Flash Car Wash System

Vendee

I've been watching this thread with interest but I'm going to have to speak up and say something controversial. I've had the Flash system for over a year and I have to say I think its over-rated. I didn't pay a lot for it but even so, I think it was a waste of money.

You still have to go over the car with a sponge or wash mit to get the dirt off so the shampoo applicator isn't particularly useful. The biggest potential benefit is the drying system but I don't think it works particularly well. You have to rinse the car carefully with the filtered water, making sure that the non-filtered water already on the car is displaced. The idea is that the filtered water will not leave any water marks on the car when it drys. I admit that it works to some extent but its not perfect.

I find that because of the extra time spent carefully rinsing the car, and the less than perefect finish, its just as quick to go over the car with a chamois and get a proper finish. Just my tuppence worth

laticsforlife

I disagree.

I find it easier to concentrate on smaller areas and do the whole process on that area b4 moving on.

So I do the bonnet area with water, then suds (and sponge) then rinse off, then ionised water rinse, then move on.

I don't have to keep moving a bucket of hot suds around, and can do the car quicker than b4.

What I do find is it dirties your sponge completely, which is off-putting, and I'm damned if I can tell when the cartridge turns brown from black during use.

As for the bottles you get with the starter pack, they are just that, a 3-wash starter pack.

I think the drying carts will last longer than the shampoo bottles, I don't think you'll get 10 washes from the shampoo, but I've not measured it.

Pipcola

Vendee wrote: »

I've been watching this thread with interest but I'm going to have to speak up and say something controversial. I've had the Flash system for over a year and I have to say I think its over-rated. I didn't pay a lot for it but even so, I think it was a waste of money.

You still have to go over the car with a sponge or wash mit to get the dirt off so the shampoo applicator isn't particularly useful. The biggest potential benefit is the drying system but I don't think it works particularly well. You have to rinse the car carefully with the filtered water, making sure that the non-filtered water already on the car is displaced. The idea is that the filtered water will not leave any water marks on the car when it drys. I admit that it works to some extent but its not perfect.

I find that because of the extra time spent carefully rinsing the car, and the less than perefect finish, its just as quick to go over the car with a chamois and get a proper finish. Just my tuppence worth

My thoughts also. I have used the Flash system on a couple of ocassions not that impressed.
For what it is worth I try to wash my car either whilst it is raining or shorly after. Using a couple of soft sponges impregnated with Stardrops - unfortunately not available everwhere.

If available I rinse with rainwater and dry with Microfibre towels - bought from Costco about 8GBP for 24 - which have proved better than chamois. Not a statement I thought I would ever make being rather traditional.

Little_John

The only stuff I have found that removes dirt without having to rub/scrub is meguiars hot rims wheel cleaner, spray it on and leave for 60 econds then rinse it off it removes break dust really well. not perfect so i use a brush on the wheels but I wouldnt use the stuff on paint. I dont even use a sponge lambswool washmit is the way to go. I have used micfofibres to dry and they are good but you need a few to do a whole car one of the best things I found are waffle weave towels, they soak up loads of water and dont scratch the paint/clearcoat.

the only intrest I have in the flash system is to use as a foam gun opposed to buying a jetwash or a gimour foam gun.

DAMNOME

I thought it said on the instructions to use as sponge with it though?

waj1234

Pipcola wrote: »

My thoughts also. I have used the Flash system on a couple of ocassions not that impressed.
For what it is worth I try to wash my car either whilst it is raining or shorly after. Using a couple of soft sponges impregnated with Stardrops - unfortunately not available everwhere.

Stardrops like most household detergents contain salt and are the worse thing possible to use to was a car as modern paints and salt just do not go which is why the british winter takes it's toll what with all the grit on the roads.

Little_John

I decided that at £6 I can have a play so I went and got one and the soap doesnt build up a foam from the unit so it is no good for what I want. I am now looking for a preasure washer and a foam gun, what I should have bought in the first place.

I will try out the deionised water filter for rinseing though it may work

mrs_T

I bought a nearly new black car 2 weeks ago, all nice and shiny from the dealership. However every edge/crevice now seems to have hard white chalky deposit on it/in it even though i've taken it through IMO (sacrilege I know). I think this is the residue from the garages car polish but washing it has just made it worse. Maybe I should invest in the flash kit since I have an instore in my town?

Vendee

The white residue, as you suggest is left over car polish. Black cars are prone to this. Some polish is worse than others in this respect. I know that Autoglym polish always leaves a white deposit on black cars. For a review of various polishes, look here:- http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/207997/car_polish.html The Flash washing system won't make your problem any better or worse.

Little_John

The white residue is paint cleaners or polish, wax doesnt leave a residue.

you need to get a microfibre cloth and buff the marks off in the crevases I usually fold the cloth over and stuff it down the gap if I can move or open a body panel like the door or bonnet. it is very easy on paint work. on black plastics its a !!!!!! to shift, even back to black and other similar producst dont work. I use meguiars nxt interior cleaner and it gets shut of it everytime.