Shell Encinitas Car Wash

Do not use this car wash! Completely ruined my new Audi. I guess I should have read the reviews first.
I went into this car wash with a very mildly dusty brand new Audi and came out of it with scratches all over it the vehicle!
Like the other reviewers on here, they gave me the same story they give everyone: «Our car wash wouldn’t do that».
I asked the guy how I could go into the car wash with a brand new car and come out of it with the paint job ruined by scratches and he didn’t have an answer for me. But he did offer to have it buffed out, which was odd to me, since he claimed his car wash didn’t cause it.
They tried to buff it out and it didn’t help. The scratches went right through the paint and I have to get the entire new car repainted. I can’t say enough bad things about this place. They run a sleazy operation and they will ruin your car. STAY AWAY!

1 star? I do not use the car wash though. But 13 free places with vacuums to clean car and always available. That is great! And gas prices are fair! Water and air too. Have to give this place a thumbs up!

My neighbor is doing some landscaping in their yard. My house is directly downwind from their front yard being worked on. So I’m finding myself getting needing washes more often than not recently. I needed something quick and cheap so found the Shell Car Wash. This is an automated car wash with brushes. I try to avoid the «touchless» washes as I’ve tried them many times. While the surface dust gets washed away, I always find a layer of grime that can only be washed away with a brush or sponge.
It’s a real convenient location off the 5 freeway at Encinitas Blvd. Kinda hard to get to the actual wash entrance since it’s all the way on the other side and through the gas pumps, but I managed.
Four different washes range from $ 6.50 basic up to $ 12 for the super duper squeeky clean and shiny. Not bad for an automated wash. They use a hand brush and spray initially before your car actually enters the wash to get surface dirt and whatever else off. Spinning and swaying brushes finish off your car inside the wash before a drying cloth is dragged across the top of the car and blowers finish off most of the lingering water drops.
At the end, I still have some water spots, but nothing a quick toweling off won’t fix.
Can’t complain about a cheap quick wash. Staff are at the wash entrance to help set you up so you don’t have to go inside to purchase a wash ticket. Open 6 AM — 10 PM daily.
Keep on Unilocal’n!

Sounds like this place needs a 2^nd account of the wash alone. Until that day comes I’ll split my review into 2 parts.
From the freeway it looks like an awesome gas station. An oasis, a sight for sore eyes for the weary traveler. I don’t know if they are trying to make it harder to pull in here with the sort of long way around entrance the entire lot needs repaving so either someone or the city needs to pony up on that. They just recently put in a slew of new interior cleaning systems, aka vaccums and trash cans. They’ve always plenty of unobstructed space, but it’s also always needed a new paint job, like everywhere. Price is ok, service is generally bad from the convenience store. I would not trust the ice cream. I saw a few bars just chilling on top of the machine, not inside them, someone is gonna put those back, someone is gonna buy then and get sick and sue them. Forgettable. Thought just as hard to get into the Chevron and others nearby are the better options.
Car wash. I drive an 07 with almost 200K on it so I’m mainly washing grit and grime off it, not soot and dust like so many locals. Frankly I don’t care about the paint at all, so yeah I used them despite the negativity. I’ve not had scratches and it’s not a value so for sure got somewhere else.
There is a Chevron west, north and a better shell east. If you must get your car washed instead of using this option, you need to re-​prioritize your life.

I like this station because the gas is usually cheaper, and today I was especially pleased because if you bought a car wash, you saved a little more. BUT imagine my shock when I chose the car wash that is normally $ 6.00 has DOUBLED IN PRICE!!! Yes, that’s right, now for a cheap, drive through car wash it cost $ 12.00!!! Seriously, DO NOT GET A CAR WASH HERE! Drive up to El Camino Real and for the same price, they’ll vacuum your car, and wipe down the inside for the same price at Olson’s Car Wash, 127 S El Camino Real. Really Shell Encinitas? TWELVE DOLLARS? Ridiculous!!!

Really awful service and staff. Once in awhile I’ll drop in to rehydrate after a workout, but this time the attendant left me waiting in line several minutes while she refilled coffee machines and then has the gall to ask me not to drink the drink I was buying when the whole point of coming there was to rehydrate quickly. I’ll go to my usual spot from now on and skip the confrontational staff that works here.

I wish I could give this place Zero Stars. AWFUL. I have been here a few times and it was never great, but today was exceptionally awful. I will never go back to waste my money or time again. I got back in my car, and they had not even wiped down my dashboard! I used my own sweater to wipe it down. I looked down at my automatic shift, and again, it looked like it had been untouched. Still dirty. Clearly they were not using any kind of cleaning products inside the car… or even a rag or vacuum from what it looked like!
It got worse when I turned around to see my back seat. I had sand on the seat from my 5 year old and it was still ALL over the seat! I wasn’t expecting a miracle, its what happens with kids, but it was literally as if they had not TOUCHED the back of my car. I again, got out and used my sweater to brush off the sand. Don’t waste your time or money here, there are better car washes near by, do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Nice enough staff. They don’t use any type of windex so your windows have a white film after each wash. Cheap!

NO Stars!!! Just SCRATCHES ON MY BRAND NEW PAINT job… wasn’t wanting to run my car thru because of my brand new great paint job, I hand washed it myself just prior to this… but was heading out of town the next day and saw a seagull nailed it bad so I took the chance… BAD, BAD IDEA… wiping it down after noticed several areas scratched!!! When talking to lead that day… and manager a week later… BOTH SAID SORRY BUT OUR WASH DOESN’T OR WOULDN’T DO THAT!!! But I explained it was new paint andthe scrathes were not there before… Sorry …nothing we can do because our wash wouldn’t do that! WELL FOLKS YOU DO THE MATH… WOULD YOU USE THEM TO WASH YOUR VALUABLE CAR AND PAINT JOB??? I NEVER, EVER WILL DO THAT AGAIN… OR RECOMMEND THEM AT ALL!!! WOULD YOU? By the way, we have used them for years since living here in Encinitas… but first time after a new expensive paint job!!! Foolishly thinking of a better outcome… not have them re-​paint but just pay to buff out at least… NOT!!! Do yourself a favor Chevron on the other side of the freeway has an outside wash for $ 4.99 and does a GREAT JOB!