[Jeffo]

I know, I know. One should always hand wash one's Prius. But let's suppose you need, once in a while, to take it to an automatic car wash. Any caveats for both stay-in and get-out types of facilities?

 

[mrfredsporty]

carwashes

i dont trust a regular car wash where they drive the car. however the drive it yourself types are ok as long as you remember not to get flustered and forget how to put in neutral!. no problem otherwise unless you are clostrofobic. "smiley" has been thru the local drive it yourself wash many many time with no problem although i find i have to push my mirroros in and sometimes remember to unscrew my antenna
fred in nashville and "smiley" 04 black prius

 

[Saruman]

Personal Observations and advice, based on the AVOID GRIT theme:

1. Self-serve high power hose, foaming brush, coin operated. These are fine if you don't mind drying off afterwards, scrubbing the mats at home, and AVOID AT ALL COSTS the brush. I have watched pickups coated in mud use the brush, and you just know there is grit in that thing just waitiing to carve your clearcoat. You will not have time to get the bugs off the front unless you pump huge $$ of coins.

2. Drive thru spinning plastic dervish thing. These, as stated above, can carry grit from somebody else to you. They miss lots of areas, damage aerials and mirrors, and are often out of various soaps and "waxes" without warning. Anytime a business has 5 or more signs saying they will not pay for damage, leave.

3. New multi-head high power hose drive thru. I like these for routine washes since they don't have the grit problem- at least if the filtration system get out all the sand.

4. Hand wash places. Over-priced and require a lot of monitoring to make sure they don't cut corners. OK if you need it pretty clean and lack time.

5. Hand wash at home with a hose and bucket. The best, but its hard work and takes time.

6. Mr Clean hose attachment. My mom LOVES this for her PT Cruiser showcar, as it leaves no rinsewater spots. I have not tried it.

I prefer to CAREFULLY REMOVE BUGS and road tar with the mildest soap and a fingernail. This avoids grinding grit into clearcoat by scrubbing. I ALWAYS apply a new coat of NuFinish to the front bonnet, bumper, and lenses where the bugs are the worst- it makes popping them off easier.

Always wash with carwash soap (not dishwasher liquid) and take your time, rinsing off as mucg sand as possible before starting in with the rag or sponge. Work from the top down, so the dirtiest(grittiest) areas get washed last and no grit is carried up the side of the car.

Use lots of warm water and a big bucket so teh grit falls to the bottom off your sponge.

Be wary of bird doo. It contains grit and can act as an abrasive if scubbed.

 

[av_in_bc]

about those high pressure hose types that's what i use, easy no touch fast and cheap but what about that vent on the rear driver side. how careful do you have to be not to get water in there?

 

[BIF]

Turtle-Wax makes a very good bug-remover. You spray it on, let it sit, then gently wipe. Repeat as necessary. Use light fingernail as previously discussed, and lots of patience.

Oh yeah, you do the bug-remover stuff after you wash. Don't scrub too hard, it's just frustrating and counter-productive.

 

[MUGlover]

Mobil gas stations have a good touchless you-drive car wash. It was very effective the first day I had my Prius (Saturday), when I put 350 miles of bugs on it (half a tank remaining!).

The cleaning prevented my Prius from becoming a smorgasbord for neighborhood yellow jackets looking for something to eat.

I found it necessary to gently pre-clean the windshield, headlights, side mirror backs, front license plate and bumper with the gas station's moderately rough side of the squeegee. Not recommended if anything is cracked or torn on the squeegee.

 

[hyperion]

Prius is a normal car. Treat it so. Not necessary to change your years of accumulated experiance.

 

[AgentElrond]

6. Mr Clean hose attachment. My mom LOVES this for her PT Cruiser showcar, as it leaves no rinsewater spots.

I'll second that (i.e. works as advertised). Currently appears to be carried by both Target and Wal-Mart locally.