Just as a warning, I'm a huge newb :)
So this may sound like a silly question, but for the sake of convenience in the winter with a hard top are automatic car washes okay?
I picked up my 2008 with 16,000km's on Monday and it's already gotten dirty!
Boooo Calgary slush-crap!

 

Take it to a U-wash and just hose it off. There will be lots of time in the spring to wipe it down and make it shiny again. I don't use autowashes cause they don't get into all the nooks and crannies ie spare tire.

 

My previous vehicle was a 2 seater hybrid with aluminum paneling so I never had to deal with the rust issue - and apparently I am ultra paranoid about it with Stella.
I'm sure a few days won't hurt it by any means, but it sounds like your right that the easiest till spring is just hose her down once a week.
Thanks very much for your help! :)

 

When I was stock I went through the auto car washes all the time soft and hard top. Now if im in a rush and just want most of the salt off pronto I still use the touchless car washes a few times in the winter. In the summer its all about the hand washes and pampering for my Jeep!

 

Too much washing in the winter just allows all that new FRESH salt to get into the seams and panels.. It also washes off any undercoating such as RustCheck or Krown you may have put on.

Use to have a 98 Ram PU, rustchecked every year. It was immaculate for 8 years. Then one winter my oldest son's car died so I let him use the truck everyday to go to work. Being the great kid that he is and working at a car wash he faithfully lovingly washed Dad's pride and joy everyday before driving the 55 klm commute home on salty hwys. Well, by the spring my immaculate RAM had rust sprouting out all over. Moral of the story:
Washing TOO much is worse then not washing at all.

 

I usually just get my wife to wash mine...lol

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh rough.

Took her through the manual yesterday, and then of course this morning it snowed!
Eff you mother nature!

What do y'all recommend for using against the salt?


Thanks,
Michelle :)

 

Recently any vehical I've owned I've never taken them through a car wash....The odd time it's gone through a touchless, including the JKU, never had an issue.
Most winter wash's are a good rinse at the coin-op to get the salty crud off. It the temp gets above 3 degs C or so I will even hand wash in the driveway. (nabiours look at me like I'm nuts)

Soft top....don't dare go though any car wash, even touchless....hand wash only, and don't forget the Best top products to keep in lookin good and protected from the UV and bird poop.

Happy detailing