hand car wash problems

markdoesfez

Thanks for replies. Car is dark blue, 2 years old and metallic. Looks like lacquer layer affected as streaks and possibly water marks on bonnet and some side panels. Would pressure washer do that?

d0nkeyk0ng

Probably need pictures.

The clearcoat layer shouldn't be damaged by pressure washing alone. I pressure wash my car weekly and have done so for the last eight years. What will cause it to occur is if the lance is too close and catches an edge of clearcoat where there was pre-existing damage and this then starts to peel.

Harsh chemicals might also damage the clearcoat.

Alternatively the clearcoat may have already been failing if it was poorly applied at the factory. If the car is only two years old, the paintwork should have lasted without damage - have you considered going back to where you bought your car from?

motorguy

EdGasket wrote: »

It could be the car wash if they used a powerful jet spray.

Extremely unlikely. If its just the top clearcoat layer, its most likely a problem with the original application of the lacquer over the paint.

almillar

2 year old car that can't cope with a car wash? I'd be back to where you bought the car, in absence of any proof that incorrect products were used.

stator

I once took all the lacquer off my Ford Fiesta using a pressure washer. Gave it a lovely matt finished instead of gloss.It was already a bangar though so I didn't worry about it.
So yes, it's definitely possible if you hold the nozzle too close to the car

lincroft1710

Did anyone see the demonstration of that pressure washer on Top Gear last night

forgotmyname

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Did anyone see the demonstration of that pressure washer on Top Gear last night

You watch Top Gear? :eek:

photome

As I mentioned earlier I have seen the top coat takenn off a car by a pressure washer by one of these car wash outfits. There was no damage to the car prior to that

Norman_Castle

forgotmyname wrote: »

You watch Top Gear? :eek:

I tried the new series hoping it would improve without !!!!!! Evans. it didn't.

motorguy

stator wrote: »

I once took all the lacquer off my Ford Fiesta using a pressure washer. Gave it a lovely matt finished instead of gloss.It was already a bangar though so I didn't worry about it.
So yes, it's definitely possible if you hold the nozzle too close to the car

That was a degradation of the paint that caused that, not the pressure washer.