Should I wash the car today in -1c?

[Gord2]

We've just got back from a 2000 mile trip through Europe and the car is goping.

Personally I hate a dirty car, so am contemplating washing it.

Any tips for washing the car in sub 0 temperatures? Or should I wait till it gets a bit warmer?

[peterbredde]

Complete waste of time in this weather, but I know where you're coming from. I'm itching to do the same.

[sawman]

You'll be fine washing it at -1, just make sure you dry all the door & window seals well, and then then park in the sun or possibly an indoor carpark for a few hours where the ambient temp is probably about 10C.

I have washed my car in -10, but despite careful drying the door froze shut.

It will be filthy again next week, but if you thought like that you wouldnt clean it til april, by which time salt will have explored any crevice it finds

[richcorsavxr]

just go for a drive afterwards, mainly to get the water from the breaks, i've had mine freeze together, nothing bad just a big bang making you think what the fk was that.

[exgtt]

Just remember wherever you wash it will turn into an ice rink after. Might be worth takin it to a self jet wash place to get the worst off.

[Urban Sports]

I did mine the other night it was -1 and I was in my gym gear including shorts.

Man up and do it!!!!

[The Count]

exgtt said:

Just remember wherever you wash it will turn into an ice rink after. Might be worth takin it to a self jet wash place to get the worst off.

That’s the one thing that puts me off..the ice rink scenario. As has already been said, take it to a petrol station (although i doubt they'll allow you to use it, given the temp)

[cptsideways]

Urban Sports said:

I did mine the other night it was -1 and I was in my gym gear including shorts.

Man up and do it!!!!

That quote brings up all sorts of strange images, especially with that user name

[coley20]

I say take it to a car wash! or pay a £5 to the hand car wash at the old petrol stations

[Urban Sports]

cptsideways said:

Urban Sports said:

I did mine the other night it was -1 and I was in my gym gear including shorts.

Man up and do it!!!!

That quote brings up all sorts of strange images, especially with that user name

Don't know what you mean

[robsco]

I took mine to one of the hand car washes yesterday, as it was covered in salt. No ice rink problems, and you can go for a hoon first before you take it.

[The Count]

Gord2 said:

We've just got back from a 2000 mile trip through Europe and the car is goping.

Personally I hate a dirty car, so am contemplating washing it.

Any tips for washing the car in sub 0 temperatures? Or should I wait till it gets a bit warmer?

How very rude of us, for not asking. Did you have a good trip around Europe? Where did you go and did you take the R8?

[John D.]

Did mine yesterday at about 15:30. Was getting dark by the time I finished (meant to start earlier but got sidetracked).

The water was freezing on to all the flat surfaces before I could dry it off! Cold didn't bother me too much. Once you get going its ok.

Don't think I made myself too popular with the neighbours. Left a bit of an ice rink on the floor in the middle of the communal garages as the water did not drain away as well as I expected. Whoops Sun should have sorted that out today thankfully.

[pestman77]

I have the best tip for cleaning your car in this weather!! I do it all the time, OCD springs to mind!!!

Use a leaf blower to push all the water off the car, petrol or electric one will do, it pushes all the water out of all the annoying little gaps..

It works a treat but if your neighbours are watching they might think u gon a bit doolally!!

[tubbystu]

Take the wife to Sainsbury's and get the lads to do it in the car park whilst you shop.

Car gets cleaned, to a fairly good standard. You don't get cold and wet nor does the driveway become the feared skating rink.

Shopping gets done.

Wife puts you in her good books, which you can bank, thus allowing for a lapse during the week

[Gord2]

The Count said:

Gord2 said:

We've just got back from a 2000 mile trip through Europe and the car is goping.

Personally I hate a dirty car, so am contemplating washing it.

Any tips for washing the car in sub 0 temperatures? Or should I wait till it gets a bit warmer?

How very rude of us, for not asking. Did you have a good trip around Europe? Where did you go and did you take the R8?

Thank you for asking

Yes it was a good trip, although tiring as there was a lot of rain about. It was the X6, as I had mum and sister and fiance aboard

And, it is now clean, although it took forever with buckets of water as the hose pipe had frozen of course. Rubber door seals dried meticulously, so shouldn't be too many problems getting into it tomorrow morning

[richw_82]

I'm washing mine, the motorway journey yesterday made it filthy, and theres no way I'm letting the salt stay on it. I'll be doing it out of the way of the driveway and other people though as I don't want the ice rink created to injure anybody.

[Chicane-UK]

I was going to... but turned the tap on and nothing happened. Frozen solid. There goes that idea.

[Mr2Mike]

Tried to wash mine earlier as it is covered in salt, but the water froze literally as soon as it touched the bodywork. It was cold outside, but didn't realise it was still below freezing.

[richyb]

I just got back from a 2 hours motorway drive from Bristol and stopped at the jet wash a mile before home. My thoughts being getting most of the salt and road grime off.