Auto washing

[the_GUNN_man]

I have always thought that if you have DI water that you do not need to dry off the cars. Is this true? Around here they don't use soap on the cars they just come in and spray them off. The dealers wash the cars themselves if they get real dirty. They just want you to come in once a week and rinse the dust off with no spots left behind. I thought DI water was a spot free rinse. I was thinking about getting into washing cars. I would prefer to keep it to a one man crew. I thought that would be possible if I didn't need to dry them if DI water was used.

 

[Max_rob]

that was what I was thinking also GUNN

 

[mattn]

With a DI system, you can get away with only spraying off the cars every once in a while. You still have to go back and touch them up because the water alone will not get all the dirt and dust off the vehicle. It's all about the chamois.. If you have a good one, you'll be able to do a ton of cars per hour..

 

[paul-uk]

geat info mattn

you have definatly put a different spin on washing cars matt...
no soap! no di machine! just hot water and a chamios..bring it on

you have sparked a interest in me now and thanks for that.

can you tell me how do you break in a new chamois...did'nt know you had to ??.

and to save another post what tip/pressure do you use please.

cheers paul.

 

[mattn]

Glad to hear that paul

One more thing.. You use COLD water.. hot water is never necessary for washing dealership vechiles (cars, trucks, vans) save that for the big greasy 18 wheelers

As for breaking in a chamois..

Chamois work best once they have been broken in or (simply put) used to dry about 3-400 cars. When they are brand new, and you try to dry a car, they will stick to the car and not work as effectively. We simply pressure was the hell out of em for a few minutes until they are not as sticky as they were. Sometimes we even wrap em around a pole and pull on it to stretch it out. A good chamois (and I cannot stress more - a Water Sprite brand 5 cu. ft. chamois is the absolute best chamois for the job) As far as I know..

We use a Honda 13hp 3600 PSI pressure washer for the job, with the pressure turned down to about 2000 PSI. You do not need a lot of PSI to wash cars. Adjust the pressure and see what is comfortable (and effective) for yourself. Also, we use a 25 degree tip. (The green one I believe)

Hope this helps.

 

[paul-uk]

hope this helps..

sure does matt.......thanks for the heads up on the water sprite
i am getting steve to send me a x-jet over after xmas and i will see if he can source me a couple of those chamios and throw them in the box aswell.

cheers paul.

 

[bsamuel77]

Car wash technique?

I've been reading all sorts of posts about what to use, what not to use, etc.

Does anyone know how best to rinse down a car and then dry using a chamois?

Any bit of information will help. Of course I want to be as efficient as possible. Thanks!