I would think its fine doing it that way, even with the high pressure as long as you are careful. The only part that I'm wary of is how clean those foaming brushes really are (usually I just blast them with the high press to get any grit out).

 

+1

Use the high pressure spray on the foaming brush before using the brush.
Don't powerspray into the opeings (any of them).

 

I checked all of them and went to the stall with the cleanest brush . . . Then I used high pressure rinse to make sure it (the brush) was thoroughly clean lol . . .

 

I would never use the foaming brush. If the dirt didn't come off with the high pressure soap and rinse it would stay on until I could get to my wash mitt and bucket.

 

Before Pic:

 

The manual says not to use high pressure or automatic car washes, so as long as it's low pressure you are ok.

Scariest thing I saw was a coupon that was in a ValPak junkmail envelope. It was an ad for an automatic car wash down the street from me and it featured a picture of an Elise in their parking lot anic:

 

The manual says not to use high pressure or automatic car washes, so as long as it's low pressure you are ok.

Good to know... glad I got in on this thread.

 

I wash my car manually all the time. I don't brush it though. I just soap-spray it, then I use my glove on the dirty parts. Then I spray it all off. If the pressure washer is too strong, then stand further back.

 

Its fine but I would NOT use that brush...

 

DO NOT USE A DIY CAR WASH!!! I can't stress this enough. No matter HOW much you use the High pressure washer to clean the brush with, the problem you face is that almost EVERYONE uses that same brush on their wheels to wash away the brake dust. Brake dust is some of the most dense material we know of, and it WILL SCRATCH YOUR PAINT!!!

I can't encourage enough not to use the car wash. Besides the fact that our manual says not to use a high pressure washer on our cars. I did this ONCE, and I will never do it again. I didn't realize how bad the DIY car washes are for ALL cars...and I have spent over 16 hours trying to remove almost every scratch off my car from the day I used the foaming brush on my car, the one time.

No matter how bad your car may be, it is better to drive it dirty home, wash it and enjoy it. Then to stop at a DIY to wash it clean, as you may find the next time you do it, you will see A LOT more scratches in your paint then you recall.

Lighter colored cars hide A LOT of these imperfections, so you can get away with for a bit. But as time progresses, don't be surprised if your car starts to lose it's "luster/sparkle."

So I must encourage you, DO not use a DIY car wash, and most ESPECIALLY the foaming brush.

Sorry if I seem to come off a bit rough...didn't want anyone else to try to follow this technique.

 

DO NOT USE A DIY CAR WASH!!!

I can't encourage enough not to use the car wash. Besides the fact that our manual says not to use a high pressure washer on our cars. I did this ONCE, and I will never do it again. I didn't realize how bad the DIY car washes are for ALL cars...and I have spent over 16 hours trying to remove almost every scratch off my car from the day I used the foaming brush on my car, the one time.

No matter how bad your car may be, it is better to drive it dirty home, wash it and enjoy it. Then to stop at a DIY to wash it clean, as you may find the next time you do it, you will see A LOT more scratches in your paint then you recall.

Lighter colored cars hide A LOT of these imperfections, so you can get away with for a bit. But as time progresses, don't be surprised if your car starts to lose it's "luster/sparkle."

So I must encourage you, DO not use a DIY car wash, and most ESPECIALLY the foaming brush.

Sorry if I seem to come off a bit rough...didn't want anyone else to try to follow this technique.

I agree about not using the brush, but there is no problem with the DIY pressure wash places as long as one is prudent. Pre soak, use the low pressure to wash it down and rinse...use the high pressure but only if you stand back farther.

Don't get the pressure any where near the starshield.

I've used pressure car washes hundreds of times with the 9 Lotus I've owned over the years, with no problems at all. I just stay away from the brush, generally use the lower pressure, and high pressure very very judiciously and cautiously.

 

Hmm, so I guess the brush was a bad idea . . . This is the first time I've used it in the year and a half I've owned the car and will probably be the only time. FYI, I usually do it by hand once a week if I drive the car at all . . .

 

I have twice. Quick rinse, soap spray, wipe down w/ my own wash cloth, quick (soft) rinse, drying towel. Btw, I wouldn't use those brushes on a rusted over Honda--much less my Lotus (can you say "paint swirlies?")!

 

No brush on the paint - that's a recipe for swirl marks and scratches.

 

I've used those places, but I only used the water. I brought my buckets, soap, wheel cleaner, towels, etc. They got pissed because no bucket washing was allowed to speed up patrons.

 

The one time I used the self serve wash I did the same thing and brought my own soap, wash mitt and drying towels. When I showed up I was the only one there but as luck would have it as soon as I started with the mitt a bunch of cars showed up. I still got through it just as fast as if I was using the brush and the timer was running the entire time. The guy behind me was pissed and started whining to the owner after I had pulled out of the wash bay to dry. The owner knew what was going on and replied "He can do anything he wants in that stall as long as there is time on the clock."

 

I use them all the time. Just keep distance if you don't want the high pressure. I don't use the foam brush most of the time but when I do, I use the high pressure spray to clean it first.

When I'm in a rush, I usually just soap spray, rinse, spot dry rinse and drive away for an air dry.

 

I usually go to them at night so I can dry the car in the bay and not have anybody waiting for me. Low pressure wash only.

 

There's no reason to be hyper paranoid or to take the owner's manual as gospel. Common sense is king. Bring your own clean towels for scrubbing and drying. Don't blast away from just a couple of inches off the surface. Be careful of the angles you're shooting so you don't put a lot of soap and water where you don't want it.

If the cleaning bays are backed-up-busy you might want to wait until you can work at a more leisurely pace, and not piss off the people waiting behind you.

 

When I found out that a detail spot in Richmond VA was $55 a wash I jumped to a DIY wash booth paying only $6.00 - I bring my own drying towels, my own sponge and a hell lot of Microfiber towels! I enjoy working on my car in the nice weather! Just pack yourself a DIY wash kit (bought my products from common knowledge and recommendations on this board). I use the high pressure spray at a distance and mostly let the water run off the car with soap.

 

SPRAY and wipe down NOOOO DONT USE THE BRUSH

 

My car is my DD, so in the winter with temps not moving much above 20 for weeks, using the hose in the driveway is not feasible. I use the DIY and follow these precautions: I let the foam drip onto the car, not using the brush except on the wheels, windshield, and GENTLY only on areas that have starshield. Then I use the water spray without turing it on - because it sprays out lightly anyway - to rinse off the foam, and use the powered-on spray only on the wheels and - from a distance - only on the windshield and starshield areas. I prefer handwash, and only do this when I have to.

 

If you touch your car's finish with anything other than a clean microfiber cloth, you will introduce scratches into the finish that were not there before. Seeing an Elise or Exige getting a hand-wash at a car wash makes me cringe, because I know they're !@#4ing up the finish with their rags.

 

Love hand-washing

I enjoy hand-washing my Elise. I wash it about every second week using 3 - 5 buckets of warm water from the house. I don't use any soap (not needed). I wash a section at a time with a sponge and then use a chamois to wipe away the water spots.

Once or twice a year I do a "full" wash using soap and finishing with wax.

If you do go to an auto wash place, I'd just be very careful around the window area. You'll probaby find some gaps that will let in water.