What Gear Should You Use in an Automatic Car Wash?
1 Answers
Automatic car washes require the vehicle to be in neutral or N gear. Drive in using D gear, come to a complete stop, press the brake, shift to N gear, then release the brake. This is because automatic car wash systems use conveyor chains that will pull the vehicle forward when it's in neutral. Here are precautions for automatic car washes: Avoid washing under intense sunlight; refrain from washing in extremely cold weather; only use soft water (avoid hot water, alkaline water, or high-hardness water); do not randomly add detergents. Avoid washing under intense sunlight as rapid water evaporation may leave dried water spot marks on the vehicle surface. Refrain from washing in extremely cold weather as brush bristles may freeze and water pipes could rupture. Only use soft water - avoid hot water, alkaline water, or high-hardness water. These substances can damage the paint surface, leaving stains and film residue after drying. Do not randomly add detergents. While stubborn stains like asphalt, oil, bird droppings, or insect residue may require special attention, never use laundry detergent, scouring powder, or low-quality soap as these alkaline cleaners can strip protective oils from the paint and accelerate aging.