In a message dated 28/01/2007 7:38:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Anyone  have experience with these Northern automatic car washes  that
advertise"undercarriage wash" in addition to the other whistles  and
bells offered?  Are they effective in getting the salt out of  the
wheel wells and other areas?  Will the water tend to freeze up  brake
cables etc or do the air blasts dished out at the end sufficient  to
dry that stuff?  What is the lowest temp you'd recommend having  this done?

Well. the stupid questions are the ones that never get  asked.

Well, Mr. Wellhouse, not so stupid a question as  one might think.  I do this
little maintenance project all the time during  my winter driving up here in
the salt laden Ottawa Valley.  It works rather  well I must say but there are
some tricks you need to know.  That under car  spritz is only available on the
full tilt car wash that comes with the wax and  other goop, the ones around
here anyway.  The under car spritz is right at  the beginning when you drive
in, so you need to not hurry past this stage.   If you check where the
spritizers are in advance then just hang there until they  are done spritzing, usually
not long enough for my liking but hey it's better  than nothing.  As for the
cold, it's not a big deal.  I've never had a  problem with anything freezing
up.  There's usually a good blast of air to  dry off the vehicle before exiting
back outside.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007