my car is dirty as hell from a road trip. i was wondering about an automated car wash at a gas station, but thinking about the hood vent. will it still be okay to wash car. sounds stupid but bare with a newb. thanks........

 

Well most people on here will tell you that they NEVER go to one of those, including myself...but as far as the vent, it'll probably be ok

 

It is alright but highly unadvisable. Do you not realize the damage to your paint that those automated carwashes can do? As far as your hood vent it won't do any damage.

 

Always handwash your car with a clean mitt.

 

Went through one once because we had water restrictions in south florida.Didnt do anything wrong other than maybe some swirlies which I wouldnt notice anyway because my car was used.No major water got under the hood.Keep in mind many automated washes are totally different.This was at BP.There are brush free automated washes which use pressure sprayers.Thats a better option.

 

I've gone through a car wash a few times only in the winter to get the saltoff and the only problem i had was the front plate getting bent.

 

Go to one of those wash it yourself places, they are cheaper than the automated car wash and usually turns out better. as for the vent. If it were bad for water to go through the vent, then why would they have manufactured it like that?

 

Defintely the touchless automatic washers are a go...once in a while you might want to handwash just do get stuff that the pressure washers don't

 

Don't do it man. One car wash ripped off a quarter panel on my BMW 325is. Then, one of them caused a bad sunroof leak on my brand new '04 SVT Focus. Ford couldn't fix it for a year. So , I traded for the Evo, and hand wash / wax everytime.

 

That is a pretty damn good point...didn't think about that one...pretty rare...but still a good point

 

To answer your question, no the carwash wont do any damage to the hood vent. But it will definitely damage your paint.

 

All this talk about carwashing has motivated me to go wash my car. Of course I hand wash it. I have a whole shelf in my garage full of car washing items.

 

I took my car thru one of them touchless car washes and probably wouldn't do it again unless I was desperate. The high pressure streams shooting into your hood vent wasn't a pleasant experience. That's just me though.

 

i use the automatic car wash by my house 2 to 3 times a week. haven't had any problems with the hood vent.

i only use it though because it is TOUCH FREE. i don't go within 30 yards of the car washes with the brushes. haha.

 

as long as its touch free ull be fine, brushes = bad news