Regularly going for a car wash not only keeps your vehicle looking great, but it also offers a number of practical benefits, such as better safety and fuel efficiency. You should wash your car more often during the winter months or if you enjoy going on off-road or outdoor adventures. Snow, slush, road salt, and mud can cause irreparable damage to your car if left unattended.
When it comes time to bring your vehicle to the car wash, you may be wondering if you should opt for a tunnel or touchless car wash. Both methods have their pros and cons, which you need to consider to make the right decision. Check out this detailed comparison between a tunnel car wash and a touchless car wash.
How Does a Touchless Car Wash Work?
The touchless car wash is one of the latest innovations in the car wash industry. Similar to a tunnel car wash, it’s an automated system that eliminates the need for human labor. The first stage of a touchless car wash involves using low-pressure nozzles to wet your vehicle. Then, soap is sprayed on all of the exterior surfaces of your car. After the soaping process, the nozzles turn into high-pressure washers to remove the soap.
Now that your car is clean, the touchless car wash system uses special cleaners to wash the tires and then applies wax to the paint job. Finally, it’s time to dry your vehicle, which is done with powerful air blowers. The benefit of using these blowers is that it prevents water spots from forming, which commonly occurs during drying. A touchless car wash is very accurate and efficient, so you can expect your vehicle to be sparkling clean in just a few minutes.
Benefits of a Touchless Car Wash
The touchless car wash is gaining popularity among drivers because it offers a number of great benefits, including:
- Hands-free approach: A touchless car wash uses intense water pressure to get rid of stubborn dirt and stuck debris. It doesn’t apply any friction or come into direct contact with your vehicle, except for the water and cleaning agents. As such, you can rest assured your car won’t be scratched or damaged. This is the main advantage of a touchless car wash.
- Effective cleaning: The computer-controlled laser sensors of a touchless car wash are able to accurately detect the shape of your vehicle to ensure optimal coverage of the water jets. With this technology, the system can wash certain vehicles that may not be compatible with other types of automated car wash, such as off-road vehicles with oversized tires and trucks with dual tires.
How Does a Tunnel Car Wash Work?
The tunnel car wash is probably the largest robot you’ll encounter in normal life. It consists of a tough rust-resistant aluminum frame that can support its enormous weight and a conveyor belt capable of moving a vehicle that weighs up to 30 tons, as well as high-pressure friction mechanisms, regulators, and sensors. An effective tunnel car wash can remove grease, bird droppings, and insects from the surface of your vehicle in five minutes or less.
The process of going through a tunnel car wash begins with pre-soaking, which involves applying a mild alkali and rinsing with a mild acid. Then, a detergent is added for deep cleaning. The main section of the car wash has two to five vertical brushes for washing the sides of your vehicle and at least one horizontal brush for cleaning the top surface. In the final stage, the machine uses a high-pressure fan to dry your car. In some cases, wax is added to protect your paint job from fading, scratches, and ultraviolet light.
Benefits of a Tunnel Car Wash
Despite the emergence of new car wash technologies, the tunnel car wash continues to be one of the most preferred options for drivers who want to keep their vehicles clean. Below are a few good reasons why you should opt for a tunnel car wash:
- Safe and thorough cleaning: A good tunnel car wash uses soft, foam-like cloths and high-pressure brushes to scrub off tough stains without scratching your vehicle. These cloths are thoroughly rinsed after each vehicle, so you can be sure your car will get a fresh wash every time. With physical scrubbing action, a tunnel car wash does a better job of emulsifying and removing dirt and grease than a touchless car wash. This is especially important for North Dakota drivers, whose vehicles accumulate a lot of road salt and grime in winter.
- Paint-safe detergents: Since it doesn’t make physical contact with your vehicle, a touchless car wash relies on acidic and high-pH chemicals to break down dirt. Such chemicals may cause damage to your car’s wax coating or protective ceramic coating. A tunnel car wash usually uses quality detergents that can get rid of stubborn stains and calcium water spots while protecting your paint job.
- Targeted cleaning: An advanced tunnel car wash is equipped with a sophisticated technology known as a vehicle profile detector. This system uses sonar mapping to identify the dimensions and shape of each vehicle and then customize every wash to suit different vehicles. Therefore, a tunnel car wash is capable of cleaning hard-to-reach areas such as cracks and crevices.
- Lower cost: A tunnel car wash uses significantly less water to wash a vehicle than a touchless car wash, making it a more cost-effective option.
Give Your Vehicle a Good and Fast Cleaning at the Rydell Car Wash
If you’re looking for a great place to wash your vehicle, consider going to Rydell Car Wash. Our state-of-the-art car wash system is specially designed to thoroughly remove the stubborn dirt and grime commonly found on North Dakota vehicles, particularly during winter. It also uses ultra-soft cloths and top-quality detergents to prevent damage to your vehicle. The layout of our car wash enables you to get in and out easily and quickly, making the task of cleaning your car a breeze. We also offer complimentary vacuums for cleaning the inside of your vehicle.
Contact Rydell Cars
If you have any inquiries about the Rydell Car Wash, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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