So who gets a clean dry shiny car with an Inverted L auto??

[RykoPro]

If your distrib happens to carry Paxil I think you should ask for a sample....you need to ease up a bit....makes me not want to help you at all

I agree, I have not seen many trolls since I have been here the past three years but these attacks makes me wonder.......

 

[robert roman]

As for cleaning grime or film (i.e eyebrow) from a vehicle with an inverted-L, I don't believe this is possible due to the inherent design flaw of the L; a portion of the spray from the top and side nozzles crashes into each other and wrecks the pattern.

As for chemistry, I learned a long time ago to leave the chemistry to the chemists. However, I am providing some quotes from John Lenhart. Lenhart is a chemical consultant and has develop products for Dow, P&G, Dial and others. I have followed his guidance for years and it has worked well for me and the clients that I advise.

In general, the ultimate reactive combination is acid and alkaline.

"The most reactive configuration would consist of one step of an organic acid at high temperature, high concentration and long dwell time. The other step would consist of an inorganic alkaline at high temperature, high concentration and long dwell time."

"The order of the two steps is dependent on the objective of the operator. If the objective is cleaning with the least amount of damage to the vehicle's surface, then the acid will be first. If the objective is to produce a dry vehicle, then the acid will be last."

There are four possible chemical configurations.

High alkaline/low acid - the cleaning is done with alkaline and the only effect the acid has is to neutralize potential damage from the alkaline. Since the acid concentration is low, it will not aid in drying.

Low alkaline/high acid - this is probably what you are using to wash with friction if your focus is on drying. The alkaline attracts the acid into the soil and creates heat of neutralization.

High acid/low alkaline - acid does the cleaning and alkaline minimizes potential damage to vehicles.

Low acid/high alkaline - The acid thins the soil and prevents the alkaline from setting the soil. Cleaning is the focus with this approach.

Water temperature, dilution ratios and dwell time requirements vary considerably by machine, technology and geography and will need to be dialed in by trial and error (fine tuning).

Hope this helps.

Bob Roman
www.carwashplan.com

 

[MEP001]

The bottom line is, you can't get a "clean dry shiny car with an inverted L auto." As some of the earlier platitudes suggested, the chemicals need to be tuned to your local needs for best results, but the downfall to no friction is that it's impossible to thoroughly clean a car without risking damage.

Before you went off on your tirade, no fewer than 8 different people offered suggestions, which is more help than most posts get. What bigleo48 meant by "burned bridges" was that your response was rude and ungrateful. You're basically asking for magic.

You may just have to explain to your customers that a touchless wash is a "maintenance wash," and is no substitute for self-serve or quality tunnel cleaning.

 

[carwashlifer]

Thank you Mr. Roman I have been a fan of your candor and knowledge for some time. And although you probably can't I expect you will agree that when you read the thread you are the first one who gave any useful information that can be banked and appreciated. I do not understand why complete honesty and a quest for knowledge about carwashing is met with such agression and absurd commentsre. (Troll?) I have spent almost my entire adult life in carwashing and have been very (thankfully) successful but I don't take myself that seriously lets face it we are not curing cancer here. Anyways you obviously get it and I appreciate it. Your memo on various ph's of chemicals is interesting.

 

[carwashlifer]

I was not asking for help. I was looking for advice from a select group of people, who I assumed had a special knowledge about an industry that is one of the things that the US does best. And I come to the board to learn about the little things that only the best and the brightest have observed or discovered. Because the people that waste the time to come to this site obviously want the last little bit of information that make them a little better than the next guy. Exactly why did you find it appropriate to suggest that I need drugs? When all I am doing is try to take it to the next level. It is true that touchless does not really work that well, I have known that since my friend Ron Bell founded International Touchless back in the 1980's. So that is why I am so curious about the exact protocol for using touchless, it is difficult to get a clean car with touchless but certain locations, customers, and situations, demand it. So be it. The fact is "touchless is a bitch" and as a cloth operator for many years, I want to learn more!!!!

So that is why I need medication? Is there one thing in my posts that did not make sense or expressed anything other than my quest for knowledge from people more experienced or smarter than myself?

 

[galen]

I wouldn't give you the time of day until I knew who the hell you are and where you are located. Your probably the guy right down the street from one of us. I don't think you are who you say you are. carwashlifer? If your the guy down the street why would I want to give anything? Ten measly posts, And you want these guys to give up their secrets to their competitor? I've been on this forum as long as anyone on here and I wouldn't come on like you have. Crawl back in the hole you came out of.

 

[carwashlifer]

What a highly intelligent post, obviously if you read my threads, you would realize I know what I am talking about. Jesus what is this board for to hold hand and impart platitudes too each other. I have given out more information than any of my respondents except for Mr. Roman. What is the purpose of the board then? So I am your competitor, well so is every one else on the board. What is your point. We all know that it is easier to share info with the guy across the country than down the street, for obvious reasons. So now I need medication and a hole to live in, exactly why do you come to that conclusion? I would love to here your reasoning.

 

[galen]

Where are your carwashes? What is the name of your washes? If you don't give the simplest information, you don't deserve any back. Now go crawl in any hole.

 

[carwashlifer]

Also how dare you attack me, "ten measly posts". You haven't started one thread about carwashing ever and you are also selling cameras and security gear on you web site. I am not selling e ianything to anyone, and furthermore only am interested in the pursuit of knowledge about the industry we are in. I own 4 tunnels, 30 self serve bays and two(recently installed autos). I am bored of the same old stuff, it interests me to try to exceed customers expectations and learn what I can from the most knowledgeable people in the field. What do find objectionable about that? If you have a question for me I would be glad to answer it? And perhaps we could enhance each others knowledge? What's wrong with that?

 

[lag]

Mr. Roman may have stated it better than i ,But reread my post. Number 1 in my list basically said the same thing. You will need to redial your chemicals at times!!!

You asked "Who gets a clean shiny dry car with an inverted L". The answer is I do. I sir believe my standards are very high.

I for one will NOT give you specifics on an open board about how we do it ,because the chemicals I use or speeds I run or temp my water is ,ect ,ect will NOT apply to you.

You have alot of car washing behind you? then you know it is all trial and error. Good luck ,Lag

 

[Fatboy769]

Also how dare you attack me, "ten measly posts". You haven't started one thread about carwashing ever and you are also selling cameras and security gear on you web site. I am not selling e ianything to anyone, and furthermore only am interested in the pursuit of knowledge about the industry we are in. I own 4 tunnels, 30 self serve bays and two(recently installed autos). I am bored of the same old stuff, it interests me to try to exceed customers expectations and learn what I can from the most knowledgeable people in the field. What do find objectionable about that? If you have a question for me I would be glad to answer it? And perhaps we could enhance each others knowledge? What's wrong with that?

I believe Galen had 2 questions for you! What's your answers?

 

[Mr.Aap]

Darn sure sounds like that guy that wanted Oprah for President.....

 

[carwashlifer]

Mr. Roman may have stated it better than i ,But reread my post. Number 1 in my list basically said the same thing. You will need to redial your chemicals at times!!!

You asked "Who gets a clean shiny dry car with an inverted L". The answer is I do. I sir believe my standards are very high.

I for one will NOT give you specifics on an open board about how we do it ,because the chemicals I use or speeds I run or temp my water is ,ect ,ect will NOT apply to you.

You have alot of car washing behind you? then you know it is all trial and error. Good luck ,Lag

Why would they not apply to me and what is the point of subterfuge on a board of trade knowledge? I will tell you exactly what chemicals and ratios I use, and as you know well there is a private message option, so you and I could be discreet. Basically this board is not what I thought, there are few people who actually want to advance and share their knowledge, for their mutual advancement. And why I wonder does the chemical you use or the speeds you run, or the temperature of your water not applicable to me. (sic ect ect will NOT apply to you). especially since I previously mentioned exactly what chemistry I use, how I am comparing two suppliers, and that my top package takes 6 minutes. And your point is?

 

[carwashlifer]

Mr. Roman gave interesting information, that meant something, your reply was evasive useless and valueless. You need to "redial your chemicals at times" what does that mean go from hydrochloric acid to caustic soda in the vicinity of a full moon. What value do your comments have to anyone and why bother in a free exchange of information to talk in vague cliches, that will help no operator advance his knowledge what so ever!!!!

 

[carwashlifer]

I think you meant what are your answers, and if you message Galen I assume he will find my responses very fulfilling. The question is what good is a bulletin board for expert's on carwashing without the free exchange of knowledge and advancement. I feel I have given way more info than I have received, except for Mr. Roman. What is the purpose of this board if not to improve what we do? And if I am demanding it is only because I will freely share but I want excellence not platitudes. This is not rocket science, it's understood we don't want to help our competition (blame sonny's and the express wash fad) but what is the point of this board then? Just to get away from the wife?????

 

[carwashlifer]

I assume you are referring to me, when you say "that guy wanted Oprah for president" you could not be further from the truth. And here is why it is utterly fascinating to me that a black unmarried billionaire is worshiped by millions of women and yet she has never done the most important things to most women. Married or had children. Can you imagine men taking advice from somebody who had done none of the things that were most meaningful to us.

think about it!!!

 

[ToFarGone20]

honestly....

I am not so sure why this is so hard for you....as you said in one of your posts you have washed thousands upon thousands of cars. Each of those cars were clean to the highest of standards...if you get so enraged trying to find out how to run a touchless...then...I must ask the question....why in the hell don't you stay in the tunnel? That way you don't have to ask all of us unhelpful and rude people who have worked (for years in my case) to get things as close to perfect as possible. I have spent a great deal of money (a great deal to me maybe not you and your 500,000 cars a year) and a HUGE amount of time to get things operating how they are now....and I sincerely apologize that I don't care to share that with a stranger (more importantly one with your attitude). If you want to know about a piece of equipment, a specific chemical, or want a review of something that is one thing. You are basically walking up to Jimmy Johnson right before Daytona and saying "Hey Tony Stewart is having a hell of a time getting his car to handle...what is your exact setup....it would really help!"

My wash package is kind of like an old family BBQ sauce recipe...you can have it...when you find me dead out here on my lot with a wand in one hand and the recipe in the other....

 

[bigleo48]

Wow!.........

 

[Greg Pack]

I thought lag gave a very good response.

Here is the problem that was alluded to by an earlier post, it may have been skimmed over so I will type it S-L-O-W-L-Y: Effectiveness of cleaning chemicals with a touchless unit is very regional. I have tried other people's recommended setups that was their "magic bullet" and it performed pathetically. What works for me will probably not work for you. The only process that works anywhere universally is "burning the dirt off" with a very alkaline solution, and you've already stated you don't want to do that. Your local chemical rep is going to be the key to cleaning. You may have to go through a couple to find a product and a rep that knows how to use them. You've got an uphill battle with an inverted L, being new to touchless your chemical rep is your greatest ally.

 

[carwashlifer]

Are you sure about that or are you just splewing platitudes you have read on the board, basically there are two kinds of carwashing climates, areas that get snow and salt and those that don't (re Florida, AZ,Ca) lets tell the truth on the board and not pretend carwashing is an esoteric science. I am in the mid atlantic and I get a little snow and cold and salt, so what!!! does that really change anything, except that during that time my employees hate their job because they are so cold? So many people throw around pseudo knowledge and bull****. Why? this is not about putting a man on the moon, or curing hunger, this board is about getting dirt or film off of a car!!! It really is not that difficult, and there really are not that many secrets to the process, also before we take our selves to seriously, have you all noticed that the costs of utilities, (water, power, gas) is close to eliminating the margins in our business. Now that is important? Which is why it is so important to get a clean car efficiently and as cheap as possible. That is why more Knowledge is so important!!!