safe temp for washing?

[JenBug]

I don't have a garage or anything, so hand washing is not an option, but it's been really snowy/cold here lately, and there is salt just caked on my Beetle...how warm should it be to get it washed? I just hate to see it the way it is...it's about 27* here today so is that warm enough to do a car wash? I know water freezes at 32* so no smart comments about the laws of freezing water - I just want to know how to get this salt off of it safely! Thanks!

[JetPuf]

I'd take it to an auto car wash, preferably one that's touchless. I generally wash my car any time of the year, aslong as it's above 32... yes, i've washed it at 33 :-P

Pretty much, if the water wont freeze, it's fair game for washing.

[noR]

I've never been in those crazy freezing temp regions so I may be wrong. But as long as you're not using HOT water; you should be able to hose it down w/some cool water to melt/dissolve/whatever.

But honestly; I dunno if it would do any damage or not; I wouldn't think so. [as warm as it is now anyway & using luke warm or cool water]

[boblamb58]

Warmish soapy water, warm rinse and dry as soon as you can. No matter how fast you go, in freezing weather you're still gonna get some frosting. But getting off the salt will still make the car look better.

Be careful how much you get into the door jam, especially around the weatherstripping.. you don't want it to freeze in there. It'll make the door(s) stick shut.

[BluMeanie]

Well, my boyfriend has been professionally detailing for over 5 years. They wash cars outside ALL year round. I really have no other answer than that. He is very good at what he does and wouldnt wash a car in such cold temps if he knew it would ruin the paint. He just did his own car yesterday and is was something like 15* out. And trust me, he wouldnt do anything to hurt his baby!

[JenBug]

We have a great detailing place near my apartment - expensive but I think I might just go there and let them take care of my baby - the detailing is done inside so perhaps it's heated?

[BluMeanie]

Im sure it is heated. That would suck if those guys had to clean cars in a cold shop all day!

[Dragonspirit12]

I know it was said previously but I just wanted to say it again dont use hot water unless you want new windows

[Mortville]

I echo the dragon's comment! I had to replace the windshield on my beetle because THE DEALERSHIP took it inside to wash it before giving it to me after it had been sitting outside overnight...I now know better.

[JenBug]

Well it snowed another two inches last night here so the washing is gonna have to wait...I hear it's gonna be 40* in the next week so that will be when I go!

[kellyshair]

i washed mine yesterday .. it was 27 degrees..burrrrrrr

yeh that and the water happens to freeze up as you are washing

[Dorado]

It depends also on how cold the vehicle itself is. If the car has been sitting outside in sub-freezing weather and you take it into a carwash, there will be more freezing going on.

Last night, our bug's driver door lock froze up after it was taken into a carwash. You could not close the door because the mechanism was fool of frozen water. The solution was to leave the door open in a heated garage, spray in some WD40 into the lock and wait 10 minutes.

We spray the key lock with powdered graphite lube every now and then, but the freeze still happened. The temps were around 10F outside when this happened.

[No Slug]

I don't hand wash outside below 37 but I use the hand spray car washes. I found one that's heated and the door closes but it's always busy so I go about 8:30 - 9pm. Keep the spray away from door handles, locks and gas cover. When done, open the doors, trunk and gas lid and dry all the rubber and contact points completely.

Later, Rich

[Autopia]

Mix up a bucket of car wash with warm water.(for your hands more then anything else)
Once you have washed and rinsed the car, wipe the door sills where the weatherstripping is so the doors don't freeze shut(Don't ask how I know that)