Alright so i searched and tried changing the words but nothing came up about this. So i was wondering, if leaving the car on during a touchless car wash would damage the engine?? A while back i think i read a thread about a guy who had a AEM CAI and his sucked up water like crazy and it got me thinking. SO my question is .... is it safer (for cars in general) to shut off the engine while ur being washed and then start again when you are done ? Thankss

 

I wouldn't imagine it hurts the engine, as people "Steam Clean" it at times. The MAF, though, might be another matter.

 

I think for a cold air intake to suck up enough water to damage an engine it needs to be fully submerged. As far as anything else getting hurt I don't know. I've never turned any car I have owned off in the car wash and never had problems but I also rarely buy a wash.

 

I use the touchless car wash quite frequently (CO has lots of nasty weather and I like to get my 8 cleaned) and have never had any issues.

When I am hand washing (using a pressure washer), I do put a plastic bag over the filter just in case, but probably don't need to as it does fine in the touchless washes.

my .02

 

it shouldnt hurt it if its just water.

and a car at idle isnt sucking in too much air. unless you're sitting there revving the crap out of your engine.

 

If water gets on the MAF, as in sucked up from a soaked filter when you floor it leaving the car wash, it will cause an issue. It will run like crap and sputter, cough. But not for long. Until the filter releases all the water into the engine. The MAF does not like water on it.
As for the engine,, carbon removal FTW!

 

I don't think I've ever turned any of my cars off when going through a car wash. Ever.

 

Alright thanks for the info guys. I asked this right before going to the car wash but no replies had been posted and i had to leave. Kk i noticed right before going in theres a sign and it says all that stuff about what to do and one of them said "Turn off ignition" which i did. But as you guys are saying its not a big deal if left on i guess. IM asking cause the gas station is close to my house and dont want to flood.

 

I spray the **** out of my AEM filter when washing the car. Only side effect is some water gets on the MAF as easy pointed out. Nothing quite like the MAF thinking it sees 360+ grams of air!

You'd have to drive into a lake for it to be a problem.

 

I wouldn't worry. If it has issues in a spray car wash, it's going to have problems in a fierce rainstorm.

 

^ Ye i was thinking about that last night lol.