*** Car Wash / Valet / Detailing Thread ***

Touchless does help in removing the dirt/film that would get left behind if just jetwashing the car without it, esp once that paint starts to dry as the paint looks clean when its wet.

Touchless is abit expensive for me at their usage ratios to get the correct PIR of 2% I have to use around 220ml of solution topped up to 1 litre so 4 uses per litre. What I did realise is that I was able to do a van and small car before it ran out so now I use around 110ml topped up to 500ml and its fine for a mid sized car.

I might see how a citrus/tfr as its cheeper and see how it fairs esp on some cars where they dont get cleaned for a very long time or stop using the touchless on cars that are already scratched to ****.
 
Nabinium said:
Washing the car today and planning to use BH touchless too. Last time, I used it for the first time and did a contact wash after using it. I was also thinking whether just BH touchless was enough because when it comes to drying with a towel, wouldn't you be swirling the paint if you skip contact wash? As BH touchless doesn't remove 100% of the dirt.
Click to expand...

As above. I avoid touching it entirely. We live in a hard water area, so timing it with the rain does the rest (and when it’s cold in the winter you have a few hours grace period before it air dries anyway). Looks pretty clean today, but the paint is dark grey, so as long as most of the dirt is gone you’d be hard pressed to see what remains.
 
This time of year I wash one of our cars properly every two weeks. The car not getting a proper wash that week gets hit with touchless and rinsed off with filtered water. In fact both cars get rinsed off with filtered water to minimise my time out in the cold. I'm more than happy with the results of the touchless wash as 3 seconds later the car is covered in crap again.

The car I contact wash gets a spray coating with wetcoat which I've just started using instead of my usual quick beads. I have to say despite all the reviews wetcoat doesn't come close to quick beads other than cost. Gloss isn't as good and durability isn't quite there. I also get more streaks with wetcoat when allowing to air dry after a filtered water rinse off. I get none with quick beads. Maybe durability is better because wetcoat is spray on spray off and quick beads is spray on, leave for 30 seconds, spray off. Who knows, but I will be going back to quick beads.
 
My old Karcher K5.700 seems to be on its last few washes, I have repaired it twice but it is leaking again and needs bleeding even if I stop washing for a few minutes.

Are there any reasonable Karcher alternatives I should consider as replacement please?
I have an aftermarket 15 metre flexible non coil hose, trigger gun and foam cannon all with Karcher fittings so prefer to be able to use these with a new jet washer.

I think some of the Karchers now come with universal motors rather than the induction motors, does this impact real world use?
Induction seem to be favoured as less noise but are there any other benefits from induction motors?

Thank you for any feedback
Bintos
 
Bint Box said:
My old Karcher K5.700 seems to be on its last few washes, I have repaired it twice but it is leaking again and needs bleeding even if I stop washing for a few minutes.

Are there any reasonable Karcher alternatives I should consider as replacement please?
I have an aftermarket 15 metre flexible non coil hose, trigger gun and foam cannon all with Karcher fittings so prefer to be able to use these with a new jet washer.

I think some of the Karchers now come with universal motors rather than the induction motors, does this impact real world use?
Induction seem to be favoured as less noise but are there any other benefits from induction motors?

Thank you for any feedback
Bintos
Click to expand...

I’m now using an Ava pressure washer. Far better and it fits all the Karcher equipment.
 
Just had to buy some more Aqua Coat and the last few times I've just stuck with Gyeon. But the price for their 4L tub is like £75. :eek: So I've switched, and I'm going to try out Stjarnagloss Glatt instead. 5L cost me £45. So I gain an extra litre, and save £30!
 
What do you use on your tyres? for years I've used Meguirs Tyre Gel but I've never really liked the finish or the application.

Thinking maybe something I can brush one/spray and leave a nice black but not really glossy.
 
leoncuprar said:
Garage therapy tyre serum... Can't go wrong and after a few uses makes the tyres hydrophobic..
Click to expand...

Thanks, never heard of them to be honest but just had a quick looks and looks OK. Still requires an applicator sponge though so think I need to look for a decent one of those too.
 
Jase said:
Thanks, never heard of them to be honest but just had a quick looks and looks OK. Still requires an applicator sponge though so think I need to look for a decent one of those too.
Click to expand...
I just had an old sponge lying around that I cut up to the right size.. mine is getting done tomorrow hopefully.... Definitely need to apply a new coat of glass sealant.
 
Jase said:
What do you use on your tyres? for years I've used Meguirs Tyre Gel but I've never really liked the finish or the application.

Thinking maybe something I can brush one/spray and leave a nice black but not really glossy.
Click to expand...

CarPro Perl, great for all trims, can be diluted too (1:10 for me). None of that shiny back street garage junk lol

 
Last edited:
leoncuprar said:
Garage therapy tyre serum... Can't go wrong and after a few uses makes the tyres hydrophobic..
Click to expand...

This is what I use, I really like the matt finish it gives.

I have Perl too, never tired it on the tyres, will have to give it a go.
 
Last edited:
Jase said:
What do you use on your tyres? for years I've used Meguirs Tyre Gel but I've never really liked the finish or the application.

Thinking maybe something I can brush one/spray and leave a nice black but not really glossy.
Click to expand...

My favourite is CarPro Darkside with a sponge applicator.


Tyres need to be clean first, though.


Couple of options:


- APC like Surfex HD nice and strong at 20%
- Tar remover works really well to clean them up with an old microfibre cloth



Gtechniq tyre gel is alright too.




I like Perl but it only lasts a week or so for me with bad weather. Darkside lasts about a month.


Edit: does also depend on the tyre. I’ve never had great success with Michelin tyres and tyre gel, for example. It just goes shiny and tacky.

Goodyears seem to eat it though, and the tyres go nice and matte.
 
Last edited:
Bint Box said:
Thanks for you feedback.
Did you have to buy any adapters to get the Karcher fittings to work with the AVA or did they fit straight out of the box please?
Click to expand...

Most fit straight out the box.

Importantly, same snow foam adapter.


Extension lances can be a little funny where they aren’t quite snug and are loose.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom