Canadians/Cold Weather Americans...are you washing your car?

[themanfromvlad]

I got my Versa a week ago, it's filthy now, but it's -25 Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) outside. Can I wash my car? Or should I wait until the mercury rises to above freezing. I've read that it's better to leave a frozen car frozen.

[Ever Victorious]

I'm not in the deep deep freeze that you are in, but I generally only wash my car once during the winter, and that's usually on the warmest day I can find (around here, that's about 48F in the winter).

Then I wait until March to wash it again, and will do so regularly until about October or November. Usually I make it a point to wax my car shortly before I stop washing it for the winter.

[sixdgrees]

I'm in the same situation. My V is filthy at the moment but it's been really cold here in Toronto. I've decided to hold off on washing it for a couple of reasons... 1) because it's so cold and I've heard the same thing about not washing your car when it's this cold, and 2) because it'll be just as filthy in a week if our weather continues. As soon as it gets to above freezing again I'll give it a run through the car wash.... until then it'll remain filthy..... just like every other car on the road these days!

[TweeKeer]

my Versa just got a dealer wash...aah the benefits :P

[versainchicago]

My versa is filthy as well, but I have no plans to wash it until it gets warmer-- at least above freezing.

[Slither]

I've had my V almost 5 months. It's been washed once in mid-Deceber by the dealer at the first lube.

My previous car I think I washed it 3 times in the first year. It went back gleaming at the end of the lease with no rust and no after factory rustproofing.

[CodeRed]

i live in florida, sucks to be you guys i can wash my car year round altho it dose get really hot in a black car in the mid day sun =\

[ilusha55]

I usually wash my V in the coldest day. Why? Because there s not slush on the roads so it stays cleaner a lot longer. Car stays in heated garage.

[7speed]

Brilliant....I'd go with that plan, but I don't have a garage, let alone a heated one. I've never washed my V....oh yeah, that's right, I'm still waiting...

I don't wash my VW in the winter either, it's already rusted (not critically), and it just needs to last until I finish school.

[motoguy128]

below 10 degrees you'll have some trouble with the doors freezing and any undried water freezing on the car.

I'd just let it go. Getting the salt and dirt wet and then letting it refreeze in the nooks and crannies of the door panels etc. might make any ocrroision worse.

I'd just wait. It won't hurt anything. Worst case, a good cleaner wax and polish will take out any minor scratches

[Cowboys Fan 87]

I've had my V almost 5 months. It's been washed once in mid-Deceber by the dealer at the first lube.

My previous car I think I washed it 3 times in the first year. It went back gleaming at the end of the lease with no rust and no after factory rustproofing.

Wait, wait, wait......You mean you have to WASH these things??

[XterraVersa]

I washed mine last week when it was below freezing to get all the salt off. But it lives in a garage at night. It han't got below freezing yet in the garage.

[GoodbyeCavalier]

I wait till around 40 degs, unfortanetly were in a cold snap with no sign of any relief THIS DAMNED GLOBAL WARMING IS FREEZING US ALL!!!

[Bubs daddy]

Washed it the other day. Been 70's all week.

[OKVersa]

I have the Magnetic Gray....It does NOT show dirt like some colors!

[Versalicious]

I wash my V every time I fill the gas tank... Once a month or so... Not once have the doors frozen shut and it gets the BAD GTA salt off of her! I feel it's only better in the long run.

[stevenjb]

When I lived in the Mid-West (USA) - during the winter I would wash the car - exterior and under-body (includes wheel wells) about once a month due to road salts.

[BBISHOPPCM]

I live in frigid NH and have been washing my car regularly. Self-service wash bays up here use heated water in the winter. I pay close attention to the wheel wells, behind the rear bumper, engine bay (salt discolors aluminum engine parts and rots radiators), front bumper support, and rocker panels. Cars can last for decades even in new england if they are washed regularly.

[Jemdawg]

I usually wash my car once a week in warm weather, but in the winter I extend that to two weeks. If it's below freezing, I just use warm water and I wash the car section by section, starting with the roof. The dirt on my car isn't doing any harm because I have about 4 coats of wax on the car, but I like to keep my car clean.

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

I wash my versa at least once a week.I wait till its warm(anything over 32 deg.f)I usually do it durring mid day when the sun is out and dry the door jambs and seals/lube seals with silicone spray.Also...................I get it polished every three months.then right after the polish job,i also get it waxed with at least 2 coats.remember every time you wash your car a little wax is stripped.the polish actually takes a little wax off and cleans up the surface(shines)then when you use wax it seals and protects the shine!soo i conclude if you wash alot like me,you better get it polished and waxed at least every 3 months!looks like the showroom shine!!

[versa6spd]

hey i gotta a white v and it sucks to drive round and look like crap! so ya i wash my V every other week. I'm in chicago and the salt is horrendous here! but it also sits in a garage!