should i run my car through a car wash ?

**lgbalfa** · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 01:36 AM

my car is filthy but it it's too cold to hand wash it.

i have never taken it through an automatic car wash.

what are your thoughts?

not good for the top?

just be patient and wait until the weather gets warm and just hand wash it then?

thanks.

AllthingsZagato · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 01:39 AM

Never, ever use a car wash. There is too much chance of fine grit/dirt damaging the relatively soft paint

andytitterton · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 03:54 AM

As an obvious Alfa enthusiast with 1370 posts, surely you should know the chemical formula below:

ALFA + H20 = Serious wiring problems and/or corrosion soon

Garry-Graig · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 04:32 AM

I have taken mine a couple of times,not a good experience.

**Dolce86** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:22 AM

It'll be way above freezing today. Duck out in between the rain and break out the hose.

73gtv · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:37 AM

If the side window sealing is the same as on my old 71 [glass to fabric] you will have a very wet interior when the high pressure water comes in from the sides.

**Geezer** · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73gtv

If the side window sealing is the same as on my old 71 [glass to fabric] you will have a very wet interior when the high pressure water comes in from the sides.

**Zunige** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:06 AM

If your car is all original, which means the top is OEM and therefore the fit is perfect, you won't have any problems going through a car wash. I used to do it many years ago, long before I realized that one day there wouldn't be any more Spiders in the U.S. The most water I ever got in was a bit of a dribble around the vent window gasket. It was easy to catch and dry with a chamois.

Today however, I don't take any of the Spiders through an automated car wash, but this is also because they stay clean year round. If they get dusty, I use a duster (like a "California Duster"). Another great alternative is to use a waterless wash. You literally spray and wipe. I'm very partial to the Poorboy's products. You'll find some good info on this in the thread "Southeast (and Elsewhere?) Drought Car Wash Tips".

Last, I know two places that will hand wash your car that are close to me, in northern NJ (across the Lincoln Tunnel). One is a brushless automatic wash outfit. There really are no brushes, so people apply the soap and then the machine sprays more soap and water and rinses with water, and finally people dry it by hand. The car still goes through a tunnel and it's still a fast (but very good) wash, so prices are no different than other automatic wash services, starting at $8 (plus tips). This place will also hand wash and "detail" your car for $35 (it's not like a high end detail, but still good value). The other outfit is a detail shop. Their full detail is a truly professional job so it's pricey, but they also have a wash and wax, for which they charge $40. I have used and will vouch for both places. Based on the amount of time they invest in your car, you really get more than your money's worth.

Best regards,

**lgbalfa** · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zunige

If your car is all original, which means the top is OEM and therefore the fit is perfect, you won't have any problems going through a car wash. I used to do it many years ago, long before I realized that one day there wouldn't be any more Spiders in the U.S. The most water I ever got in was a bit of a dribble around the vent window gasket. It was easy to catch and dry with a chamois.

Today however, I don't take any of the Spiders through an automated car wash, but this is also because they stay clean year round. If they get dusty, I use a duster (like a "California Duster"). Another great alternative is to use a waterless wash. You literally spray and wipe. I'm very partial to the Poorboy's products. You'll find some good info on this in the thread "Southeast (and Elsewhere?) Drought Car Wash Tips".

Last, I know two places that will hand wash your car that are close to me, in northern NJ (across the Lincoln Tunnel). One is a brushless automatic wash outfit. There really are no brushes, so people apply the soap and then the machine sprays more soap and water and rinses with water, and finally people dry it by hand. The car still goes through a tunnel and it's still a fast (but very good) wash, so prices are no different than other automatic wash services, starting at $8 (plus tips). This place will also hand wash and "detail" your car for $35 (it's not like a high end detail, but still good value). The other outfit is a detail shop. Their full detail is a truly professional job so it's pricey, but they also have a wash and wax, for which they charge $40. I have used and will vouch for both places. Based on the amount of time they invest in your car, you really get more than your money's worth.

Best regards,

usatrade · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 09:12 AM

Umpteen light years ago, when I workef for Alfa Romeo we HAD to keep our cars spotless to visit dealers or prospective dealers. i was upstate NY in Buffalo, it was freezing. I went to an automatic car wash. there was a cadillac convertible in front of me so I thought my yello spider could go to. So i did. no probs (the car was new !) but the drying tunnel was not enough and I looked good 15 minutes later with a frozen top !
Luckily the dealer (to be) let me put the car in his garage to defrost the top !
Claude

the_sicilian · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 11:14 AM

i use jet-water to wash my vehicle, and then look to see where it leaks , and then work to stop those leaks. on both my hardtop and soft, i can take any amount of water and the most i get is that slight dribble at the vent window.

one key is to remove the door-skins and adjust your window to raise higher. (its in the factory hardtop instructions, but it works great for the softtop as well).

the spider is an ingenious water-management setup. instead of trying to stop water from doing its thing, the spider was engineered to CONTROL ITS FLOW. (an example ive used when trying to explain IT and National Security strategies with my geeky flight-sim friends, actually) so watch what the spider does with its water.

the top was meant to leak. its surrounded by a hidden channel about two-inches wide that flows the water to the two middle tubes and out from behind the doors. also a set channel water through the trunk (hidden area) to the rear wheel-wells. and the same is setup for the front wiper valance.

under your door-skins you will see that also the doors were meant to allow water to flow through them as well. INCLUDING THE VENT WINDOWS. theres a small hole there as well for flow. and there should be a sheet of vinyl draping it all from door skins. (i would use shower-drapes and cut em up for this if theyre not there) and flow water out the middle of the door.

the ultimate and hard-to-source is the surrounding valance rubber. especially on the sides in those slim channels on each side of the wipers to the trunk. anyone know where i can find those or the hood's lateral valance-rubber?