Chemistry is the single biggest controllable variable in cost-per-car. Pick the wrong dilution and you bleed margin. Pick the wrong chemistry and you damage clear coat. Here's the short version.
Presoak
A good presoak does three things: clings, lifts road film, and is safe on paint. Look for pH 9.5–11.5, phosphate-free, and a dilution range you can actually hit on your injectors. Our Sun Seal® Hi-Foam Presoak runs 1:80 to 1:200 depending on water hardness.
Triple-color foam
Foam is presentation, not cleaning. The thicker and brighter, the more customers feel they got value. Triple-color foam at 1:200 lets you upsell a $3–5 add-on with under $0.05 of chemistry cost per car.
Drying agent
Drying agent is non-negotiable if you have a dryer. It changes the water surface tension and lets the dryer sheet water off in 4–6 seconds instead of 12–18. Our Sun Seal® Drying Agent runs 1:500 — about $0.02 per car.
Cost-per-car math
A well-tuned tunnel runs total chemistry at $0.18–0.28 per car. If you're above $0.35, your injectors are out of calibration or you're using the wrong product for your water.
Need a Coleman-Hanna chemistry rep to walk through your site? Call 1-800-999-9878.