Moon roofs and car washes
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Moon roofs and car washes
Okay, so my lovely blue truck is getting a bit dusty in this horrid Texas drought, and in the past I have been a big fan of running through a touchless car wash for a quick rinse. However, my last truck did not have a moon roof, and I gave no thought to the water jets being so close to the top of the truck. Now that I do have a mr, I have not been brave enough to give one a try, worrying that it may cause it to leak. I know I'm speaking to (for the most part) purists here, but does anyone else cheat like me and use a touchless wash once in a while? Should I be worried about leaks?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX
Okay, so my lovely blue truck is getting a bit dusty in this horrid Texas drought, and in the past I have been a big fan of running through a touchless car wash for a quick rinse. However, my last truck did not have a moon roof, and I gave no thought to the water jets being so close to the top of the truck. Now that I do have a mr, I have not been brave enough to give one a try, worrying that it may cause it to leak. I know I'm speaking to (for the most part) purists here, but does anyone else cheat like me and use a touchless wash once in a while? Should I be worried about leaks?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
I woudln't sweat it at all. My 2006 went through numerous car washes over it's 4 years of service with me and never a leak. This 2011 has been a few times with no issues either. Even if water did leak past the outer seal there is a drain built into the roof to handle any leakage. If that drain gets plugged up then you are in trouble, but that shouldn't be an issue unless you leave the roof open at a time where leaves and such could get in there to cause a problem.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
The other car wash option around here is the one with the hand drying, etc., but they still run it through an automatic wash that has the long blue spinning things. I don't trust that not to scratch it. I typically do this on my lunch break, which is why I am shying away form the do it yourself washes - I'll get too wet.
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX
The other car wash option around here is the one with the hand drying, etc., but they still run it through an automatic wash that has the long blue spinning things. I don't trust that not to scratch it. I typically do this on my lunch break, which is why I am shying away form the do it yourself washes - I'll get too wet.
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
I woudln't sweat it at all. My 2006 went through numerous car washes over it's 4 years of service with me and never a leak. This 2011 has been a few times with no issues either. Even if water did leak past the outer seal there is a drain built into the roof to handle any leakage. If that drain gets plugged up then you are in trouble, but that shouldn't be an issue unless you leave the roof open at a time where leaves and such could get in there to cause a problem.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Like I said, the one I use has spinning foam brushes - almost like giant sponges. Also applies wax, tire shine, and high pressure rinse. At the end, it has a jet dry the gets almost all the water beads off the truck. Comes out looking better than it did off the lot. I get nervous with the hand wash unless its me doing it. If the automatic part misses any dirt (which it will), the people hand drying just smear it all over.
in the meantime, maybe I need to take a closer look at what the manned car wash has for brushes - they may be similar and non-scratchy.
Dang, whoever thought keeping her clean would pose such a challenge? I bought my last truck used, so it was far past the first scratch and I didn't worry about the finish all that much. This one, I'm being a bit paranoid about.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX
Right now the closest Bucees is in Luling (the original), but one is scheduled to be built in NB next year. Definitely looking forward to that, hopefully they'll have a car wash there too!
in the meantime, maybe I need to take a closer look at what the manned car wash has for brushes - they may be similar and non-scratchy.
Dang, whoever thought keeping her clean would pose such a challenge? I bought my last truck used, so it was far past the first scratch and I didn't worry about the finish all that much. This one, I'm being a bit paranoid about.
in the meantime, maybe I need to take a closer look at what the manned car wash has for brushes - they may be similar and non-scratchy.
Dang, whoever thought keeping her clean would pose such a challenge? I bought my last truck used, so it was far past the first scratch and I didn't worry about the finish all that much. This one, I'm being a bit paranoid about.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Huh. I filled up there a couple of weeks ago, had an occasion to be in Luling and stopped by to see what they had that I couldn't live without. I did not know it was 10% biodiesel, don't remember (but didn't really look) seeing a sign or anything. I don't think it hurt my mpg's, but they have been creeping up with the last two tankfuls. Interesting.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
The other car wash option around here is the one with the hand drying, etc., but they still run it through an automatic wash that has the long blue spinning things. I don't trust that not to scratch it. I typically do this on my lunch break, which is why I am shying away form the do it yourself washes - I'll get too wet.
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
May just have to wait for the weekend, but man, it's killing me to see her so dusty!
Automatic car washes are hard on the paint. The touchless ones aren't to bad in a pinch, but because they require no brushes, the detergents are harsh and strip wax in no time. The "soft" foam strips or brushes that contact your paint contain the dirt of every other vehicle they washed before yours and rub that grit all around on your paint, which definitely induces those fine spider swirls I made mention of in another post.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
Having the dark blue doesn't help a bit. Kinda like the black. Heck, white trucks were easier to keep clean. My last two trucks were white. I just spent the last five days boondockin and four wheelin. The gravel road to get there is crushed limestone. White limestone. And it was freshly bladed. Very dusty. All over my dark blue paint. Sure is nice to get away and hide in the Black Hills, though.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Having the dark blue doesn't help a bit. Kinda like the black. Heck, white trucks were easier to keep clean. My last two trucks were white. I just spent the last five days boondockin and four wheelin. The gravel road to get there is crushed limestone. White limestone. And it was freshly bladed. Very dusty. All over my dark blue paint. Sure is nice to get away and hide in the Black Hills, though.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Okay, so my lovely blue truck is getting a bit dusty in this horrid Texas drought, and in the past I have been a big fan of running through a touchless car wash for a quick rinse. However, my last truck did not have a moon roof, and I gave no thought to the water jets being so close to the top of the truck. Now that I do have a mr, I have not been brave enough to give one a try, worrying that it may cause it to leak. I know I'm speaking to (for the most part) purists here, but does anyone else cheat like me and use a touchless wash once in a while? Should I be worried about leaks?
I also went to the "hand spray wand" type washes and had a few drips on my back seat....have not been able to figure out where those came from (maybe the 3rd brake light), but that did not happen in the touchless wash.
It's annoying, but unfortunately I am kind of used to it as my f150 would leak everywhere; moonroof, brake light, lots of water.
