How often do you wash your car ?

karankapoor · 28th April 2009, 18:20

@imortalz try and wash your car with ground water for six months and you will come to know

ImmortalZ · 28th April 2009, 20:46

Ah ha. Hard water is a different story. I see what you mean.

lamborghini · 29th April 2009, 10:02

In Mumbai, it is daily.
Out here in the States, it is once every two weeks, with a monthly shampoo and polish.

null · 29th April 2009, 12:14

I leave it to the mercy of the raingods to clean my car exteriors & underbody (water puddles).

Once every 6-8 months, I drive her to a nearby service station and get it pressure washed & vaccum cleaned.

Mostly, all days, my other god (my father) does try to clean it up before I leave home :P

delhi2009 · 3rd May 2009, 17:26

Hi All,

Since past 3-4 months, i've made it a habbit to have all my cars washed every month, even if they have done as low as 300km a month (my baleno did that on its last wash) and somehow i feel the cars feel a lot cleaner not to forget that i ensure they get polished every week as well and engine oil change is strict 5000km & Air/Oil Filter/Spark plugs every 10000 KM . I was just wondering if iam going over the line on these things and if there's any negative side to getting all this done so frequently ? Please share your thoughts about the same although as for me, i've always believed that you respect the car, the car respects you

And that has indeed come as a good average by my cars (Search for my other threads about my Accord's Average).

Thanks & God Bless !

R2D2 · 3rd May 2009, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by delhi2009

Hi All,

Since past 3-4 months, i've made it a habbit to have all my cars washed every month, even if they have done as low as 300km a month (my baleno did that on its last wash) and somehow i feel the cars feel a lot cleaner not to forget that i ensure they get polished every week as well and engine oil change is strict 5000km & Air/Oil Filter/Spark plugs every 10000 KM . I was just wondering if iam going over the line on these things and if there's any negative side to getting all this done so frequently ? Please share your thoughts about the same although as for me, i've always believed that you respect the car, the car respects you

And that has indeed come as a good average by my cars (Search for my other threads about my Accord's Average).

Thanks & God Bless !

Are you referring to a pressure wash at a washing facility or a normal manual wash? A monthly pressure wash will help during the rains. You can increase the frequency to 2-3 months during the dry season. Frequent pressure washing may prove detrimental to the electrical connectors/system in the engine bay unless you take pains to avoid those areas and parts.

I am meticulous with my maintenance and wash my car at least once in 10 days. Oil + filter replacements are done every 6 months or 10K kms whichever is first. I too feel that the car respects you if you respect it. You obviously maintain your cars well!

Cheers!

Thad E Ginathom · 3rd May 2009, 23:41

I'm confused, because you say you wash once a month, but polish once a week --- but you must wash a car before polishing!

I am not meticulous, and tend to wash my car when I can no longer see the colour!

hrag · 3rd May 2009, 23:45

You have made me very sad :-( My truck hasn't been washed for more than a month now..

My car & bike are lucky - they get washed everyday since they are in Madras :-)

delhi2009 · 4th May 2009, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I'm confused, because you say you wash once a month, but polish once a week --- but you must wash a car before polishing!

I am not meticulous, and tend to wash my car when I can no longer see the colour!

Its the pressure wash that is done every month, otherwise they are cleaned everyday and yes, i do take care to make sure the engine bay is washed in such a way that injectors and plug contact points etc. are not wet. So with nothing wrong being mentioned, i guess its a good thing afterall to keep the cars happy with these frequent washes

.

vinay.pillai · 28th July 2009, 01:41

What is the correct way to wash the car. Please advise

Gansan · 24th June 2010, 15:52

Guys, I need a clarification. I recently renewed my car insurance through MSM for which I was offered a free wheel rotation+alignment+balancing and a free wash. While renewing, I also accepted a platinum policy offered by MSM for an additional Rs 3200, under which the depreciation component in case of a claim will be borne by them. In addition, I can have a free car wash whenever I visit them, even once a week if I so wish.

Right now I am planning to use this facility at least once a month. Can I get the car washed even twice/thrice a month without any ill effects? I intend to have only an external wash - no engine bay washing, which I intend to do only once every three months.

But in spite of me telling them not to wash the engine bay as the engine will be in operating temperature - I drive there about 15 KM just for this wash and the car goes to the wash bay very quickly with no cooling time - they do it anyway as a matter of routine.

I even complained to the works manager but he says it does not matter and nothing will happen. Is this correct?

yzfrj · 24th June 2010, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gansan

Can I get the car washed even twice/thrice a month without any ill effects? I intend to have only an external wash

Even if the use "mineral water" to wash better to do it once a month.
Moisture will be there inside door and other hard to reach areas and in the salty chennai air its an easy recipe for "rust". Trust me I know from experience.

Quote:

I drive there about 15 KM just for this wash and the car goes to the wash bay very quickly with no cooling time

I'm not expert but I do agree with what you said. Common sense tells me that ain't gonna do any good. Will it be bad I don't know.

volkman10 · 29th June 2012, 08:00

Every alternate day (external) and daily in rainy days.
Every alternate week it gets an interior treatment.

Cheers!

dr_anurag · 29th June 2012, 12:35

Since I installed a black and decker pressure washing system in my garage, it is a pleasure washing at least 2 of my 3 cars every day ( external only). Internal vacuuming- once a month and engine bay washing only during servicing.

pjbiju · 29th June 2012, 13:48

I usually wash my car once a week. And it is usually done with one or two buckets of water (~20 to 40 liters). I also wash the car before any long drive. If the car is not having too much of dust, I can wash/wipe the car with 2-3 liters of water. I use the Jopasu duster to remove the dust and then use a synthetic chamois leather to wipe clean the car after spraying water on the car, one panel after another.

View Poll Results: How often do you think you need to wash your car ?
Once a week	97	48.50%
Once in a month	34	17.00%
Once in 3 months	7	3.50%
Every Service (6 months)	6	3.00%
Never	1	0.50%
Daily	55	27.50%
Voters: 200. You may not vote on this poll

28th April 2009, 18:20	#61
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,674 Thanked: 6 Times	@imortalz try and wash your car with ground water for six months and you will come to know
	() Thanks

28th April 2009, 20:46	#62
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 601 Times View My Garage	Ah ha. Hard water is a different story. I see what you mean.
	() Thanks

29th April 2009, 10:02	#63
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,166 Thanked: 5,937 Times View My Garage	In Mumbai, it is daily. Out here in the States, it is once every two weeks, with a monthly shampoo and polish.
	() Thanks

29th April 2009, 12:14	#64
null BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paradise (wish it was) Posts: 456 Thanked: 371 Times	I leave it to the mercy of the raingods to clean my car exteriors & underbody (water puddles). Once every 6-8 months, I drive her to a nearby service station and get it pressure washed & vaccum cleaned. Mostly, all days, my other god (my father) does try to clean it up before I leave home :P
	() Thanks

3rd May 2009, 17:26	#65
delhi2009 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 114 Thanked: 24 Times	Car Wash every month ? Anything wrong with it ? Hi All, Since past 3-4 months, i've made it a habbit to have all my cars washed every month, even if they have done as low as 300km a month (my baleno did that on its last wash) and somehow i feel the cars feel a lot cleaner not to forget that i ensure they get polished every week as well and engine oil change is strict 5000km & Air/Oil Filter/Spark plugs every 10000 KM . I was just wondering if iam going over the line on these things and if there's any negative side to getting all this done so frequently ? Please share your thoughts about the same although as for me, i've always believed that you respect the car, the car respects you And that has indeed come as a good average by my cars (Search for my other threads about my Accord's Average). Thanks & God Bless !
	() Thanks

3rd May 2009, 23:41	#67
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,443 Thanked: 30,028 Times	I'm confused, because you say you wash once a month, but polish once a week --- but you must wash a car before polishing! I am not meticulous, and tend to wash my car when I can no longer see the colour!
	() Thanks

3rd May 2009, 23:45	#68
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	You have made me very sad :-( My truck hasn't been washed for more than a month now.. My car & bike are lucky - they get washed everyday since they are in Madras :-) Last edited by hrag : 3rd May 2009 at 23:46.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 01:41	#70
vinay.pillai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Little Rock, US Posts: 229 Thanked: 15 Times View My Garage	What is the correct way to wash the car. Please advise
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 15:52	#71
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,631 Thanked: 5,949 Times	How often can a car be washed? Guys, I need a clarification. I recently renewed my car insurance through MSM for which I was offered a free wheel rotation+alignment+balancing and a free wash. While renewing, I also accepted a platinum policy offered by MSM for an additional Rs 3200, under which the depreciation component in case of a claim will be borne by them. In addition, I can have a free car wash whenever I visit them, even once a week if I so wish. Right now I am planning to use this facility at least once a month. Can I get the car washed even twice/thrice a month without any ill effects? I intend to have only an external wash - no engine bay washing, which I intend to do only once every three months. But in spite of me telling them not to wash the engine bay as the engine will be in operating temperature - I drive there about 15 KM just for this wash and the car goes to the wash bay very quickly with no cooling time - they do it anyway as a matter of routine. I even complained to the works manager but he says it does not matter and nothing will happen. Is this correct?
	() Thanks

29th June 2012, 08:00	#73
volkman10 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: -- Posts: 25,709 Thanked: 78,686 Times View My Garage	Re: How often do you wash your car ? Every alternate day (external) and daily in rainy days. Every alternate week it gets an interior treatment. Cheers!
	() Thanks

29th June 2012, 12:35	#74
dr_anurag BHPian Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bhopal Posts: 115 Thanked: 67 Times	Re: How often do you wash your car ? Since I installed a black and decker pressure washing system in my garage, it is a pleasure washing at least 2 of my 3 cars every day ( external only). Internal vacuuming- once a month and engine bay washing only during servicing.
	() Thanks

29th June 2012, 13:48	#75
pjbiju Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,380 Thanked: 1,134 Times	Re: How often do you wash your car ? I usually wash my car once a week. And it is usually done with one or two buckets of water (~20 to 40 liters). I also wash the car before any long drive. If the car is not having too much of dust, I can wash/wipe the car with 2-3 liters of water. I use the Jopasu duster to remove the dust and then use a synthetic chamois leather to wipe clean the car after spraying water on the car, one panel after another.
	() Thanks