Answered: Can I Go Through A Car Wash With Cross Bars

Image Source: i.redd.it

Answered: Can I Go Through A Car Wash With Cross Bars

Can I go through a car wash with cross bars? Yes, you often can go through a car wash with cross bars, but it depends a lot on the type of car wash, your specific cross bars, and how well they are attached. While many modern automatic car wash systems are designed to handle vehicles with common roof attachments, there’s always a risk of damage car wash cross bars or even your vehicle if you’re not careful or if the equipment is not compatible.

What Are Cross Bars Anyway?

Cross bars are those bars that run across the roof of your car. They attach to rails that go front-to-back on your roof, or sometimes straight to the roof itself using special mounts. People use them to carry things like bikes, kayaks, luggage carriers, or skis. They are part of a larger roof rack system.

Why Use Cross Bars?

• Carry big stuff: Things that won’t fit inside your car.
• Free up inside space: Keep the cabin clear and comfy.
• Add adventure gear: Take your bikes or kayaks easily.

They are really handy. But when it’s time to clean your car, you might wonder if these bars can cause trouble in a car wash.

Figuring Out the Risks

Taking a car with cross bars through a car wash has some risks. The main issues come from the car wash equipment itself.

Force from the Wash

Car washes use force to clean your car.

• Brush Washes: These use spinning brushes or cloth strips. These parts touch your car. They spin fast and can pull or push on anything sticking out.
• Touchless Washes: These use strong streams of water and air. The water pressure is high. The air blowers are powerful. This force hits your car and anything on it.

Both types of force can be a problem for cross bars.

Things That Can Happen

• Damage car wash cross bars: The bars themselves can get bent, scratched, or broken.
• Damage to the car: The parts where the bars attach to your roof can get damaged. This can scratch paint or even hurt the roof structure.
• Damage to the car wash: Your cross bars could catch on the wash equipment. This can break the brushes or other parts of the car wash. This might mean you have to pay for the damage.
• Cross bars come off: In the worst case, the cross bars could come completely off your car during the wash.

Knowing these risks helps you decide if going through an automatic car wash with roof rack is a good idea for you.

Car Wash Types and Roof Racks

Not all car washes are the same. How a car wash cleans your car makes a big difference for things like cross bars. Let’s look at car wash types and roof racks.

Brush or Friction Car Washes

These washes use brushes, cloth strips, or foam pieces that touch and rub your car to clean it.

How They Work

Your car goes on a track. Big brushes spin around your car. They clean the sides, top, front, and back.

Risk with Cross Bars

This is where the risk is often highest for brush car wash roof rack issues.

• Catching: The brushes can catch on the edges or parts of the cross bars. This is especially true if the bars stick out wide or have parts like footings or attachments that aren’t smooth.
• Pulling Force: As the brushes spin and move, they pull on anything they touch. This pulling can be strong enough to loosen or break weak attachments.
• Twisting Force: The brushes can twist the bars. This can bend them or damage the mounting points.
• Clearance issues car wash roof rack: The brushes and other parts inside the wash tunnel are made for cars of a certain height and shape. If your cross bars make your car too tall or wide in certain spots, they could crash into things inside the wash.

When Brush Washes Are Risky

• Your cross bars are old or loose.
• The bars have plastic parts that could snap.
• You have anything else attached to the bars (like bike racks or carriers).
• The car wash tunnel looks very narrow.
• The wash uses very stiff, old brushes.

Many brush car washes will have signs warning about roof racks. Some might even tell you not to enter if you have one. Pay attention to these signs.

Touchless Car Washes

These washes use high-pressure water sprays and strong air blowers to clean and dry your car. Nothing touches your car except water, soap, and air.

How They Work

Your car parks in a bay or moves slowly through a tunnel. Robot arms or jets spray your car from all sides. Then big blowers dry it.

Risk with Cross Bars

Touchless washes seem safer because nothing physically touches your bars. But there are still risks for touchless car wash roof rack users.

• High Water Pressure: The water jets are very strong. They can find weak spots. If your cross bars aren’t attached very firmly, the strong water hitting them from different angles could potentially loosen them over time.
• Air Blowers: The air used for drying is also very powerful. Like the water, strong gusts of air hitting the bars can put stress on the mounting points.
• Clearance issues car wash roof rack: While there are no brushes to hit, the structure of the wash bay or tunnel still has height limits. Make sure your cross bars don’t make your car too tall for the entrance or exit.
• Older or Damaged Bars: If your bars are already loose, cracked, or damaged, the force from water and air could make the problem worse.

When Touchless Washes Are Still Risky

• Your cross bars wiggle or feel loose when you shake them.
• The parts holding them on look cracked or worn.
• The height of your car with the bars looks very close to the entrance height of the wash.
• You have anything shaped like a fairing (wind deflector) on the front of your bars, as water or air could get under it and rip it off.

Touchless washes are generally considered less risky than brush washes for automatic car wash with roof rack, but they are not zero risk.

Drive-Through Car Washes vs. Self-Serve

Most people ask about drive-through car wash roof rack use. This usually means the automatic tunnel washes (either brush or touchless).

Self-serve washes are different. You park your car and use a wand to spray it yourself.

Self-Serve Washes with Cross Bars

• Risk: Very low risk. You control the spray wand. You can avoid spraying directly at the bar mounts with extreme pressure if you are worried. Nothing touches your bars.
• Benefit: You can clean around the bars carefully. You can get under them.
• Drawback: It takes your own time and effort.

So, for is car wash safe with roof bars, self-serve is the safest option. But it’s not always convenient.

Checking Your Cross Bars Before You Wash

Before you take your car with cross bars into any automatic car wash, do a quick check.

Simple Checks to Make

• Are they tight? Grab each cross bar and try to wiggle it. It should feel very solid. If it moves easily or rattles, do not go through the car wash.
• Look at the mounts: Check the parts where the bars connect to your roof or roof rails. Are there cracks? Are the bolts or clamps tight? Do they look rusted or damaged?
• Is anything loose? Check if any plastic covers or end caps on the bars are loose.
• Are they factory bars or aftermarket? Factory bars made for your specific car are often more secure than cheaper aftermarket ones. Aftermarket bars vary greatly in quality and how well they attach.
• Are they empty? Make sure you have taken off bike racks, cargo boxes, or anything else. The car wash is only designed for the bare bars.

If anything looks loose or damaged, skip the automatic wash. It’s not worth the risk of damage car wash cross bars or your car.

Clearance Issues Car Wash Roof Rack

This is a major concern, especially in brush washes.

What is Clearance?

Clearance is the space between your car (or its highest point) and the top and sides of the car wash tunnel.

Why Cross Bars Matter for Clearance

Cross bars sit on top of your roof. They make your car taller. They might also make it wider if they stick out past the roof rails.

How to Check for Clearance

• Look for Signs: Car washes usually have signs at the entrance. They show the maximum height the wash can handle. Find this number.
• Know Your Car’s Height: Look up your car’s height in the owner’s manual or online.
• Add the Bar Height: Measure how much higher your cross bars sit than the highest part of your bare roof. Add this to your car’s normal height.
• Compare: Is your car’s new total height (car + bars) less than the car wash’s maximum height?
• Consider Width: While height is the main issue, check the width too. If your bars stick out far, look at how much side space there is in the wash tunnel.

If it’s close, or if you’re not sure, don’t risk it. Clearance issues car wash roof rack problems can cause serious damage.

Assessing Is Car Wash Safe With Roof Bars

There’s no single “yes” or “no” answer to is car wash safe with roof bars. It’s about managing risk.

When It Might Be Safe

• You have strong, well-attached factory cross bars designed for your car.
• The cross bars are empty and have no attachments on them.
• You are using a touchless car wash.
• The car wash has clear signs saying roof racks are okay, and your bars meet the height/width limits.
• Your cross bars passed your personal check (they are tight, no visible damage).

When It’s Probably Not Safe (Higher Risk)

• You have older, worn, or loose aftermarket cross bars.
• The bars wiggle or feel unstable.
• You are using a brush or friction car wash.
• The car wash signs say no roof racks, or you are unsure about clearance.
• You have a cargo box, bike rack, or other item attached to the bars. (This is almost always a remove cross bars before car wash situation, or at least remove the attachments).
• Your cross bars have complex shapes or many small plastic parts that could catch on brushes.

Ultimately, you have to decide if the risk is worth it.

Tips for Washing Your Car with Cross Bars

If you decide to go through an automatic wash with your cross bars on, here are some tips.

Before You Enter

• Remove Everything: This is key. Take off bike racks, ski racks, cargo boxes, and anything else attached to the cross bars. The bare cross bars are much less likely to cause problems than items attached to them. Sometimes, removing the attachment is enough, without needing to remove cross bars before car wash.
• Double-Check Attachment: Give the bars a quick shake. Make sure they are still tight.
• Check Car Wash Rules: Look for signs. Do they mention roof racks? Are there height limits?
• Consider the Wash Type: If possible, choose a touchless wash over a brush wash.
• Fold Side Mirrors: Always fold in your side mirrors. This helps protect them and the car wash equipment.
• Lower Antenna: If you have a long, flexible antenna, it’s usually fine. But if it’s a stiff one or looks fragile, you might need to lower or remove it.

During the Wash

• Stay in Your Car: Follow the car wash instructions.
• Listen for Strange Noises: If you hear loud banging or scraping, stop the car if the wash system allows and it is safe to do so, or note the problem to report it afterward.

After the Wash

• Inspect Your Bars: Once your car is clean, look closely at your cross bars and their mounting points. Are they still tight? Are there any new scratches, dents, or cracks?
• Inspect Your Car: Check the paint and roof around where the bars attach.
• Check the Car Wash: If you think your bars might have hit something or caused damage, tell the car wash staff right away.

When Should You Remove Cross Bars Before Car Wash?

Knowing when to remove cross bars before car wash is important for preventing damage car wash cross bars or your car.

Reasons to Remove the Bars

• You Use a Brush Wash Often: The repeated stress from brushes over time can loosen even strong mounts.
• Your Bars Feel Loose: If they don’t feel rock solid, take them off. It’s not worth the risk.
• The Car Wash Prohibits Them: If the car wash sign says “No Roof Racks,” “No Cross Bars,” or “No Aftermarket Accessories,” follow the rule.
• Your Bars Are Old or Cheap: Low-quality materials or worn parts are more likely to fail.
• You Have Items Permanently Mounted: Some people leave bike carriers or cargo baskets on. These must be removed. If removing the item means the cross bars are also easy to take off, then maybe take the bars too.
• Peace of Mind: If you are very worried about damage, removing them is the safest option.

How Hard Is It to Remove Them?

It varies. Some cross bar systems are designed to be removed fairly easily using a simple tool. Others are more complex. Check the instructions that came with your specific bars. If it’s a big hassle, you might just stick to hand washing or self-serve washes when the bars are on.

Grasping Roof Rack Car Wash Compatibility

Roof rack car wash compatibility isn’t just about the bars themselves. It’s about the whole setup interacting with the wash type.

Factors Affecting Compatibility

• Cross Bar Design:
  • Shape: Aerodynamic (like airplane wings) or square/round bars? Smooth bars are less likely to catch.
  • Material: Metal is generally stronger than plastic.
  • Parts: Are there lots of small, breakable plastic parts?
• Mounting System:
  • How it attaches: Do they clamp onto side rails? Do they use fixed points on the roof? Are they held by suction cups (avoid automatic washes completely with suction cups!)?
  • Strength of the mount: Is the mount made of sturdy metal or thin plastic?
  • How tight is it? A loose mount is a weak mount.
• Car Design:
  • Type of roof: Does your car have strong, built-in roof rails? Or are the mount points just little doors in the roof trim?
  • Roof strength: Is the roof strong enough to handle potential forces?
• Car Wash Equipment:
  • Brush Type: Soft cloth vs. stiff plastic bristles.
  • Brush Movement: How do they spin and move around the car?
  • Water Pressure: How high is the pressure in touchless washes?
  • Blower Strength: How powerful are the dryers?

A strong, well-designed cross bar system on a car built to carry roof loads is much more compatible with most automatic washes (especially touchless) than a flimsy aftermarket system on a car not really designed for roof racks.

Potential Damage Explained

Let’s get a little more detail on damage car wash cross bars and your car.

Damage to the Bars

• Scratches: Brushes or even high-pressure water can scratch the finish on the bars. This can lead to rust if the bars are metal.
• Bending: Strong forces can bend metal bars or the mounting brackets.
• Breaking: Plastic parts, end caps, or even the bars themselves can snap off. Mounts can break.
• Loosening: The bolts or clamps holding the bars on can vibrate loose over time with repeated washing.

Damage to Your Car

• Paint Scratches: If a bar loosens or breaks, it can hit your roof or sides, causing scratches or dents. The mounting points themselves can rub and damage the paint if they are loose.
• Roof Damage: In severe cases, a broken mount could damage the metal or structure of your roof. This is rare but possible if a lot of force is applied.
• Damage to Roof Rails/Mounts: The parts on your car where the cross bars attach can be damaged. Clips can break, bolt holes can be stressed, or plastic trim can be ripped off.
• Water Leaks: Damage to the roof or mounting points could potentially lead to water leaks inside your car later on.

Damage to the Car Wash

• Broken Brushes/Cloths: Your cross bars catching on the wash materials can rip or break them.
• Damaged Machinery: If a bar comes off or jams, it can damage the robotic arms or conveyor system.

Because of the risk of damaging their equipment, many car wash operators are cautious about vehicles with anything extra on the roof. This is why checking their signs is so important.

Comparing Car Wash Types and Roof Racks

Here’s a simple table looking at car wash types and roof racks:

Car Wash Type	Risk Level for Cross Bars	Main Risks	Best Practice with Bars
Brush/Friction	High	Brushes catching, pulling, bending; clearance	Avoid if possible. Remove bars if unsure.
Touchless	Medium-Low	High-pressure water/air loosening mounts; clearance	Check security of bars. Check height limit.
Self-Serve (Wand)	Very Low	Only if you spray carelessly	Control spray, avoid direct hits on mounts.
Hand Wash (by you)	Very Low	Only if you are careless washing them	Safest option for cleaning around bars.
Professional Hand Wash	Low	Check if they have experience with roof racks	Ask staff if they are careful with roof bars.

For automatic car wash with roof rack, the touchless option is generally the less risky one.

More on Drive-Through Car Wash Roof Rack Use

Most people asking this question are thinking about the automatic drive-through car wash roof rack experience.

Things to Remember in a Drive-Through

• Follow All Instructions: Pay attention to lights, signs, and attendant directions.
• Stay Centered: Keep your car aligned on the track in tunnel washes. This helps prevent side-to-side clearance issues.
• Antenna and Mirrors: Always deal with these before you enter.
• No Sticking Out Parts: Make sure kayak paddles, tent poles, or anything else is removed.

The tunnel environment is designed for standard vehicles. Anything that makes your vehicle non-standard increases the risk. This includes things like wide tires, lowered suspension, lift kits, and yes, roof racks and cross bars.

Summary: Safe or Not Safe?

Bringing it all together: Is car wash safe with roof bars? It can be, but it’s not guaranteed.

• Safest Option: Hand washing or self-serve wash.
• Next Safest: Touchless automatic wash, after checking your bars are tight and fit the height limit.
• Most Risky: Brush automatic wash. Avoid this if you can, or remove your bars.

Always check your specific cross bars, their attachment points, and the rules and limits of the car wash you want to use. When in doubt, remove cross bars before car wash or choose a different washing method. Paying a bit more for a hand wash or spending time at a self-serve bay is much cheaper than repairing damage car wash cross bars, your car, or the car wash equipment.

Key Takeaways

• Cross bars add risk in automatic washes.
• Brush washes are generally riskier than touchless washes for roof racks.
• Always remove cargo boxes or carriers.
• Check your bars for tightness and damage before washing.
• Verify your car’s height (with bars) against the wash’s limit (clearance issues car wash roof rack).
• Read car wash signs carefully regarding roof racks.
• When in doubt, hand wash or remove the bars.

Taking these steps can help you keep your cross bars and your car safe and avoid unexpected damage and costs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

h4 What if my car wash sign says “No Roof Racks”?

If a car wash sign says “No Roof Racks” or similar, they mean it. Do not enter the wash with your cross bars on. They have this rule because they know their equipment could damage roof racks or that roof racks could damage their equipment. Ignoring the sign means you are likely responsible for any damage that happens.

h4 Can factory installed cross bars go through a car wash?

Factory installed cross bars are generally more robust and better integrated into the vehicle’s design than aftermarket bars. They are more likely to be okay in a touchless wash, assuming they are in good condition and tightly attached. However, even factory bars can be damaged by brushes or extreme pressure if there are clearance issues car wash roof rack or if the specific wash is very aggressive. It’s still wise to inspect them and consider the wash type. Brush washes are still risky even with factory bars.

h4 My cross bars are very low profile. Are they safe in a brush wash?

Low profile bars reduce clearance issues car wash roof rack height problems, but they can still catch on brushes, especially if they have parts that stick out or if the brushes get underneath them. The force of the brushes can still damage the mounting points even if the bar itself doesn’t hit the top of the tunnel. Touchless is still safer.

h4 Will high pressure water in a touchless wash damage the finish on my cross bars?

It’s possible. Very high pressure water can sometimes chip paint or coatings, especially if they are already weak or damaged. However, this is less common than physical damage from brushes. Most standard cross bar finishes should withstand normal touchless wash pressure if they are in good condition.

h4 Is it okay to leave an empty bike rack on the cross bars in a car wash?

No. You should almost always remove bike racks, ski racks, cargo boxes, or any other attachments from your cross bars before going through an automatic car wash. These items are much more likely to catch on brushes or be damaged by high-pressure water and air than the bare cross bars.

h4 How often do cross bars actually get damaged in car washes?

Exact numbers are hard to find, but damage happens often enough that many car washes have warning signs or ban roof racks entirely. The risk goes up significantly with brush washes, older or loose bars, and aftermarket systems compared to well-maintained factory setups in touchless washes.

h4 Can I just go slowly through the car wash?

In most automatic drive-through washes, your speed is controlled by a conveyor or the machine itself. You cannot control the speed. Even if you could, going slowly might mean the brushes or water jets are focused on the bars for a longer time, potentially increasing the risk rather than reducing it.

h4 My cross bars make a lot of wind noise. Will the car wash make them louder or more likely to fail?

Wind noise itself doesn’t directly relate to car wash safety. However, if the noise is due to the bars being poorly fitted or loose, then yes, the forces in a car wash could make them looser or cause damage. If your bars are noisy, it might be a sign they aren’t perfectly installed or tightened, which increases the risk in a wash.

h4 Should I wrap my cross bars before going through a car wash?

Wrapping your cross bars with tape or plastic is generally not recommended as a safety measure for automatic car washes. The materials used in washes are very strong, and tape or plastic could easily rip off and potentially cause other problems in the wash machinery. The best way to protect your bars and car is to follow the advice on wash type selection, checking bar tightness, and removing attachments.

h4 What’s the difference between roof rails and cross bars?

Roof rails run along the length of the car’s roof, usually from front to back. Cross bars run across the width of the car, attaching to the roof rails or direct-mount points. You typically attach carriers (like bike racks or cargo boxes) to the cross bars. Automatic car washes are generally okay with just the roof rails themselves, as they are usually low-profile and part of the car’s design. The risk increases when you add cross bars onto the rails.

h4 Does the material of the cross bars matter?

Yes, it can. Metal bars (like aluminum or steel) are generally stronger than plastic ones. However, the mounting points are often the weakest link, and these can be plastic even with metal bars. The finish on the material also matters, as it can be scratched by brushes or high pressure.

h4 I have aerodynamic cross bars. Are they safer in car washes?

Aerodynamic cross bars are designed to reduce wind noise and improve fuel efficiency. Their smooth shape might be slightly less likely to catch on brushes compared to sharp-edged square bars. However, they are still exposed to the same forces. The material and mounting strength are still the most important factors for roof rack car wash compatibility.

h4 What if my cross bars have integrated tie-down points?

Tie-down points that stick up could potentially catch on brushes or wash equipment. Smooth, integrated points are better than hooks or loops that protrude significantly. It’s another feature that increases the risk in a brush wash.

h4 My cross bars are bolted directly into the roof. Is this safer?

Systems that bolt directly into reinforced points in the car’s roof are often very strong and secure. This type of mounting is generally more robust than clamp-on systems for cars without rails. While this reduces the risk of the mount failing, the bars themselves are still exposed to wash forces, and clearance issues car wash roof rack are still a concern. It makes the attachment safer, but doesn’t eliminate all risks from the wash environment itself.

h4 How do I know if my aftermarket cross bars are good quality?

Research the brand before you buy. Read reviews. Good quality aftermarket bars from reputable brands (like Thule, Yakima, Rhino-Rack) are usually well-engineered and use strong materials. Cheaper, unknown brands bought online might use lower quality materials or have weaker mounting systems. The fit specifically for your car model is also crucial for a secure attachment.

h4 Is water getting under the cross bars a problem in a car wash?

Yes, especially in a touchless wash with high pressure. If water gets forced into the mounting points or under the bars where they touch the roof, it can put stress on the seals and potentially lead to leaks into the car or damage to the roof paint underneath the mount over time. A good mounting system should seal well against the car’s roof.

h4 Can washing with cross bars void my car’s warranty?

Generally, using a car wash will not void your car’s overall warranty. However, if you damage your roof or paint specifically because you took cross bars through a car wash that caused the damage, the car manufacturer might argue that the damage was not due to a defect in the car but due to external force or improper use of accessories. Check your car’s owner’s manual for any specific warnings about car washes and roof racks.

h4 What should I do if my cross bars get damaged in a car wash?

If you notice damage right after leaving the wash, report it to the car wash staff immediately. Take pictures of the damage. If the damage seems serious or affects your car’s roof, you might need to contact your car insurance company. If the damage was caused because the wash ignored their own rules (e.g., signs said roof racks were allowed but they still caused damage), you might have a claim against the car wash. If you ignored their rules (e.g., went in with bars when signs said no), you are likely responsible.

h4 Can I hand wash my car with cross bars on?

Yes, absolutely. Hand washing is the safest way to clean your car with cross bars installed. You have complete control over where the water, soap, and wash mitt go. You can easily clean around the bars and the mounting points without putting stress on them.

h4 Do rain guards/visors on windows affect car wash safety with cross bars?

Window rain guards are also items that can catch on brushes in an automatic wash. Their safety is a separate concern from cross bars, but if you have multiple aftermarket items sticking out from your car, the overall risk in a brush wash increases. Touchless washes are usually safer for rain guards too.