Tunnel car washes, often called drive-through washes, are automated systems where vehicles move on a conveyor belt through a series of cleaning stages. A drive through car wash is a quick and convenient way to clean your vehicle. Gone are the days when we’d need to spend precious weekend hours hand-washing our cars. Now, all it takes is a short drive into an automated tunnel, and we can have our cars cleaned and shining in minutes.
Types of Drive-Through Car Wash
Several types of drive-through or “drive-thru” car washes are available. You’ll recognize these automatic car washes by the washing methods: touchless or friction. Also, they can either be in-bay or tunnel designs. For example:
Touchless
A touchless drive-through car wash or brushless car wash doesn’t use cleaning equipment like cloths or brushes. Instead, high-pressure water jets, detergents, and foam cleaners are used to clean your vehicle.
Friction
This is what’s known as a soft cloth car wash or a “brush” car wash. The cleaning equipment physically touches your car, creating friction to remove dirt and grime from the exterior, wheels, etc.
Tunnel
You drive onto a conveyor belt, which takes you through the wash tunnel. As you’re pulled through the tunnel, the cleaning takes place. For example, high-pressure water jets, cloth strips, or brushes will wash your vehicle before you head to the rinsing and drying section.
In-Bay
You park in a cleaning bay, and the equipment (like a tunnel car wash) passes over and moves around your vehicle to clean it.
While not strictly a drive-through, a self-service car wash allows you to drive into a bay and use manual wash equipment (such as pressure washers, brushes, and soap dispensers). Then there’s the full-service car wash, where you use the drive-through facilities to wash your car exterior. Once the wash is complete, you exit the drive-thru and head to where the car wash employees will complete your full-service package, such as interior detailing and engine cleaning.
The Convenience of Drive-Through Car Washes
Time-saving Benefits
In our fast-paced world, convenience is king. A drive-thru car wash offers a simple solution for busy individuals who can’t afford to spend a lot of time cleaning their vehicles. Within minutes, your car is cleaned, from roof to rims, saving you not only time but also energy.
Ease and Convenience
Aside from being quick, tunnel washes are designed for ease. You don’t need any specialized knowledge or physical effort to get your car washed. All you need to do is drive into the entrance, select your preferred wash option, and let the automated system do its job.
Even better, a lot of these car washes are in convenient locations, near gas stations or shopping plazas. Making it just a minor detour from a place you may already be!
How Drive-Through Car Washes Operate
The process begins when a vehicle enters the wash tunnel. As the car advances, a series of cleaning steps occur. These include pre-wash, soap application, brush agitation, high-pressure wash, rinse, drying, and optional waxing. Each step is controlled by sensors to ensure the right amount of water, pressure, and detergent is used.
Equipment in Drive-Through Car Washes
Brushes, Sprayers, Dryers
The heart of a drive-through car wash lies in its cleaning equipment.
High-pressure sprayers apply cleaning solutions to your vehicle, dislodging dirt and grime from all surfaces. Soft cloth brushes then scrub your vehicle gently but thoroughly, ensuring no spot is missed.
Finally, powerful dryers blow off the water, leaving your vehicle dry and shiny.
Track System
A track or conveyor system is what vehicles will travel on through the car wash and all of its stages. Once they reach the end, they will slowly exit the track system and drive forward out of the car wash.
Payment Station
A modern drive-thru car wash often uses automated payment stations. Here, you can choose the type of wash you want for your vehicle and make the payment.
These stations accept a variety of payment methods, including cash, credit cards, and even contactless payments, for your convenience.
Chemicals Used in Drive-Through Car Washes
The Cleaning Agents
Car washes utilize a range of cleaning chemicals to effectively remove dirt and grime. These include pre-soak solutions, detergents, and rinse aids. These cleaning agents are designed to be tough on dirt but gentle on your car’s paintwork, ensuring a clean vehicle without any damage.
Waxing Solutions
After cleaning, some car washes offer waxing services. The waxing solutions applied provide a shiny finish and add a layer of protection to your vehicle’s paint. It helps in preserving your car’s appearance and can make future cleaning easier by preventing dirt and grime from sticking to your car’s surface.
Drying Agents
As a final step, a drying agent is applied to the vehicle’s surface to help in wicking all the water residue off the surface.
This works especially well with dryers as it helps to push water away from the car.
The wax and drying agent steps are usually not found in the basic wash package and are usually used to encourage consumers to upgrade.
Tips for First-Time Drive-Through Car Wash Users
Preparing for the Car Wash
Before entering a drive-thru car wash, ensure your windows and sunroof are closed, retract your antenna, and fold in your side mirrors. Remember to remove any external attachments that could be damaged during the wash.
During the Wash
Follow the instructions given at the car wash. Typically, you’ll be asked to put your car in neutral, take your hands off the steering wheel, and refrain from applying brakes. The automated conveyor system will guide your vehicle through the wash tunnel.
After the Wash
Once your vehicle exits the wash tunnel, ensure it’s thoroughly dried before driving off. Most car washes have powerful dryers, but you may want to use a towel for any leftover water droplets. Take advantage of the vacuum stations if available, for a thorough interior clean.
Are Drive Through Car Washes Bad?
Are drive through car washes bad for your vehicle paintwork, and what about the environment? Naturally, you might be concerned about using automatic equipment at a drive thru. Here are some pros and cons:
Pros
- It’s super quick! An in-bay or tunnel drive through is a quick and convenient way to wash your car. Depending on the package, you can have a clean car in 5 minutes.
- Easy to use. Just follow the instructions and enter the car wash. Moreover, you don’t need to exit your vehicle – just sit back and let the equipment and cleaning solutions do the work.
- Good availability. There are a lot of drive-thru car washes in the world. For example, many gas stations have them, and so do shopping centers. You can also find them as a 24 hour car wash, or stand-alone car businesses offering flex car wash options, where you get more than an exterior express wash.
Cons
- Do drive through car washes scratch your car? It depends on the equipment. Soft touch or “friction” car washes use materials that are supposed to be gentle on the vehicle’s surface. However, there’s still a risk of scratching, particularly if the brushes or cloths collect dirt and are not well-maintained.
- Even touchless drive-throughs are not perfect. Pressurized jets of water and powerful detergents are sometimes not enough to remove grime and dirt. If your car is very dirty, it will need more than a 5-minute wash. For instance, a do-it-yourself car wash gives you more control over the cleaning process for superior results.
- If car washes don’t treat the water properly, traces of salt and toxic chemicals can build up in the water. As a result, these substances can end up on your car and may eventually cause paint damage and rust. Also, traditional car washes use lots of water. Allowing contaminated water to enter the environment isn’t great for ecosystems and public health. See our post on are car washes bad for your car?
How Much Is a Drive Through Car Wash: Prices and Packages
How much is a drive-through car wash costs depends on where you go and what you request. For example, some drive-through car washes specialize in features like undercarriage cleaning, waxing, or polishing. Add-ons to the basic wash are priced in a higher-tier package. Here is a rough guide:
- Basic wash: $10-$15 for a wash, high-pressure rinse, and heated drying.
- Wash and wheel polish: $20-$25 for a wash, wheel polish, and underbody rinse.
- Wash and wax: $30 for an exterior wash and protective wax treatment.
- Interior clean: From $30 for 10-15 minutes, including vacuuming and cleaning interior surfaces.
Note that many places offer special deals and loyalty programs for regular customers. For example, you might get unlimited basic drive-thru washes for $30 monthly. The price depends on your location and the size of the facility.
Conclusion
A drive-through car wash is an option if you like the speed and convenience of an express wash without leaving the comfort of your vehicle. Some facilities use cloths or brushes to scrub your car exterior, while others use touchless designs that only need high-pressure water jets and detergents to clean your vehicle. The key is to seek a reputable car wash that regularly maintains its equipment. Otherwise, you risk paintwork scratches. Also, shop around for deals and discounts to get value for money.
Equally important, make sure the car wash operator complies with environmental regulations and minimizes water consumption.
