I just recently got a 95 z28. I wash it by hand all the time. But I was wondering if the automatic touch free car wash with the undercarriage spray would damage the opti? Thanks for the help

 

From what i've read around here in a few places, it's not so much water as it is coolant that eats the opti's. i would just keep washing it by hand to be safe.

 

Keep washing it by hand. I learned the hard way I bought my car with a blown head gasket and it also had a bad opti. Anyway I replaced the opti and I was driving around with my friend and he said let's go get this thing washed and clean and he offered to pay so I went to some shell automatic car wash and after I payed the guy for the deluxe car wash that had the under carrige wash I realized it might screw up my opti and i tried to tell the guy I didn't want it washed anymore and I wanted to back out but because I was already in the track thing and there were cars behind me he wouldn't let me back out so I told him to turn off the under carrige wash (which he didn't) I went threw and boom a couple days later my car started missing and acting like crap so I had to fork out another 500 for another opti.

 

Ex-nay on the under carriage wash

Anything from big puddles to heavy rains will trash opti's, just avoid it all together.

 

I bought my 95 Z28 Vert new, now it has 270000 miles on it. For the first 10 years I was very careful not to get the engine wet, the engine was looking pretty grungy so I figured it was time to clean it. I bought a new waterpump and opti. I soaked the entire engine compartment down with degreaser, after sitting for 30 minutes I took the pressure washer and cleaned everything for 45 minutes. Top, bottom, front back, both sides and underneath thoroughly. After letting it sit for about an hour I fired it up and it has run good ever since. I still have the new water pump and Opti sitting on the shelf. Now I wash it down whenever it starts looking dirty.
I really think this business about the opti is exaggerated
Ron

 

i use to get free car washes as a delivery driver and a couple times i was in my camaro and always had undercarriage wash and it runs just fine

 

i get my car washed 2x a week at the dealership i work at (usually free) and i get the deluxe car wash and i spray my motor down all the way with degreaser and everything... so far never had my car's opti go bad. i got around 156k miles on it and im pretty sure its never been changed out lol