Is touchless wash harmful to my 2011 EX35 ?

[muggslab]

I've been reading a lot of mixed comments regarding this. I'm planning to take my 5 day old EX35 for a wash, thanks to the rain on the second day ..
In the past, I usually take my old G35 to ESSO Touchless wash.

I'm really concerned about the acidity of the soap used by ESSO. Will that do any harm to my EX, especially since I have the clearcoat on it that heals itself from minor scratches ? Some people are claiming that ESSO uses really low ph so that it can be washed away with the water, while others have claimed that it doesn't do much harm to the car.

Any inputs from you guys here ? I'm living in Toronto, Canada... not sure if US has the same ESSO/EXXON touchless wash tho.

[EXceptional]

Its debatable whether your Car even has the Self-healing Paint, since many sources have said that its been discontinued.

Then there's others that say its written on the Car's Option-sheet, therefore it must have it.

I only wash my Car by hand, so the issue of what kind of Toxins exist in the Wash-water, is not a concern.

Some people are claiming that ESSO uses really low ph so that it can be washed away with the water, while others have claimed that it doesn't do much harm to the car.

Who are these people, you speak of ?

[muggslab]

I read those comments on RFD and other local forums .. I googled "Esso touchless wash" + "Acidic" and was able to read some other forums.. although they are not infiniti forums.

I live in a condo so its impossible for me to do hand wash in my underground parking

its either leaving my EX dirty, paying $20+ for hand wash at a nearby place, or free Esso touchless wash with my points..

[muggslab]

Its debatable whether your Car even has the Self-healing Paint, since many sources have said that its been discontinued.

Then there's others that say its written on the Car's Option-sheet, therefore it must have it.

Yeah I asked the dealer about this, and he said Infiniti did some changes to the technology and had brought it back on the 2011 models !

[Tasman]

It is still debatable. My dealer said they stopped using it when the 2011 models came out. Too bad nobody the salespeople at the Infiniti dealerships can't get this straight.

[muggslab]

so, coming back to the topic... regardless of the self healing tech... will the touchless esso wash damage our car ? I couldn't be bothered on my G35, since it was old.. and was silver.. I hated silver..

[XIS]

I doubt it will damage anything... but after you get her washed, zaino that puppy a few times / few coats and you will be very happy.

[Tasman]

I wouldn't worry about it either. I also had a silver G35 and actually took it through a regular car wash in the last few years that I owned it and it survived just fine. I did zaino it religiously in the first few years. A real PITA to go through the full treatment but it felt like polished glass and a great shine. The car even smelled great. I believe that keeping the vehicle waxed and the plastics/rubber protected with a high quality product will more than offset any issue with the soap used in the esso car wash.

[canuck99]

I don't think you'll see damage going through the occasional touchfree car wash....

Having said that, they have to use chemicals to get ur car clean since there's no abrasion like you'd get with a wash mitt....

I've seen a lot more damage done to cars via poor wash technique vs a touchfree car wash. i.e. NEVER (EVER) let the dealer wash your car.

[XIS]

.... i.e. NEVER (EVER) let the dealer wash your car.

Amen to that!!!