using coin-op washes for removing salt... some questions

[orbitextreme2011]

per my title, am seeking your help on using coin op washes solely for removing salt and just making sure corrosion is minimized. i went into one for the 1st time and wasnt sure what functions to use so just used the rinse (water) spray. it seemed to be very high pressure (certainly stronger than my garden hose). i reallly just wanted the salt on the doors/undercarriage to be removed. didnt need a sparking clean car, hence, some further questions:

a) do i need to soap first then use the rinse for my purposes - or would the water rinse be good?

b) as mentioned, the pressure's way stronger than the garden hose, i was hesitant to point too hard underneath the vehicle and only sprayed mostly on the door panels, wheels, rocker panels, hood, tailgate, roof, but not really underneath. i could have stooped and sprayed from below since i was driving the suv. but at the time, wasnt 100% sure so am asking now if it's ok to do it underneath with so much pressure (eg. what about any computers, TPMS, etc underneath)?

c) i wasnt sure what other knobs were for. some thing for "high pressure" was there, aside from the rinse that i chose, there was tire cleaner, and then wax and soap too. i chose this "rinse" function- was this correct for my purpose?

d) do you guys normally towel it dry after? i was hesitant to do so since i had only put in $2 and thought it may cause more harm just in case all the dirt/grime wasnt completely removed so i just drove away. i did it at night so i hope the water spots that may come up after it dries in the covered garage can still be removed without the need for polishing (eg vs water spots that are sunbaked during a hot summer day).

thanks for the help. personally, i prefer coin op for winter as it's a) cheaper, and b) i can target the areas that i want to remove salt. but not sure if this is the way to go.

[Jon04CTS]

I use the coin wash about 5 times a week. I don't use the soap there. I just use the high pressure rinse. I take it to the touchless for a good wash. The coin op is just to remove salt.

Don't be worried about the high pressure. There's no reason it would harm your car. Just don't use it under the hood. Most important areas are the wheel openings and rocker panels IMO.

Do NOT towel dry afterwards. You will just be rubbing dirt all around your car, which will result in swirl marks.

[orbitextreme2011]

I use the coin wash about 5 times a week. I don't use the soap there. I just use the high pressure rinse. I take it to the touchless for a good wash. The coin op is just to remove salt.

Don't be worried about the high pressure. There's no reason it would harm your car. Just don't use it under the hood. Most important areas are the wheel openings and rocker panels IMO.

Do NOT towel dry afterwards. You will just be rubbing dirt all around your car, which will result in swirl marks.

Thanks Jon! Good to hear I did well for a first timer today. Seems like that's all there was to it. No soap, no towel dry (thankfully logic prevailed over my head on this .

I was debating for a while on the "towel dry" since I read somewhere about water etching - but then thought "to hell with that" since it was night time and I didnt use soap (plus it would have taken more time to towel dry and I only had one towel). I only used $2 and it was more than adequate (hence why I even took the time to pressure wash the hood (above, not below), tailgate and roof -- which I would have omitted if time ran out).

Just a ff up ? if you or any RFD'ers wont mind: how critical is it to pressure wash the undercarriage such as the parts where brake lines, cat converters, mufflers, tie rods, etc are located? I know doors, side panels and rockers are key but not too sure about underneath. Thanks.

[lumlum1013]

Thanks Jon! Good to hear I did well for a first timer today. Seems like that's all there was to it. No soap, no towel dry (thankfully logic prevailed over my head on this .

I was debating for a while on the "towel dry" since I read somewhere about water etching - but then thought "to hell with that" since it was night time and I didnt use soap (plus it would have taken more time to towel dry and I only had one towel). I only used $2 and it was more than adequate (hence why I even took the time to pressure wash the hood (above, not below), tailgate and roof -- which I would have omitted if time ran out).

Just a ff up ? if you or any RFD'ers wont mind: how critical is it to pressure wash the undercarriage such as the parts where brake lines, cat converters, mufflers, tie rods, etc are located? I know doors, side panels and rockers are key but not too sure about underneath. Thanks.

i visit the coin wash probably once-twice a week, and j/ pay for the high-pressure soap and rinse...never use the brush, as i've seen
tractor-trailer, deilivery trucks, salt/dirt trucks uses the same brush in those very very dirty area that u cannot imagine!
and also, i wouldn't dry my car w/ a towel/chamois/micro-fiber/etc afterward..... unless it's a proper wash by hand only...

i've been sprayin' the underside of my car, and all of my previous cars for the past 10 years...i don't see any damages~

NEVER USE THE BRUSH!

[conix67]

i've been sprayin' the underside of my car, and all of my previous cars for the past 10 years...i don't see any damages~

Jon said "under the hood" not underside of the car.

[ES_Revenge]

b) as mentioned, the pressure's way stronger than the garden hose, i was hesitant to point too hard underneath the vehicle and only sprayed mostly on the door panels, wheels, rocker panels, hood, tailgate, roof, but not really underneath. i could have stooped and sprayed from below since i was driving the suv. but at the time, wasnt 100% sure so am asking now if it's ok to do it underneath with so much pressure (eg. what about any computers, TPMS, etc underneath)?

So wait, you decided that the high pressure wasn't suitable for the parts under the vehicle (which are mostly just metal parts, non-cosmetic and in constant contact with the elements--water rocks, salt, stones, etc.) but somehow it was suitable for quality-painted surfaces??? LOL. Well in this case the pressure of the spray is not that high and it's fine for both but if you were actually using high pressure, the underbody would probably do much better than painted panels, against the pressure spray.

I mean seriously, you'd rather point a high pressure nozzle at a painted door than say a solid control arm or other parts where cosmetic damages are irrelevant? Really?

[orbitextreme2011]

So wait, you decided that the high pressure wasn't suitable for the parts under the vehicle (which are mostly just metal parts, non-cosmetic and in constant contact with the elements--water rocks, salt, stones, etc.) but somehow it was suitable for quality-painted surfaces??? LOL. Well in this case the pressure of the spray is not that high and it's fine for both but if you were actually using high pressure, the underbody would probably do much better than painted panels, against the pressure spray.

I mean seriously, you'd rather point a high pressure nozzle at a painted door than say a solid control arm or other parts where cosmetic damages are irrelevant? Really?

yes, i didnt know that, thus why im asking if it's ok. i know there may be some brake lines, rubber bushings, very hot cat converters and mufflers there too plus greased up parts underneath which, if i pressure wash, not sure what effect it may have. i can also see the TPMS so dunno how sealed those were. are those rubber bushings sturdy enough to withstand direct hits from pressure washers? dunno either whereas body panels, the salt on the body panels were quite light, so i made sure i was a foot away when i used the pressure washer and based on it appearance this morning, certainly did its job. anyways, everyday i learn new things. based on your statement, it's ok to do so underneath. next week when i go visit, i know better thanks

[lumlum1013]

Jon said "under the hood" not underside of the car.

how about u read OP's and other replies properly first b4 makin' urself look stupid
OP asked if it's ok to spray the underside (brake lines, cat converters, mufflers, tie rods), and my reply was to confirm that it's ok.
Jon happened to mentioned that it's not OK to spray under the hood....which has nothin' to do w/ my previous respond.

[conix67]

how about u read OP's and other replies properly first b4 makin' urself look stupid
OP asked if it's ok to spray the underside (brake lines, cat converters, mufflers, tie rods), and my reply was to confirm that it's ok.
Jon happened to mentioned that it's not OK to spray under the hood....which has nothin' to do w/ my previous respond.

OP asked if it's ok to spray underside in his initial post. However, you're replying to his other message where the question was "how critical is it to spray undercarriage"? Not "will spraying underside cause any damage". So between that and Jon's post I got confused, sorry about that.

[custy]

I often like to get down and dirty and use the high pressure hose to blast the undercarriage of my car...