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Do you hand wash or car wash your Tesla?
- Thread starter Solar Windman
- Start date
Leafdriver333
Somewhat Active Member
joe.smith
Member
You've got a dark colored car (based on you profile picture). Have you used an inspection light to look for swirls? It's been said that this is a consequence of automatic car washes, so I'm curious to see if this has happened to you. For reference, I've only hand washed my car. After 3 years, it was time for me to reseal my paint and reapply my bumper PPF. During this process, I hadn't noticed any swirls on my vehicle.
joe.smith
Member
You've peeked my curiosity! What is a waterless car wash system? Is this concept similar to dry cleaning?
PianoAl
Active Member
I'm guessing he's referring to Optimum No Rinse.You've piqued my curiosity! What is a waterless car wash system? Is this concept similar to dry cleaning?
ONR is a rinseless wash -- still usually uses a bucket, but doesn't require a "hose"
waterless wash -- is taking a waterless wash product, and spraying it on the car and wiping it down gently.
ONR can be used as a waterless wash, and there are many other products out there. If the car is very dirty, don't do this in my opinion - waterless washes should be used as like a detail spray would -- "clean off the top of a clean car etc". if there is a lot of build up go with a contact wash in my opinion after a good pre-rinse, foam soak etc
Will say the pollen here is out of control in Atlanta, leave your car outside it's yellow, drive it, it gets yellow, leave it in the garage it gets yellow......
hosing it down with water almost makes it worse, the car becomes a magnet for more pollen
waterless wash -- is taking a waterless wash product, and spraying it on the car and wiping it down gently.
ONR can be used as a waterless wash, and there are many other products out there. If the car is very dirty, don't do this in my opinion - waterless washes should be used as like a detail spray would -- "clean off the top of a clean car etc". if there is a lot of build up go with a contact wash in my opinion after a good pre-rinse, foam soak etc
Will say the pollen here is out of control in Atlanta, leave your car outside it's yellow, drive it, it gets yellow, leave it in the garage it gets yellow......
hosing it down with water almost makes it worse, the car becomes a magnet for more pollen
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My car has 96k miles, I'm the original owner, and it's never gotten a "real" carwash or detail in it's whole life. Just drive through carwashes (with brushes). I generally don't pay attention to the condition of my paint and only wash when I'm meeting a client.
I just took a close look yesterday and the paint is pretty FUBAR. Scratches and swirls EVERYWHERE, lots of nicks, dings and rock chips. Took a clay bar to it and got a lot of crap out, but I think I might actually polish it for once.
I think I will treat my next car a little better
I just took a close look yesterday and the paint is pretty FUBAR. Scratches and swirls EVERYWHERE, lots of nicks, dings and rock chips. Took a clay bar to it and got a lot of crap out, but I think I might actually polish it for once.
I think I will treat my next car a little better
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I hand wash mine myself, two bucket method. I'm fortunate to live in a climate where that's possible year round. The only other car I hand washed throughout ownership was my wife's BLACK Audi TT, I didn't want to look at scratches and swirls every day. All our other cars were tunnel washed for the most part. The only reason I am hand washing the MY is the paint quality is reportedly not as good, soft and thickness variation. Who knows, in a few years I may just cave and go back to tunnel washes. I did examine a couple dozen Model Y's in parking lots before I bought mine, and none of them had alarmingly more stone chips, etc. than I expected - fingers crossed.
PianoAl
Active Member
Thanks for the correction.
Note that ONR can be used in the waterless way. I frequently do this when cleaning the back of the car:
1. Spray ONR liberally on a section of the car
2. Fold microfiber cloth three times, giving you eight surfaces.
3. Spray ONR on cloth and wipe in one direction across one part of the car.
4. Change to a different fold of the cloth and repeat step 3.
MikeRTX
Member
I've never heard of ONR until today, although I've seen references to no-rinse car wash before. I'd be reluctant to use it if the car was visibly dirty or there was a layer of "dirt scum" on the finish (you know, the layer of fine dirt that stays on even after a pressure wash).
As for automatic car washes, I've used them for years - until I got the Tesla. With it, I'm terrified to take it through those things, even with car wash mode. I'd hate for the wipers to come on, or the charge port to open, or whatever, while in the tunnel, and destroy stuff.
As for automatic car washes, I've used them for years - until I got the Tesla. With it, I'm terrified to take it through those things, even with car wash mode. I'd hate for the wipers to come on, or the charge port to open, or whatever, while in the tunnel, and destroy stuff.
My car has 96k miles, I'm the original owner, and it's never gotten a "real" carwash or detail in it's whole life. Just drive through carwashes (with brushes). I generally don't pay attention to the condition of my paint and only wash when I'm meeting a client.
I just took a close look yesterday and the paint is pretty FUBAR. Scratches and swirls EVERYWHERE, lots of nicks, dings and rock chips. Took a clay bar to it and got a lot of crap out, but I think I might actually polish it for once.
I think I will treat my next car a little better
yea, blacks a tough paint. looks great from far, then closer you look the more imperfections you see for sure.
You've peeked my curiosity! What is a waterless car wash system? Is this concept similar to dry cleaning?
Haha, not quite, but probably also less expensive than dry cleaning your car.
I use this one but many other manufacturers make them. I feel the key is that the car should be fairly clean if using this. That's why I usually pass it through a brushless car wash before actually cleaning it with the waterless wash kit: Elite Finish WashMist Waterless Wash Kit
It may not be as great as some of the other cleaning methods that others mentioned here, but if you can't wash in your driveway, you're a bit limited on what you can do. My cars still look great with this. I washed my previous M3P with this for 3 years and it still looked great when I returned it.
joe.smith
Member
CyberGus
Not Just a Member
I take my Cybertruck through the automatic car wash periodically.
I tried one time to hand-clean the windshield, but I needed a stepladder and it took 3 hours
I tried one time to hand-clean the windshield, but I needed a stepladder and it took 3 hours
CyberGus
Not Just a Member
I hand wash with a car mop that has a microfiber head. I clean the mop carefully after each use. Start with windows and top, then hood and top of doors. Finish with lower parts of car and back end.
I rinse with a hose that I use a carbon filter on. This filter removes all iron and other hard water elements and results in no water spots.
I dry with thick microfiber towels and then use Maguiars detail spray wax. I also use this on the windows. It is excellent.
I have not tried ceramics yet. Will have to read up on that and give it a try.
I rinse with a hose that I use a carbon filter on. This filter removes all iron and other hard water elements and results in no water spots.
I dry with thick microfiber towels and then use Maguiars detail spray wax. I also use this on the windows. It is excellent.
I have not tried ceramics yet. Will have to read up on that and give it a try.
evtifosi
Member
I do things a little different than has been listed.
Step 1: Spray car with foam gun and garden hose. I use either a good foaming car soap, or foaming DIY Detail Rinseless - let it dwell for a few minutes
Step 2: Rinse off the car with water
Step 3a: Spray car again with rinse-less in my foam gun - I put several mitts on the windshield to get them soaked with the wash solution.
or
Step 3b: Fill a bucket with a few gallons of rinse-less solution and toss in several wash mitts
Step 4: Use multiple mitts to contact wash the car - I use one for each section or panel. I have tried the various sponges for this but prefer wash mitts. Each dirty mitt goes into my to be washed bin
Step 5: Dry Car - I spray a ceramic boosting mist/drying aid on panels while drying.
For rinse-less I have used ONR for many years as well as Duragloss Rinseless Wash with Aquawax that is really nice - lately I have been using DIY Detail rinse-less which I like as well - it has a foaming action that is nice.
Our X is currently ceramic coated - our newer Model 3 has yet to be coated...that is on my spring to do list
Step 1: Spray car with foam gun and garden hose. I use either a good foaming car soap, or foaming DIY Detail Rinseless - let it dwell for a few minutes
Step 2: Rinse off the car with water
Step 3a: Spray car again with rinse-less in my foam gun - I put several mitts on the windshield to get them soaked with the wash solution.
or
Step 3b: Fill a bucket with a few gallons of rinse-less solution and toss in several wash mitts
Step 4: Use multiple mitts to contact wash the car - I use one for each section or panel. I have tried the various sponges for this but prefer wash mitts. Each dirty mitt goes into my to be washed bin
Step 5: Dry Car - I spray a ceramic boosting mist/drying aid on panels while drying.
For rinse-less I have used ONR for many years as well as Duragloss Rinseless Wash with Aquawax that is really nice - lately I have been using DIY Detail rinse-less which I like as well - it has a foaming action that is nice.
Our X is currently ceramic coated - our newer Model 3 has yet to be coated...that is on my spring to do list
Weekly routine:
1. Laser touch free wash, i am in a club $30 per month for unlimited daily washes, I have a spare front licence plate (Ohio decomissioned them 2022) that I hang on my x2 kid Subaru rear wipers to also get them free washes as wash reads plates (raised in Romania, old habits die hard).
2. Finish with a microfiber towel top, glass, hood, front, doors, back, spray Meguiar's glass cleaner over stubborn spots,
do wheels, then door sills, quad exhaust tips (gotya, of course on wife's Type S only, no quad appliques yet).
3. Interior glass with microfiber and above.
5. Meguiars detailer spray with microfiber.
6. Home central vacuum (suction that will lift your epidermis) interior, citrus flavored wipes over entire interior.
Twice yearly with seasonal tire changes:
1. Dual pail bucket coconut oil based shampoo x2, rub surface then rinse, repeat for each
surface, top to bottom. Throw away, repeat second wash.
2. Claybar. Adam's Garage LED inspect, fill chips, sand, prime/paint.
3. Eimann Fabrik synthetic wax, Porter Cable orbital polish.
4. Carnauba wax, microfiber polish.
1. Laser touch free wash, i am in a club $30 per month for unlimited daily washes, I have a spare front licence plate (Ohio decomissioned them 2022) that I hang on my x2 kid Subaru rear wipers to also get them free washes as wash reads plates (raised in Romania, old habits die hard).
2. Finish with a microfiber towel top, glass, hood, front, doors, back, spray Meguiar's glass cleaner over stubborn spots,
do wheels, then door sills, quad exhaust tips (gotya, of course on wife's Type S only, no quad appliques yet).
3. Interior glass with microfiber and above.
5. Meguiars detailer spray with microfiber.
6. Home central vacuum (suction that will lift your epidermis) interior, citrus flavored wipes over entire interior.
Twice yearly with seasonal tire changes:
1. Dual pail bucket coconut oil based shampoo x2, rub surface then rinse, repeat for each
surface, top to bottom. Throw away, repeat second wash.
2. Claybar. Adam's Garage LED inspect, fill chips, sand, prime/paint.
3. Eimann Fabrik synthetic wax, Porter Cable orbital polish.
4. Carnauba wax, microfiber polish.
Attachments
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what product are you using for step 5?
i'm always interested in exploring new ceramic sprays and drying aids. currently using beadmaker, but has a flaw that it has static issue which some times can attract dust etc.
