Tommy's Express® Car Wash

Reviews

• KH

  Kyle hankins

  2 days ago
  5.0
  I have been using there ultimate wash since they opened up here in ephrata. Service here is always great.
• RM

  Ryan McKinley

  May 12, 2026
  1.0
  I recently visited the Ephrata Tommy’s Express and experienced a clear equipment failure that nearly caused a collision inside the tunnel. Their dual-belt Tommy Transporter® conveyor system applied an abrupt, high-jerk tractive force to my vehicle during loading, yanking it forward uncontrollably and closing the gap to the car ahead within seconds. For those unfamiliar with the engineering: Tommy’s uses a cleated dual-belt design where transverse flights on the driver-side belt mechanically engage the tire sidewalls/tread. These flights act as positive drive elements, delivering forward propulsive force through a combination of geometric interlocking and friction once the vehicle is in neutral. The system is driven by sprockets and variable frequency drives (VFDs) that should provide a controlled acceleration ramp. Instead, the belt engaged with excessive initial jerk (third derivative of position, d³x/dt³), delivering a sharp impulse that overcame the vehicle’s inertia far too aggressively. This was not an “inertia” issue as the manager claimed, that’s a fundamental misunderstanding of Newton’s first law. Inertia is the resistance to change in motion; the belt supplied the external force that caused the sudden acceleration. Proper conveyor control should use a smooth velocity profile with limited startup acceleration (ideally <0.5 m/s²) and adequate headway sensing via photoeyes or proximity sensors. Here, either belt tension slack, poor VFD ramp programming, sensor timing fault, or attendant override created a snatch load that dragged my car forward dangerously. No damage this time, but only because I was paying close attention and the car ahead moved at the right moment. This is a foreseeable safety hazard in a high-volume automated wash—similar incidents with jerk-induced pull-offs or rear-end risks have been reported on these systems. The manager’s dismissal of legitimate engineering concerns with a vague physics excuse was unprofessional and indicates they don’t understand (or don’t want to address) their own equipment. Tommy’s needs to: • Implement better VFD acceleration curves and tension monitoring to eliminate startup snatch. • Train staff on actual system mechanics instead of blaming customers. They have to stagger loading much more for engineered issues or poor operational maintenance. • Add interlocks or pauses for tight headway situations. I won’t be returning until they demonstrate they can control their conveyors safely. Avoid this location if you value your vehicle and time. Plenty of other washes manage smooth belt engagement without turning loading into a near-miss. -15 years maintenance experience, BS MBA DR DOSH-I
• LM

  Lisa marie

  May 8, 2026
  5.0
  best car wash I’ve been too. Tomas helped me claim the free 30 days and I had no complaints about my wash. I highly recommend Tommys and the unlimited plans! Everyone here is so nice, I will definitely be a long term customer.
• SC

  shire ciran

  May 8, 2026
  5.0
  Great car wash. Best place I have ever been. Everyone is so nice. I like the short brunette
• TD

  tami dom

  Apr 21, 2026
  4.0
  Most of the time my car gets a great wash. There have been a couple washes that were not the best. I love the vacuum and mat washers. My biggest problem is that I drive a rav 4 hybrid with traction co trol. It doesn't look like it is in neutral when it is. Your attendants freak out every time I go through, hollering for me to put the vehicle in neutral and the sign lights up red...its embarrassing. It would be nice if you educated your attendants so that I don't go through this with every wash.

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