1) Sunoco @ Steeles and Warden Ave( has rails...)
2) ESSO on McCowan, north of 16th Ave. (no rail!)
3) Esso on River rd. at Ottawa rd east in Kitchener...no rails.
4) Cambridge Honda -- Hespeler rd. next to Ford dealer .. no rails, good job.
5) Sunoco @ Hwy 7 between Yonge and Bayview has no Rail
6) Sunoco @ Hw7 7 Bayview has Rail
7) Sunoco @ Mulock between Yonge and Bayview has no Rail
8) Sunoco @ McCowan and 14th Ave has rails
9) Sunoco @ Winston Churchill and Hwy 403 no rails
10) Sunoco @ Britannia and McLaughlin has no rails
11) Sunoco @ Steeles and Warden Ave. ( has rails !! )

 

1) Sunoco @ Steeles and Warden Ave( has rails...)
2) ESSO on McCowan, north of 16th Ave. (no rail!)
3) Esso on River rd. at Ottawa rd east in Kitchener...no rails.
4) Cambridge Honda -- Hespeler rd. next to Ford dealer .. no rails, good job.
5) Sunoco @ Hwy 7 between Yonge and Bayview has no Rail
6) Sunoco @ Hw7 7 Bayview has Rail
7) Sunoco @ Mulock between Yonge and Bayview has no Rail
8) Sunoco @ McCowan and 14th Ave has rails
9) Sunoco @ Winston Churchill and Hwy 403 no rails
10) Sunoco @ Britannia and McLaughlin has no rails
11) Sunoco @ Steeles and Warden Ave. ( has rails !! )
12) Sunoco @ Columbia and Fischer-Hallman in Waterloo (no rails, 4.5 min per wash - long waits if there's a lineup!!)

 

I don't remember why Kevin said touchless car washes are bad? Anyone?

 

Recycled water, heavy detergents, possibility of rails, leaves a film of dirt. In the winter they are an ok option, just don't ever dry the car right after (some guys get out and dry with a mf cloth), you'll just be pushing dirt around. Also, you'll probably need to re-apply your LSP a bit more often since they use pretty strong detergents.

I pretty much take my car to the coin op, put in $2, spray the crud out of it (wheel wells, underneath mostly), and drive away. It looks like poop, but it's the winter, so eh. For the guys downtown there is a coin op on Queen near Downsview that is pretty good. $2 for 3 min and they let you use your own stuff.

If you have a garage I am a big fan of rinseless washes, that's what I use when I actually need to wash the car in winter. Of course I am lucky that I havea garage, I know that's not an option for a lot of folks in Toronto.

I'm not pontificating; I understand the need for them in winter.

 

What's a rinseless wash?

 

Yes Kevin please explain. I picture grinding dirt into the paint, how can a rinseless wash carry away all of the dirt particles without marring the paint . I have often wondered about this and afraid to try it.

 

Ah, rinseless washes; the much maligned friend of every mobile detailer. How I love them.

Alright, so basically there are two rinseless washes worth a dime on the market; QEW (Quick and Easy Wash) and ONR (Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine). QEW has been around for over 30 years; truckers use it to wash their trucks since they tend to lask running water/hoses/etc. In the last 5-8 years they've moved into the detailing world.

Basically what they are is a high lubricity solution you mix with water, 2oz per 2 gallons. You then use a soft mitt and wash the car one section at a time, drying after each section. You can do as dirty a car as you like; if the car is insanely dirty it is good to pre-soak with the solution. How does it work? Well think of it almost like oil; it lifts the dirt off the paint while you wipe. Neither product produces *any* suds, they just make for very, very slick water. I've been using one or the other (ONR now) for over 6 years without an issue. I use it on my G if that says anything (yes, the infamously soft black G). With the onset of winter there have been some "rinseless wash posts" over at Autopia, here are some for your reading pleasure:

http://autopia.org/forum/car-detaili...?highlight=ONR

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=ONR

http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...?highlight=ONR

http://autopia.org/forum/car-detaili...sh-wheels.html

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=ONR

You know if those guys approve of it, it's not bad.

Processes vary, a lot of guys pre-soak with foam guns and pesticide sprayers, but for me that defeats the purpose, I have no hose in my garage, so what I do is this (actually I just came up from washing my car):

Mix 4oz of ONR in a 16oz spray bottle, fill with water.
Mix 2oz ONR with 2 gallons of warm water in a bucket.
Spray the entire car with the ONR spray bottle mix, really concentrate on the dirty areas (fenders, lower portions).
Grab a mitt, wash a panel, dry it. Start top to bottom, the first mitt will do the roof, and all windows. Dry.
Grab second mitt, do upper fenders, upper doors, dry.
If the mitt isn't too bad, do rear deck and hood, if it is get a new mitt.
Use last mitt for lower panels.

You do not need to dry thoroughly as you wash, just damp dry. When you're done washing grab a new towel and re-dry; this will prevent streaking and is much easier.

Profit. Here are some "hey how do I use ONR" posts at Autopia:

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=ONR

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=ONR

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=ONR

Tons more, just search ONR on Autopia.

 

Hey thanks Kevin, I plan on going over all these links you provided. Should keep me busy later on tonight.
Wayne

 

Cool - just fyi, eshine.ca has ONR too.

 

Thanks for all the info Kevin.

 

great stuff Kevin ....
ONR group buy?

 

I've got 2 gallons of it, and normally I'd offer it up but I use it at an alarming rate. I am sure if you guys contact Chris at eShine he can work out some sort of deal on a gallon you could split up or something?

 

Thank Kevin! As usual, you are a wealth of knowledge!

 

Might be a good idea Ian, I would be in for a bottle.

 

Just checked.... eshine is out of stock