Will a touch car wash scratch the body panels?

[oisiaa]

I'm not super particular with cars. I've put my 2018 Model 3 through a touch car wash probably 30 times and...upon close examination there are scratches in the paint. It doesn't bother me much.

Will the stainless steel body panels get scratched badly if I go through a car wash? I've only had the truck for a week and really don't want to scratch it up this soon if I can help it.

 

[tmeyer3]

The Cybertruck is wider than I like for those huge brush things, they'll knock your mirrors around. Most of the soaps, degreasers, wax, etc that they use do absolutely nothing for stainless steel. So I just do a basic touchless laser wash for $4 every so often. Comes out perfect every time and it's much cheaper.

 

[oisiaa]

I don't have a touchless car wash where I live.

 

[cybercoffee]

what's the latest on whether or not a touchless car wash will brick your car? any reason why there were initial reports of such?

 

[Woodrick]

I'm not super particular with cars. I've put my 2018 Model 3 through a touch car wash probably 30 times and...upon close examination there are scratches in the paint. It doesn't bother me much.

Will the stainless steel body panels get scratched badly if I go through a car wash? I've only had the truck for a week and really don't want to scratch it up this soon if I can help it.

A touch car wash probably won't cause any issues, but if a dirty/gritty vehicle has gong in it before you, it very possibly may have some dirt and grit still stuck on the pads and they may indeed scratch. your vehicle.

 

[Woodrick]

what's the latest on whether or not a touchless car wash will brick your car? any reason why there were initial reports of such?

AFAIK, 1 vehicle had problems probably not related to the car wash, but that doesn't sound good on YouTube.

 

[Polen]

I use the car wash on a regular basis. I bought into the monthly payment of the car wash and I can go anytime I want to and this is the car wash with the big Spinny brushes. It works great and removes all the fingerprints. Sometimes I’ll power wash my wheels, fender-wells and bugs off the front with my home power washer system, then immediately go to the car wash and drive-through and then use their towels, vacuum, compressed air to detail the Cybertruck.

 

[Polen]

Additionally, I get the basic standard car wash that doesn’t have the tire shine or ceramic coating so don’t get the ultimate car wash.

 

[cybertruckwaldo]

Yes even handwashing will scratch it. From my experience it’s the drying that introduced scratches. I have had the service center remove some bad scratches from a handwash.

I pressure wash 1st. Then foam it down. Pressure wash the soap off. Foam again then hand wash and rinse using the 2 bucket method.

I stop using plush towels to dry. Those can trap dirt that will scratch when using. I switched to waffle towels to dry and it’s been much better.

 

[jameskk]

I have run mine through an automatic touch car wash a few times and so has someone else I know. Just make sure to put vehicle into Car Wash Mode and fold the mirrors. Lately I have been allowing mine to get dirty because it gives it a Matt finish. The semi-shine returns when it is cleaned. Very interesting how the finish differs and I love it.

 

[brur]

I'm not super particular with cars. I've put my 2018 Model 3 through a touch car wash probably 30 times and...upon close examination there are scratches in the paint. It doesn't bother me much.

Will the stainless steel body panels get scratched badly if I go through a car wash? I've only had the truck for a week and really don't want to scratch it up this soon if I can help it.

I don't think there is anything a carwash can throw at the CT that will bother it.

 

[El_Dorado_Stables CT]

I'm not super particular with cars. I've put my 2018 Model 3 through a touch car wash probably 30 times and...upon close examination there are scratches in the paint. It doesn't bother me much.

Will the stainless steel body panels get scratched badly if I go through a car wash? I've only had the truck for a week and really don't want to scratch it up this soon if I can help it.

I live 2 blocks from the Tesla dealership and 3 blocks from the state-of-the-air car wash businesses. I took my CT to the car wash and told them about brushless and not to do the tires and they were already aware because they said “we get all the Cars from the Tesla dealership”….they said to get the cheapest sign-up monthly service ($19 for unlimited car washes). Said if I wanted team to entire interior it would be $15 for that on the days I’d like it done….well, worth it—have you seen all that windshield glass area? Lol.

I did go to this same car wash business closer to my work and although the ENTIRE staff came out to help with the CT they had no prior knowledge of what to do with the CT, so I explained it to them. I still prefer to go to car wash near my house because they get CTs all the time there and figure if there’s poor trend results in the future they’ll be aware of it first.

 

[jonesw67]

I take mine through a touchless car wash and just take the basic option … power wash, spotless rinse and power dry. I just drive off after and car is spotless (apart from a few stubborn bugs on the front panel big catcher)

 

[Big Easy]

I take mine through a regular brushed car wash once or twice a week (my truck is 3 months old). Does a great job and haven't had any issues with scratches. Gets ride of all of the fingerprints and most of the bug stains.

 

[Woodrick]

I don't think there is anything a carwash can throw at the CT that will bother it.

Trust me, they can.

If I remember correctly there was some YouTuber who early on took it to a touch car wash and one of the brushes broke loose on the truck.

No, it wasn't the trucks fault, and no it wasn't normal operation.

But it was headlines for a YouTuber.