[Macsterguy]

This YouTube review states that Hyundai says to leave your bed cover open while going through a car wash. The chemicals will do damage to the surface… Has anybody else heard this?

 

[hlacoss]

I was scratching my head about that exact comment on the same video. Lol. I posted about it, and some of the folks had good suggestions you might also find insightful here:

Car Wash Chemical Damage?

Hello, all! Like probably all of you, I've watched a bazillion videos about the SC, and this one stood out today. It mentions that Hyundai said not to leave your tonneau cover closed when going through the car wash because the chemicals can damage the coating. Have you all heard this advice...

www.santacruzforums.com

 

[RetFF]

I looked through the online owners manual and found the warning about car washes in section 5-117.
Among the things it says is to wash the cover with soap and water and use a soap with a PH value of 8 or less.

 

[Mike_TX]

I looked through the online owners manual and found the warning about car washes in section 5-117.
Among the things it says is to wash the cover with soap and water and use a soap with a PH value of 8 or less.

I'm going to run out and get a sample of the soap at my local car wash and send it off to a government lab to determine its PH.

 

[Macsterguy]

I looked through the online owners manual and found the warning about car washes in section 5-117.
Among the things it says is to wash the cover with soap and water and use a soap with a PH value of 8 or less.

Good find and hard to believe they would build a car that "possibly" can't take a car wash...

 

[Macsterguy]

I was scratching my head about that exact comment on the same video. Lol. I posted about it, and some of the folks had good suggestions you might also find insightful here:

Car Wash Chemical Damage?

Hello, all! Like probably all of you, I've watched a bazillion videos about the SC, and this one stood out today. It mentions that Hyundai said not to leave your tonneau cover closed when going through the car wash because the chemicals can damage the coating. Have you all heard this advice...

www.santacruzforums.com

Thanks!

 

[JMII]

I'm going to run out and get a sample of the soap at my local car wash and send it off to a government lab to determine its PH.

and send the bill to Hyundai

This is much to do about nothing, its purely a CYA thing as noted in the post linked above.

The bed cover is aluminum (I assume). Some chemicals can corrode aluminum. Many vehicles have aluminum wheels and suspension components and likely have a similar warning if you read all the fine print.

Personally I wouldn't go thru any car wash - they are known to use recycled water and the brushes will scratch your paint. Just grab a bucket and wash yourself with any foaming soap from your local auto parts store. After a wash I like to spray and wipe down with Turtle Wax: Wax and Dry, it keeps water spots from forming and leaves behind a slick coating. Super easy to use, no buffing or elbow grease required.

 

[Macsterguy]

and send the bill to Hyundai

This is much to do about nothing, its purely a CYA thing as noted in the post linked above.

The bed cover is aluminum (I assume). Some chemicals can corrode aluminum. Many vehicles have aluminum wheels and suspension components and likely have a similar warning if you read all the fine print.

Personally I wouldn't go thru any car wash - they are known to use recycled water and the brushes will scratch your paint. Just grab a bucket and wash yourself with any foaming soap from your local auto parts store. After a wash I like to spray and wipe down with Turtle Wax: Wax and Dry, it keeps water spots from forming and leaves behind a slick coating. Super easy to use, no buffing or elbow grease required.

I can understand folks being concerned about their car finishes. Personally, I've gotten to the point with arthritic hands that I can't do much of anything. I'm not going to let the "scratches" in my life bother me. I am far too blessed to sweat the small things...

I can remember driving cars that had such large holes in the floor boards I could see pavement passing by Hahaha!!

 

[Mike86merc]

I'm going to run out and get a sample of the soap at my local car wash and send it off to a government lab to determine its PH.

Many cleaning product companies advertise their soaps and cleaners as ph neutral. Some will advertise the ph level as well. Not uncommon at all.

PH levels are 0 to 14. With 7 being neutral.

 

[Walking Black Bear]

Is it wrong that I'm amused by the "pH of 8 or less"? Basically, what I'm reading there is it's FINE to wash your Santa Cruz with pure sulphuric acid (pH around 0.5 as used in lead-acid batteries, much less than 8!) but a mildly alkaline soap will eat your tonneau and void your warranty. Everybody clean your tonneau with battery acid and then go for a warranty replacement, stating the pH was less than 8!

 

[Mike86merc]

It has been a LONG time since High School science class. haha But aluminum corrosion happens with alkaline over 8 or 9. So I'm sure that is where they picked that number from.

I think aluminum reacts fine with things in the 4-8 ph range. Don't quote me on that lol


Also, the coating on the cover could be an issue as well. Be it discoloring or degradation of the coating.