[Charles]

I purchased a Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash System. The tag line for the product is "No Towels. No Spots. Just a Fine Shine."

It has a reservoir where you put concentrated car wash solution. It also has a filter that removes water impurities that you install in the handle. The object of the filter is your final rinse is with filtered water which eliminates water spots which supposedly eliminates the need to hand dry your vehicle.

PROS: The system works as advertised. I washed two cars in about 1.5 hours. I didn't rush anything and I did not dry anything after the filter rinse on either car.

CONS: The system went through the starter bottle of carwash concentrate on the second car. I had to add more about half way on the second car.

http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/home.do

 

[Colleen]

Hmm, might give this a look. We have well water and it is quite the battle getting our vehicles dry before water spots set in. Hubby and I have been seriously considering installing some type of water filtration system. Hmm, I guess that it would be more like a "water softener" system. :shrug: That's hubby's department. I know that we need to go from the "seriously considering" to the "doing stage" with that though.

Thanks for the review, Charles !!

 

[weebee]

I friend of mine uses it on his Colorado which is gloss black. He rinses with the filtered water and doesn't towel dry it and the results are great. No water spots. So, I convinced my son that he needs one and I use his from time to time.

 

[PollKat]

...... So, I convinced my son that he needs one and I use his from time to time.

:thumb: One smart parent !!!

 

[Scooter Scott]

Don't like this system and I will tell you why...

There are agents within the soap that actually put a film on your car that keeps your water from beading up...your water will actually start to sheet off after awhile. The filtered water is great but you have to replace the filters a lot on top of the already expensive soap....I've tried it but returned it 2x now...

 

[weebee]

I agree. The filter and soap containers are a bit pricey. I didn't know the agent part. But isn't it true with most soaps and waxes creating a build up that you'll have to remove eventually?

 

[Scooter Scott]

I think the agent I was refering to are called Polymers....but yes it will put a nice coat of this polymer crap on your vehicle so it doesn't have that beautiful beading that you love when it gets wet.

 

[stone]

Like a polymer sealant. So thats why. It's allright, i just woke up. :roll:

 

[02escape]

I have tried the system and was about to throw it out but just gave it to my dad. The filters need to be replaced way to often and it goes through soap pretty fast. Also, you have to use their soap for it to work right and I dont care for their soap at all. I ended up just putting a water filter and softener on the garage hose. Works better in my opinion.

Also, as for the water beading up versus sheeting; the only reason why most companies make the soap or waxes "bead" the water is because the wonderful customers want to see it bead because they think it is better for the car. Think of it this way; when it is in the sun, the water droplet acts like a mini magnifying glass on your paint. Think of what that could do.

 

[Charles]

I went through the AutoDry starter soap very quickly so I tried some Turtle Wax Ice Car Wash. It didn't work well at all. I have quite a bit of this stuff to go through before wifey lets me buy more.

Think of it as a cautionary tale. The manual did say that the AutoDry Carwash System was compatible with only the AutoDry soap. As far as the filters are concerned, I did find a 3 pack of filters on eBay for the price of 2 in the store. :yahoo:

 

[Putt]

Did not care for it at all, I can pee a stronger stream then the "soft water rinse" puts out. Did my Crew Cab dually with it and was worn out and disappointed when I was done. It went back to the store for a full refund.

PUTT

 

[Scooter Scott]

Did not care for it at all, I can pee a stronger stream then the "soft water rinse" puts out.

PUTT

:hyst: :hyst: :hyst:

 

[TomR]

It seems to me that the filtered (softened?) water is the most important thing. So using that logic, wouldn't it make sense to find a way to soften the water out of our garden hoses and just use our regular washing materials?

I'm not interested in adding an entire water softening system to my house, but I'd love to hear if there is a relatively cheap way to soften the water out of my garden hose. Any ideas?

 

[Scooter Scott]

I love google

http://www.pwgazette.com/gardenhosefilters.htm

I may consider something like this when spring kicks back around.

 

[TomR]

I love google

http://www.pwgazette.com/gardenhosefilters.htm

I may consider something like this when spring kicks back around.

Good find. That seems like a really inexspensive way to clean the car with softened water. Especially if you can reuse the filters by soaking them in water softening salts.

 

[TomR]

FYI-- There are a bunch of good threads of Autopia.org for water softening options. It seems that it's a bit of a controversial issue because not all of these stand-alone systems work as advertised. The general consensus is that some of them work well, especially after being modified a bit. I'm definitely going to do a little more research before the winter is over.

 

[jpark]

Does anyone else have only a whole-house filter system?

I installed a Culligan HF-160 whole-house filter and I use their P5-D 5-micron filters. We have really good public drinking water in this part of the country even without a filter, but the filter removes the tiny traces of fluoride that cause water spots. We have clear shower doors, and that filter got rid of the water spots on them. I also don't need to dry the cars with a chamois anymore.

I always hear people talk about water softeners, but pure water does the same thing, at least in my experience.

 

[Scooter Scott]

I may look into that but I am scared of the costs to install it. It cost me $240 for the plumber to install 9" of copper pipe...I'd hate to see what it would cost to put in a water filter.

 

[jonas1022]

Scott, if your doing mods to your Escape. Working on plumbing around the house is a no brainer by comparision.

 

[Scooter Scott]

I'm sure I could do it...but we will have to see when that time comes about