Karcher's Klean!Star automatic car wash officially starts operations at Esso Lorong Chuan

[kobayashiGT]

Source: https://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-news-karcher-kleanstar-automatic-car-wash-esso-lorong-chuan-price

The ongoing labour crunch has forced businesses to look at ways to automate certain aspects of their operations. And for Esso petrol stations, it means the comeback of the automatic car wash. 

Beginning today, car washes at Esso's Lorong Chuan outlet will be a mostly automated affair thanks to the installation of a Karcher Klean!Star car wash system.

Apart from freeing up manpower for other more high-value tasks, the Karcher system is also efficient in its use of water. 

According to Karcher, its Klean!Star system can recycle as much as 85% of the water used in a wash. The collected water is sent to two holding tanks under the car wash and is then recycled using a Karcher water treatment unit. 

Karcher claims that in doing so, the system can save 6.57 million litres of water a year (based on 120 car washes a day).

Ensuring a thorough wash

 

To ensure a thorough yet scratch-free wash, the system uses specially-designed polyethylene foam brushes that are gentle on the paint. Furthermore, sensors are used to guide and the brushes and the brushes themselves were designed so that they don't trap debris – owners can be assured that the brushes are clean for each wash. Check it out in action above.

The wheels are said to be one of the hardest parts of a car to clean and to do that the Klean!Star system has a dedicated wheel wash unit that has integrated high-pressure water jets and sensors to ensure wheels of all sizes are properly cleaned. 

Finally, after the cars are cleaned, a high-pressure blower is deployed to blow dry the car. Again, sensors are used to ensure the blower follows the contours of the car as closely as possible to ensure proper drying.

 

My thoughts

Having seen the system in action, it seems to do a decent job for the price. I saw two cars being washed and they looked fresh after the process. The blow dryer does a fairly good job too. I'd say the cars were about 85% dry after coming out from the car wash.

The main advantage of this system is that it ensures consistent performance, as opposed to manual washing where the quality of the wash can differ depending on who's doing the job and at what time of the day.

Do I think it's superior to detailing studios or specialised car washing operations? Probably not. A manual wash done by professionals is likely going to yield better results. However, they cost more, take longer, and are often located in places that are not so accessible. 

At the price, I think it's worth a try to see if it's something that'll work for you.

 

Locations and pricing

The Karcher Klean!Star system is currently in operation at Esso Lorong Chuan with more locations coming in the months ahead.

Two other locations currently undergoing installation works include Esso Toa Payoh Lorong 2 and Esso Bedok North. They will come online later this year.

Prices of a wash start at S$11 for a regular sedan.

[Inlinefour]

not very clean 

 

cos birdie poo poo marks 

 

still need to manually clean off 

 

 

 

take note if you want to try

 

remember to fold wing mirrors 👍

Edited October 27, 2022 by Inlinefour

[Volvobrick]

The brushes for the wheels look so worn-out already..... 

[Inlinefour]

Just now, Volvobrick said:

The brushes for the wheels look so worn-out already..... 

so that it doesn’t scratch your rims 🤫

[Blueray]

any liscount for Singapore largest car forum ?

 

[kobayashiGT]

We are going back in time!!!!! hahahahaha 

[Arogab]

Same thread lah, there is another car wash thread leh @kobayashiGT🤣

[kobayashiGT]

16 hours ago, Arogab said:

Same thread lah, there is another car wash thread leh @kobayashiGT🤣

which one ah. I merge! 

 

[Arogab]

4 minutes ago, kobayashiGT said:

which one ah. I merge! 

 

You mod leh. The one talking about why we don't have this kind of car wash in SG lah

[kobayashiGT]

1 hour ago, Arogab said:

You mod leh. The one talking about why we don't have this kind of car wash in SG lah

I lazy mod mah

hahah

[Watwheels]

Recycled water? But my car is not a toilet leh.

If want to go green do it properly like an underground tank to collect rain water. Mix of rain and tap water supply use to wash car.

 

[mersaylee]

I've been using auto wash ever since crude oil was above 50 dollah...but sometimes the waiting time can be quite long...like a week or two before it rains...😁

[Arogab]

3 hours ago, kobayashiGT said:

I lazy mod mah

hahah

you very daring to tell in this group with your boss @RadX around😂

[kobayashiGT]

15 minutes ago, Arogab said:

you very daring to tell in this group with your boss @RadX around😂

He don't even wanna meet me for dinner. I sad. hahahaha 

[Arogab]

9 minutes ago, kobayashiGT said:

He don't even wanna meet me for dinner. I sad. hahahaha 

You go play tanni s lah🤣

[kobayashiGT]

6 minutes ago, Arogab said:

You go play tanni s lah🤣

Must see who my opponent first... 🤣 

 

[Arogab]

9 minutes ago, kobayashiGT said:

Must see who my opponent first... 🤣 

 

This kind of opponent later give you one smash and your boss sure come to get you one. 帮你收尸🤣

[Knighthunter]

It's full circle now with labor crunch. In the past there were few automated carwashes, once that I frequently visited was Shell near Christ The King church in AMK and BP opposite  Bishan park (now SPC). One day if I am not wrong in 2006/2007 I met owner/manager of the car wash when his guy manually drying my Mazda 6 SP HB after the blower system malfunction and told me cost to maintain the machine is too high also locals were prefer manual hand wash. He told me is cheaper to hire another 2-3 FW to run his car wash than continue to operate car washing machine. I was like $6 back then to wash the car. 

Edited October 30, 2022 by Knighthunter