Can tsx w/ icebox -> Auto Car Wash?

fanbanlo · 06-09-2009, 02:39 PM

I'm afraid the underbody spray would spray water into the intake.

Have any of you guys with icebox installed went to automatic car wash station?

audioserf · 06-09-2009, 02:55 PM

Not going to happen. There is ample under-body plastic preventing any sprayed water from going into your intake.

I would recommend against using an automatic car wash for the sake of your clearcoat + paint, however. Those things are dreadful.

CoopEuroR · 06-09-2009, 03:01 PM

get a bucket, a hose, a sponge, some good soap, n get to work

edit: oh and dont forget the SHAMWOOOOWWWW!

wong05tsx · 06-09-2009, 03:16 PM

I'm gonna go ahead and say yes (just so that you don't take your car to the auto car wash)

fanbanlo · 06-09-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wong05tsx

I'm gonna go ahead and say yes (just so that you don't take your car to the auto car wash)

lol.. but I've heard somewhere that automatic car wash actually save water!

but now I'm worried if it'll kill my engine... yikes.

wong05tsx · 06-09-2009, 03:27 PM

If you want to be green and save water, look into optimum no rinse wash (But if your car is really caked up, you'll have to do a tradional wash with a hose)

Auto car washs will do more damage to your paint than good

sortudo7 · 06-09-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioserf

Not going to happen. There is ample under-body plastic preventing any sprayed water from going into your intake.

I would recommend against using an automatic car wash for the sake of your clearcoat + paint, however. Those things are dreadful.

Your car will be fine from getting water in it. If you look underneath and see all the coverings everywhere it will be very hard for water to get in there. Usually ppl who have stuff like hydrolocking is because they hit massive puddles that canoes go in and their CAI sucks it up lol. The Icebox isn't as low as a CAI so that's even better for you.

Autocarwash saving water...not really sure. It isn't worth the overall affects to your car though IMO. High pressure water is fine but what's killer are those huge things flying around and slapping the hell out of your car. The car washes don't clean those off so if someone goes in there with a filthy car and then you go in after the left over dirt and grime particles that get trapped in there will then be slapped about on your paint. They use basic soap too, nothing special. I would just do a full wash yourself since you will be a lot more cautious and you can trust your work. Also, those things don't always completely clean your car to begin with, you can see streaks, scratches and still spots of dirty areas after.

TSX_WS · 06-09-2009, 03:39 PM

In order to get hydrolocking to happen, u have to drive so that water would get into the air filter box from underneath. Then it (filter) would have to be soaked in water. Then u would have to open the throttle wide enough for the air to move the water up into the intake manifold and then make it run up the narrow intake runners into the cylinders. I drove without intake resonator in heavy (and I do mean heavy) rain and behind the other cars which produced a mist of water. I was at ~2k rpms and nothing happened.

To sum up then, chances are between 0 and 0.5% that hydrolocking will happen.

wong05tsx · 06-09-2009, 03:40 PM

IMO the worst part is the things start to spin on your car before even the sprayers even get to lubricate your paint with the soap/water. so it's basically dragging dirt... and it isn't until after all the dirt is dragged off that the lube even gets to it - by then, all the damage is already done.

fanbanlo · 06-09-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSX_WS

In order to get hydrolocking to happen, u have to drive so that water would get into the air filter box from underneath. Then it would have to be soaked in water. Then u would have to open the throttle wide enough for the air to move the water up into the intake manifold and then make it run up the narrow intake runners into the cylinders. I drove without intake resonator in heavy (and I do mean heavy) rain and behind the other cars which produced a mist of water. I was at ~2k rpms and nothing happened.

To sum up then, chances are between 0 and 0.5% that hydrolocking will happen.

but... automatic carwash has jets that shoot water from underneath to clean the underbody!

so... would it be safer if I turn off the engine during the wash?

TSX_WS · 06-09-2009, 04:15 PM

^ Even then the water has to travel a long way and be sucked by a stream of air. No offense, but your fear is purely psychological, so yes, turn off the engine to make yourself feel better and secure

code85 · 06-09-2009, 04:24 PM

Dont worry about hydrolocking in auto car wash... I do it all the time during the winter and I'm still fine.

In order to hydrolock you're filter/tube have to be totally submerged into water.

i2ide · 06-09-2009, 05:06 PM

lol... if you dont wanna wash your car yourself. then spend the extra money and go to a handwash place. any reputable/dependable hand car wash businesses offer undercarriage wash as a service as well.

fanbanlo · 06-09-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by code85

Dont worry about hydrolocking in auto car wash... I do it all the time during the winter and I'm still fine.

Thanks! that's what I'm looking for...

ying · 06-09-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoopEuroR

get a bucket, a hose, a sponge, some good soap, n get to work

edit: oh and dont forget the SHAMWOOOOWWWW!

i actually bought a pack of shamwow for drying and didnt like it. It still leaves alot of water, i think its better for when you have like large amounts of water u need to absorb. my microfiber towel works better.