Does a Car Wash Machine Damage the Car Paint?
2 Answers
Car wash machines do not damage the car paint. Currently, the fully automatic car wash machines available in the market use related programs to achieve automatic cleaning, waxing, drying, and wheel rim cleaning for vehicles. The brushes on the car wash machines are made of high-composite materials, which will not cause any harm to the car paint. Car paint has a certain thickness, and during regular maintenance, sometimes the car paint needs to be polished, removing a layer of the surface paint. Even if the vehicle gets scratched, as long as the primer is not damaged, the car paint can be relatively easily repaired. The car wash machine is mainly a machine that uses computer-controlled brushes and high-pressure water to automatically clean the car. It can be divided into automatic car wash machines, self-service car wash machines, and coin-operated car wash machines, mainly composed of a control system, circuits, air paths, water paths, and mechanical structures.
I often get asked by friends whether car washes can damage the paint. From my own experience, sometimes they can, but in most cases, as long as you do it right, it's completely fine. For example, when I use an automatic car wash, I pay special attention to the condition of the brushes. If the brushes are dirty or worn out, the trapped sand particles can leave tiny scratches on the paint. This is why I always remind myself to check the reputation of the service point before washing my car every week. Home-use pressure washers are more common, and I've noticed that if the water pressure is too strong or the nozzle is too close, the paint can get a bit dull, but it's not permanent damage. The key is to maintain a proper distance—I recommend keeping the water stream at least 30 cm away from the car body and using a gentle nozzle setting. Also, it's important to use car-specific cleaning agents instead of regular soap, as high-alkaline ingredients can corrode the paint. In the long run, combining regular waxing or ceramic coating with machine washing can actually save money and effort while keeping the paint shiny and new. In short, minor issues can be prevented and won't affect daily car use.
