Car Washes

I’d say no but you’ve only given me the tire size not the rim width. If this tire is on a 9 inch wide rim, No. On a 7.5 inch wide rim, I’d say it would probably work.

Inside the wheel the size is usually cast or stamped in the wheel. 19J x 7,5 ET 43 for example where 19 is the diameter, 7.5 is the rim width and ET43 is the offset.

Look closely at the wheel and tire. Does the rubber stick out farther than the rim? By at least 3/4 inch? Probably OK. If the metal of the wheel is any closer to the tire, the wheel will ride along the rail and not the tire. You can imagine for yourself how that would turn out! :open_mouth:

Exactly! I see a lot of professional detaliers using dish washing soap instead of the costly prep chemical to completely remove the old wax layer before buffing and waxing. Even professional bodypainters use this cost effective method to prep the paint before painting a car.Prep cost $50 a gallon and dishwashing soap cost a few cents.Waxes containing silicone is the worst ennemy of a car painter.

I will check, Mustang.

Mustang, I can only find 3 letters on the rim, and they look l like “JiL”

The numbers are on the back side most likely. You will have to remove the wheel to see them.

Eh, I’ll take my chances then :slight_smile:

I live down a dirt road. Car washes are pointless for me. I let the rain water take care of my car wash.

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The accuracy of that statement depends entirely on the dish soap being used.
I used Ivory Liquid for years, and it does not strip wax. But I would not use a dish soap with “lemon scent” in it. I suspect that contains a small amount of citrus oils, and those can b e acidic.

The harsher the washing experience, the cleaner the exterior gets, but the harder it is on the wax job. And the wax job protects the paint. I’m willing to live with an imperfect wash and preserve the wax job. So most of the time I just hose the car off with plain water when it looks a little muddy or dusty. Once or twice a week, just as I’m leaving so it will air dry. If I have time I’ll wipe it off with some cotton towels to avoid hard water spots. Every month or two or when it is looking particularly grimy, I’ll wash it with a bucket of warm mildly soapy water and a sponge.

When I lived in Colorado in the wintertime I used a pressure wand type of self service car wash, focusing on keeping the wheel wells and sills washed free of road salt. That’s really critical in areas where they use salt on the road, otherwise you’ll end up with a serious rust problem.

Wax? How would wax get on a car?

Is this a trick question? … lol … What I do is go to Walmart, buy some car wax, and apply it.

I don’t like car washes since they are hard on the paint and tend to strip the wax but I use the touchless in the winter in Minnesota. In the Spring, Summer, and Fall, I hand wash in the driveway.

I hand wash in my driveway for the first ten years of ownership. Wax a few times a year. After ten years might take to a no touch place for $4.99; Wife takes her car to a hand wash place that is relatively decent at $8; I wax it for her once in an while.

For the record, years ago on this forum we had a debate about whether or not dishwashing soap strips the wax off. So I ran a test. Using a sample piece of metal, I waxed half and let it cure. I then washed the piece repeatedly and aggressively using Ivory dishwashing liquid. It did not strip the wax off at all.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t know if dishwashing liquids that use citrus oils (“lemon scent”) would be so kind. I suspect not.

Solvents derived from citrus sources remove lots of organic materials. These solvents are likely part of the citrus scent component.

“lemon scent” is marketing speak. It can (and probably does) mean nothing at all. About on a par with the different colors dish soap comes in.

I was funnin’: I don’t wax my pickup. I waxed my parents’ for years when I was a minor - it didn’t take.

I always read that for stripping the wax, Dawn detergent is the way to go. Now I have asked my wife to wash the pans with Dawn.

You don’t wax your pick up? I even wax my lawn mower, dryer, washer, and stove. Doesn’t everyone?

Sure, we do…you’re fine…fine…now…just…relax…

;-]