The danger of car washes
So what’s the answer? The car wash, of course. With the endless array of jet-washes or the drive-throughs, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the ultimate wash and wax. No slopping around with a bucket and sponge. No bending or contorting to get into those hard-to-wash places. And for those over 50s drivers amongst us, that’s always a plus.
The high-pressure jet-wash
The jet-wash is fun, as long as you don’t get tangled up in those the snake-like hoses. But there seems to be a darker, dare we say, dirtier side to the apparently squeaky clean image of the jet-wash.
It appears that AA patrols have attended several breakdowns, which have apparently been caused by using high-pressure washers to get the car’s engine as shiny on the inside, as it is on the outside. It seems that the high pressure of the jet forces water where it shouldn’t really be. The result: unexplained electrical problems or fascia warning lights coming on when there’s really nothing wrong at all.
Washing the bodywork this way can have its own set of problems, too. Water can find its way through door rubbers and bodywork seals. AA patrols have also come across cases where water has been found in CD changer units and even worse, in on-board computers, causing chaos and seriously expensive damage.
The automated drive-through
Before you put your token in the slot, or key in your code, take a second or two to think what you’re about to do. The bristles used on the rollers in most automated car washes are made from hard plastic (much like bristles on a broom). The high-speed action of the rollers can have a rather nasty effect on your car’s paintwork, if you use a car wash repeatedly, over a long period of time.
It also appears that some older automated car washes actually recycle water. So, unless they desalinise the water too, you’re basically washing your car in second hand road salt. Not a good idea.