Houlton Car Wash installs new carwash system

GOING THROUGH — A vehcile goes through the new Oasis Typhoon, which was installed by Houlton Car Wash. The Oasis Typhoon is a state-of-the-art carwash system, which is eco-friendly. A vehicle is prepped and it takes three-and-a-half minutes to go through the carwash system.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Around Thanksgiving, the Houlton Car Wash underwent a major renovation when owner Tony Delucca overhauled his in-bay automatic car wash, rebuilding the area and adding a no-touch Oasis Typhoon carwash system.
    “We kept putting too many pieces in the old one,” explained Delucca. “You can keep adding and adding, but you still have an old machine. Something else will wear out, so, sooner or later, you’ve got to do it and we did it.”
    The Oasis Typhoon is a technological advancement and an eco-friendly carwash system. The old machine was wearing out and Delucca decided to install the new in-bay car wash because of its efficiency and drying system.
    This is the fourth car wash Delucca has installed since he opened the business nearly 25 years ago.
    “When you see it work, you will know it cleans,” said Delucca.
    Once a car enters the drive-in area, a Houlton Car Wash worker preps the car by rinsing off the grime, grit and ice chunks, if possible. If the ice is solid, staff will not remove it. If it is a warm day, the ice chunks will fall from the car with the rinse.
    “While one car is being washed in the bay, another is being prepped,” said Delucca. “People don’t like to wait too long. I figure three-and-a-half minutes per car is not too bad.”
    The driver than proceeds to the car wash system, setting their front wheel against a yellow rail to start the wash.
    The first of the washing is to the important undercarriage of a car.
    Delucca pointing to the metal tray where the debris gathers, said, “See what it takes off. This is cleaned a couple of times a day. The washer is very powerful. We have a lot of salt today and it is very corrosive. It eats everything up.”
    “I like the way it cleans under the car,” added a patron.
    The car is cleaned and depending on the wash chosen, the treatments are applied. There are three options to choose from ranging from $9 to $12. All cleaners are biodegradable and the water is conditioned to make sure the cleaners work properly.
    The final rinse is done with pure water for spot-free drying. The Oasis Typhoon is connected to a reverse osmosis machine. The water is filtered into a 300-gallon tank that can make 6,000 gallons of pure water a day.
    “We don’t use that much,” said Delucca. “But, it can make it pretty quick. The minute the water starts going down, the machine begins making more.”
    A car stays in the no-touch washing system for three-and-a-half minutes and then automatically moves to the dryer before heading out the door.
    “Our car wash before had a built-in dryer,” explained Delucca. “It had to go back and forth over the car. This dryer came with three dryer motors and we added two more. In this part of the world, it gets so cold that if a car goes out wet, it would become a sheet of ice. So, we really have to blow it off.”
    The car automatically moves along slowly through the drying area for about a minute. So, in about six minutes the car is completely washed and dried.
    “It is very powerful,” added Delucca. “We are quite proud of it. So far it is working great. One nice thing about it is there are not a lot of moving parts, which brings down the wear and tear, giving it longevity. The boys follow a regular procedure to grease and clean it. Everything is stainless steel and aluminum. I hope it will last us many years.”
DEMONSTRATES — Houlton Car Wash owner Tony Delucca demonstrates how the new money machine works. A person can use cash or credit cards.
    For those not comfortable sitting through a car wash, staff will take patrons’ vehicles through the machine.
     “We will take the car through for them,” said Delucca.
    Though not officially advertising the new car wash, it has gotten word-of-mouth promotion.
    “Our best day, we did 120 vehicles,” said Delucca.
    The new car wash offers credit cards that can be used as well as cash.
    The new makeover not only included a state-of-the-art car wash system, but car bay, which is constructed out of white vinyl for a clean, bright atmosphere. In the spring, Delucca will be installing a whole new heating system in the car bay.
    “We try to be the best we can,” said Delucca. “It pays off in the long run.”
    Houlton Car Wash, located on the North Road, catches vehicles coming off or going onto I-95 for a cleanup in the automatic car wash, but it also provides four separate self-service cleaning bays using conditioned water. A new vending machine holds air fresheners, cleaning towels, several brands of interior cleaning products, as well as bug and tar remover.
    Also, shampooers and vacuums are available to self-service clients, as well as an air machine to inflate slack tires.
    Other cleaning services offered by Houlton Car Wash are a full detailing, with a hand wax job for $145 and another general cleaning — vacuum, Armor All interior, car wash and windows cleaned by hand inside and outside — for $39.95. Depending on how dirty the interior of the vehicle is, another $10 or so may be added.
    “That’s very popular,” said secretary Norma Violette.
    “We provide as much as we can,” Delucca added.
    The Houlton Car Wash is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., but depending on business, the bays will remain open longer, as they do in the summertime.
    Delucca also owns Aroostook Water Care and North Road Storage.   
    “In the next month or so, we are adding another truck leasing company,” he said. “Our town is growing. Little by little, but it is growing.”