this out on a new honda years ago).

Heck it gets cold around PA/NJ and no way am I freezing my butt off handwashing. Drive it, wash it, its not a museum piece nor is it the last car you'll ever own! I'm at 7300 miles now.

 

i use the stalls, with the hand squirter thing.. just to rinse off the salt.

 

A FELLOW PA RESIDENT!!! HAHA, what I do is this:

1). I fill a bucket of VERY VERY HOT water, which is what I mix my soap with.

2). Quickly hose off the car, then use the really hot water with soap to clean it.

3). Rinse clean with hose, then I get another hot hot bucket of water and dump it alll over the car, then pull it into the garage, with the car still steaming, then pull the car into the garage and start drying!

4). I usually have a few heaters plugged in, that way I can slowly dry and take my time without water turning to ice.

 

Has the world become this lazy?

You have a 350Z; not the average soccer mom van. Hand wash your car and give it the care it needs.

AbsolutSpeedZ has the right idea.

 

Locate a respectable touchless car wash, Run thru it then go home and catch any missed spots and dry the run-off(mirrors,hatch,rear bumper area). I have used the touch wash several times with no bad results or swirls. They use neopreen <brushes> and it seems very soft no swirls yet. Oh and not all of us have the time to hand wash all the time.

 

Do so at your own risk I ran my SB through one and my license plate cover was snagged and completely ripped off. It also bent up my front plate at a 45 degree angle. When I went to complain to the only english speaking member of the car wash, he tried to give me some BS about "Well that's just the nature of the beast with these things..." Needless to say, I've been handwashing and waxing ever since. And I feel your pain about standing in the cold and freezing your nuts off washing a car, but that's the price you pay to take care of what's yours...

 

yeah I know man, Its just that I handwashed it a couple days ago and it was brutal cause it was really cold , and I'm one of those types that takes 3hrs to handwash a car I like. Does that MR Clean carwash auto dry thing really work ?

 

^Yes it does, I'd say it's ideal for you too since you won't need a bucket and can just put a glove on the hand that will hold the Mr Clean sprayer. I go thru the filters pretty fast because I make sure to go over the car meticulously because Florida water leaves the most heinous streaks. It does work tho, was a great gift someone gave me, plus if your being lazy you can do the car quicker with it than an ordinary hose and bucket.

Only time I use an auto wash is when I get a free wash after using Jiffy Lube, the wash is right next door and no problems after 3x in a year or so, the guys that work their know to take off the antenna. Touchless washes won't even touch heavy dirt on the lower sides of the car, especially with salt.

 

If I go to a public wash, I take a bucket, car wash, a few chenile sponges, and towels. I usually just do that at home. If it needs a good spray-off, I take it for the higher pressure. (It's good for salt and getting crud off the undercarriage) But yeah... the automatic washes will screw your paint up. SWIRLS LIKE A MOFUGGA!!!!!

 

sigh!!!

 

I hand wash mine but I live in Cali where its warm. Believe me, if I still lived lived in a cold weather state (I grew up in Michigan), I'd go to a car wash. I'd probably want to use a touchless one & would check into the mechancism pulling the car through to be sure no damage was occuring.

Love the Z but damned if I'd be out there in 0 degree weather.

 

Remove the antenna.

 

I have been there and done that, Zs shouldn't go in the car wash! ... A new rocker panel will cost you $655