[oldf150]

I just bought a low miles 2015 Pro 4X. It is like new.

It replaced my 2003 F150. My F150 probably got washed once a year at most. I occasionally ran it through an automated car wash with no problems.

I want to take better care of my Titan (the Ford is still running but it is u.g.l.y.). So, I'll hand wash it from time to time but would like to be able to take it through an automated car wash too. The problem is that it has the plastic OEM bug deflector and and plastic vent shades on it. Can you take it through a car wash with that junk on it? If not I'll pull that stuff off. It also has the extendable mirrors and tubular running boards. Do these cause any issues in a car wash?

George

 

[TheeKB]

Fold in mirrors and you'll be fine. I have all of the above on mine and never had a problem.


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[oldf150]

Fold in mirrors and you'll be fine. I have all of the above on mine and never had a problem.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[TheeKB]

Congrats on the Purchase man!!! Gr8 to have u! I've only been a member for a couple weeks. Everyone's extremely helpful and nice. Been a TT owner since 2010.


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[Indy]

The antenna is what I found the scariest going through a car wash, watching it get yanked around so I replaced it with a shorter one from autozone.

Bug deflector and vent shades haven't given me any problem.

 

[DeadRiver]

A lot of people have your approach to vehicle maintenance and it's flawed. Why would you maintain the running gear and let the body go to crap? Having a clean truck makes it last longer and should just be part of your proper vehicle care maintenance routine.

My truck is 13 but looking at her you'd never know. (insert joke about Nissan not updating the Titan)

 

[Golfnut Michael]

Congrats on your Titan.

I have all the gear on mine that you list (hood, vent visors, tube steps) and the only issue I have is my mirrors usually are rotated forward when I leave the car wash. I would fold them in, but when I did, the mirror and that part of the door glass were never clean. Also, I ALWAYS remove my antenna before I go thru after it came out bent once.

 

[Nick Name]

Or....you could use a drive thru no touch car wash. Around here they're called Lazer Wash. Ten bucks for the full washington. In a pinch I go to the old style open bay type with two wands and the coin box to get your quarters. It actually seems to do a better job than I do at home with bucket and pressure washer.

 

[TheeKB]

A lot of people have your approach to vehicle maintenance and it's flawed. Why would you maintain the running gear and let the body go to crap? Having a clean truck makes it last longer and should just be part of your proper vehicle care maintenance routine.

My truck is 13 but looking at her you'd never know. (insert joke about Nissan not updating the Titan)

So is my truck and I have the same approach as this guy. Why bust my behind detailing it every other weekend when I'm just gonna throw mud all over it again on a daily basis? I get spraying off the undercarriage but not every body uses their truck the same thus different levels of care afforded to different parts of their investment.

I don't think he posted this on a show truck or tuner thread either. Dangit man! Why'd I have to go and jinx your experience OldF150!? My b
I will say... maybe u could change ur name to "NewishTitan" haha
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[oldf150]

A lot of people have your approach to vehicle maintenance and it's flawed. Why would you maintain the running gear and let the body go to crap? Having a clean truck makes it last longer and should just be part of your proper vehicle care maintenance routine.

My truck is 13 but looking at her you'd never know. (insert joke about Nissan not updating the Titan)

Nah. The body on my Ford looks bad but it has no effect on its utility. No body problems related to maintenance or cleanliness. No body rust after 14 years. It just depends on what you want. The Ford was for a different time and purpose in my life. It had a hard life (still does) and because of that it got beat up. No need to polish a beat up, scratched up, dented truck. And on a certain level I like a beat up truck more than I do a shiny one......

The Titan will not see the sort of hard duty the Ford did. No hauling rocks. No driving in/through the woods on jeep trails etc. I still have the Ford for that. So I'll try to keep the Titan clean and good looking as long as I can.

 

[DeadRiver]

Nah. The body on my Ford looks bad but it has no effect on its utility. No body problems related to maintenance or cleanliness. No body rust after 14 years. It just depends on what you want. The Ford was for a different time and purpose in my life. It had a hard life (still does) and because of that it got beat up. No need to polish a beat up, scratched up, dented truck. And on a certain level I like a beat up truck more than I do a shiny one......

The Titan will not see the sort of hard duty the Ford did. No hauling rocks. No driving in/through the woods on jeep trails etc. I still have the Ford for that. So I'll try to keep the Titan clean and good looking as long as I can.

My Titan has been everywhere and done all the hauling I've needed in the past 13 years including mulch loads. I get what you're saying I just don't agree. :cheers:

As for the rust, I've found some cancer that I'm not happy about but then again, she's old and in the rust belt :dunno:

 

[LUBECAKES]

I wash more in the winter than I do in the warmer months. The reason is SALT.

 

[HRTKD]

My Titan has been through the carwash hundreds of times. I go like every other week. Maybe once a week in the winter if it snows frequently.

I leave the mirrors out but I do remove the antenna each time. The carwash make the antenna whip back and forth enough that it comes back and hits the A-pillar. There are chips out of the paint from that.

Twice a year I apply synthetic paint sealant. It's kind of like a wax but lasts longer.

 

[SDHARLEYDAD]

Just came from the auto wash

 

[LUBECAKES]

My Titan has been through the carwash hundreds of times. I go like every other week. Maybe once a week in the winter if it snows frequently.

I leave the mirrors out but I do remove the antenna each time. The carwash make the antenna whip back and forth enough that it comes back and hits the A-pillar. There are chips out of the paint from that.

Twice a year I apply synthetic paint sealant. It's kind of like a wax but lasts longer.

Is it a liquid polymer? What brand?

 

[HRTKD]

Is it a liquid polymer? What brand?

It's gray. I have no idea what it's made up of.

I get it from Adam's Polishes. A distributor of theirs used to be (may still be) a vendor here on the forum.

 

[proffittmarke]

The only problem I ever had is one time it was freezing outside and I took it through an automatic car wash. When the hot water hit the cold plastic bug deflector, it cracked (very loudly). I replaced it. Never had any problems besides that.

For automatic "brush washes", you may consider putting a ceramic coat type of sealant on your paint. It's the only thing out there that will prevent scratches from these types of washes.

Fold in mirrors and you'll be fine. I have all of the above on mine and never had a problem.


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[oldf150]

I've got a buffer and various polishes and pads that I use on my wife's 2009 G37 Coupe and occasionally on my 2007 350Z. The Z is my daily driver and track car and will never be a show queen. The G still looks pretty good. As mentioned, I'm really not into the perfect shiny paint thing. I have the buffer because I do not have a garage and all vehicles live outside under trees. I primarily buff and polish to protect the cars and make it easier to keep them clean.

I buff/polish them about once a year and hate every second of it.

I can't see me buffing the Titan. Too much real estate. It would take forever....because you still have to buff the wax off by hand. Not worried about 'swirls' and fine scratches on the truck. If it looks good from 30 feet I'm happy with it.

 

[HRTKD]

The sealant I use is amazingly easy to buff off. I got so pissed off at a carnuba based wax because it was so hard to buff off that I completely gave up on it. I still have a good amount of that wax in the bottle. Beats me why I keep it around.

 

[TheeKB]

The only problem I ever had is one time it was freezing outside and I took it through an automatic car wash. When the hot water hit the cold plastic bug deflector, it cracked (very loudly). I replaced it. Never had any problems besides that.



For automatic "brush washes", you may consider putting a ceramic coat type of sealant on your paint. It's the only thing out there that will prevent scratches from these types of washes.

I'm in Florida so....


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