Defenders and Car Washes?

[Gascoigne]

Just been at Straddie all weekend for the first time in my (new) secondhand '99 Defender (woo-hoo).

Awesome vehicle, even scared all the fish away!

I gave it what I thought was a good wash down last night, in the dark, but in the light of day (and with no time to spare) have noticed a few persistent patches of sand around the chassis. Won't have a another chance to get a hose to it for a few days and was wondering if it might be the go to have someone put it through a carwash for me?

Anyone had any problems putting their Defender/Disco through a carwash?

Cheers

Gascoigne

[Omaroo]

I've fgound that drive-through carwash places give a crappy result with a vehicle shaped like the Defender. Too many nooks & crannies are missed - especially around the rear.

I'd go to Car Lovers and use their spray booth pressure washers to get into the rear bar area with a bit of pressure - and give it a jolly good soaking.

Wot!

[solmanic]

If you're short on time sometimes you just have to pay someone to do it properly for you. In addition, there's something I like about a highly polished Defender around town.

My rule is if it's in town - keep it clean, if it's not, keep it dirty.

[DiscoTDI]

You will never get all the sand out, its there for life:cool:

[Ace]

As DiscoTdi said you will never get all the sand out, no matter how hard you try there is always some left. But i am with Omaroo on this one get into car lovers and give it a good going over both on top and underneath with their pressure washers thats the best for getting most off. Matt

[George130]

Never tried with mine. I know its to tall for most carparks and drive throughs so also avoided car washes.

[Ace]

You need to remember to that 4wd's arent often car wash friendly because of aerials, spotties and roof racks. Matt

[VladTepes]

I've always cleaned mine myself as I have to put large volumes of water with my STAUn massojet pressure spray nozzle thingy through the chassis rails to wash out all the sand, or at the very least all the salt. That would cost a bit at a car lovers !

However here in Brissie we will soon have "no hose" water restrictions so Car Lovers is going to make a killing.

[mr_sav]

I avoid the drive throughs with the County, though the Rangie never minded them. With the County I go to the do it yourself's like over here in Adelaide they are everywhere. Whale and etc. They have the broom washes and high pressure - along with degreaser if you want it. Just keep the high pressure of the eyebrows and reasonably distant from the painted body. But as underneath -go for it.

[solmanic]

However here in Brissie we will soon have "no hose" water restrictions so Car Lovers is going to make a killing.

We should all have water tanks anyway - the wife would say for watering the garden, but I guess we would all have another preferred use...