One More Reason To Avoid Touch Free Washes!

[LEXIRX330]

:chairshot:

Two weeks ago my wife and I took her car to Ocean City...I decided to get the car washed first but the line at the car wash that usually go to was crazy...so anyway I decided to just go to one of the touch free washes which I rarely ever use. Her car was not that dirty, and I knew that the touch free wash would not do a great job...but I figured it would look better than it did. It seemed that it did an ok job.

Well last weekend I washed her car and it seemed like the touch free wash had baked the brake dust on the wheels. I scrubbed it with everything and it would not come off at all. I was pretty frustrated and I finally tried taking a cleaner wax to the wheels and it ended up coming off after about 20 - 30 min per wheel. I am done with the auto washes all now! I am pretty sure it was either the clear coat sealant or the wax that was used by the car wash...and since I did not get out and wipe off the wheels...there still was dirt and brake dust on them and just driving it to dry it off must have just sealed the brake dust and dirt on the wheels. I have never had this happen before.

Anybody ever have this happen before?

[TOGWT]

The wax product they used has sealed the brake dust / road debris on the surface, to make things worse sequestered metal brake dust, if left for any length of time on the wheels causes galvanic corrosion, which etches the surface and eventually dulls the wheel’s appearance if not removed on a regular basis.

For badly soiled surfaces use an undiluted d-limonene (citrus) based APC (P21S Total Auto Wash) let it dwell for 5-10 minutes and then use a double sided woven micro fibre towel, made to be safe and scratch-free for all finishes - http://poorboysworld.com/microfiber.htm do not use heavy pressure, then use detailer’s clay followed by a gel-type wheel surface cleaner (P21S Wheel Cleaner) apply a polymer surface protection to ensure easier future cleaning (Klasse All-In-One or ZoopSeal - http://www.autogeek.net

[LEXIRX330]

The wax product they used has sealed the brake dust / road debris on the surface, to make things worse sequestered metal brake dust, if left for any length of time on the wheels causes galvanic corrosion, which etches the surface and eventually dulls the wheel’s appearance if not removed on a regular basis.

For badly soiled surfaces use an undiluted d-limonene (citrus) based APC (P21S Total Auto Wash) let it dwell for 5-10 minutes and then use a double sided woven micro fibre towel, made to be safe and scratch-free for all finishes - http://poorboysworld.com/microfiber.htm do not use heavy pressure, then use detailer’s clay followed by a gel-type wheel surface cleaner (P21S Wheel Cleaner) apply a polymer surface protection to ensure easier future cleaning (Klasse All-In-One or ZoopSeal - http://www.autogeek.net

Thanks for the feedback. I did get it all off of the wheels...using some elbow grease...and cleaner wax. But it is just something that I would have preferred not to have to do at all if you know what I mean. Thanks again for your suggestions...

[SW03ES]

Weird, I've never had that happen and I use those washes from time to time...

[mburnickas]

Weird, I've never had that happen and I use those washes from time to time...

I also must say the same thing. I use them in the winters just to clean salt/sand off. No issues to date.

[SW03ES]

I did have one stain my clearcoat with its "clear coat polish", but that was an isolated case. I wouldn't so much see this as a reason to avoid them entirely, I'd just stop using this one.

[LEXIRX330]

I agree with you guys and I have used many of these washes also. All I can tell you is that the rims on the C230 are constantly covered in brake dust. What happened was that the brake dust was not cleaned off properly and the clear coat or wax product the use actually baked it on. I think that these washes are ok for the occasional rinse off...but I would, and will wipe down the wheels if nothing else from now on. I mean I scrubbed it with everything I could think of...broke out the MEAN GREEN, used Meguirs wheel cleaner...it would not even lighting it up. I first thought that something had got on the wheel...then I looked and the other was the same way. The cleaner was actually took it off but it was a time consuming process...that I do not want to repeat!

[Rx330driver]

err my rims are covered in that black drip stains. i havent really taken the time to clean them, nor do i have the means to. but i figured it was just wear and tear (somebody posted a thread about this a month back). i dont think it has anything to do with these touch free washes, but i cant say for sure.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...=38936&st=0