2012 Pilot + Car Wash = smoke from under hood

[oclv14]

Just bought my first pilot (2012 EXL). Have taken it twice to the same touchless drive through car wash. After the wash is complete and I drive out of the bay there is smoke coming out from the grill/under the hood. Anyone else experience anything like this? Any ideas?

Also my mileage calculator in the car is running about 10% higher than when I calculate mileage the old fashion way. For example, the Pilot will show that I had 26.0 miles/gallon and when I fill up and divide mileage by # of gallons it will come out to 23.4 miles/gallon. Any idea why the Pilot is 10% high?

More concerned about the car wash issue. Other than that, really like the Pilot so far.

[LanceHS]

Smoke...or steam from the high pressure water hitting hot parts of the engine/exhaust?

[rocky]

Steam from water hitting exhaust etc

[1YESfan]

Could it be Satan hiding in your engine compartment? ;-)

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by oclv14

Just bought my first pilot (2012 EXL). Have taken it twice to the same touchless drive through car wash. After the wash is complete and I drive out of the bay there is smoke coming out from the grill/under the hood. Anyone else experience anything like this? Any ideas?

Also my mileage calculator in the car is running about 10% higher than when I calculate mileage the old fashion way. For example, the Pilot will show that I had 26.0 miles/gallon and when I fill up and divide mileage by # of gallons it will come out to 23.4 miles/gallon. Any idea why the Pilot is 10% high?

More concerned about the car wash issue. Other than that, really like the Pilot so far.

MPG=Honda Computer Math. Wait for a few thousand miles on the clock and it will get a little closer as in 0.5 to 1.0 mpg difference with the Honda having a higher MPG than calculated.

[mmm666]

automatic car wash is expensive. $6 is the cheapest one they have.

[falgun]

Originally Posted by mmm666

automatic car wash is expensive. $6 is the cheapest one they have.

WOW thats expensive, here its 2.99 and come summer lots of places with 1.99 touchless with vaccuming!!!

[pntballgunz]

Stay away touchless if you want to preserve the paint. Touchless uses harsh chemicals to clean and strips waxes and protective coatings. In fact, any pay type carwash is bad for paint.

[jl_ss]

Originally Posted by pntballgunz

Stay away touchless if you want to preserve the paint. Touchless uses harsh chemicals to clean and strips waxes and protective coatings. In fact, any pay type carwash is bad for paint.

I have used touchless car washes for many years now. The alternative is a brush wash or a self wash with a brush that is usually dirty. So it is scratches versus chemicals. In the winter in the snow states, washing by hand is not an option in the winter. I typically keep our vehicles for 5-8 yrs. Our paint is not scratched from brush washes and not damaged from "harsh chemicals. Plus there is no rust or corrosion because I keep it clean during the winter via touchless washes. Two of our vehicles are 6 and 7 yrs old and have had touchless washes since new. The paint on each looks new (and is not scratched). I waxed each once a year for the first 3 yrs, then just selected the wax option in the touchless wash for the remainder. Most people can't believe our vehicles are as old as they are.