Driving Efficiency in Modern Car Washes: Why Solenoid Valve Choice Matters

In automated car wash systems, solenoid valves play a critical role. They control the flow of water, detergents, waxes, and rinse agents, manage high-pressure jets, and enable precise sequencing of wash cycles. Any valve failure or poorly matched valve can result in downtime, inconsistent wash quality, leaks or bursts, or excessive energy and water waste.

Key demands on solenoid valves in this context include:

• Reliability under wet, high-pressure, and chemically aggressive environments

• Fast response times and repeatable cycling

• Wide material compatibility — from plain water to acidic or alkaline cleaning chemicals, foams, waxes, or solvents

• Pressure and flow flexibility — from low-pressure rinse sprays to high-pressure wash nozzles

• Durable construction that resists corrosion, scaling, and wear

ODE, an Italian company founded in 1960, has built a strong reputation precisely in these demanding industrial applications. ODE valves are used in car wash, water treatment, industrial washing machines, chemical dispensing, and other fluid control industries.

Hydronics Depot carries a broad selection of ODE solenoid valves, including many models specifically suited to car wash and water-handling applications, making them accessible to system integrators and service technicians in North America.

Let’s walk through the prominent ODE valve series you mentioned, and how they align with car wash needs.

Spotlight on ODE Series for Car Wash Applications

5116 Series

• This is a general-purpose 2/2-way indirect-acting solenoid valve.

• Port connections include standard pipe fittings or flanges, and bodies are often brass.

• Flow (Kv) is around 35 l/min and the Maximum Operational Pressure Differential (M.O.P.D.) can reach up to 232 PSI.

• It’s well-suited for general rinse water, low-to-medium pressure spray applications, or detergent feed lines, where robustness and a moderate flow rate are required without the need for ultra-high pressure.

31JL Series

• A 3/2-way direct-acting solenoid valve in stainless steel AISI 316 construction. 

• Rated for car wash, chemical, and food & beverage sectors.

• The stainless body makes it suitable where corrosion resistance is critical — for example, in detergent injection points, foam dispensing circuits, or where salt or harsh rinse water are present.

4731 / 4966 Series (High Pressure)

• These series are explicitly designed for high-pressure service.

• They support a wide range of port connections and materials, including stainless steel, techno polymers, and high-pressure brass variants. 

• Ideal for the high-pressure jets used in rinsing, undercarriage wash, or wheel wells. Their rugged construction helps ensure durability and longevity where water hammer and high pressures are the norm.

21A / 21A-XC Series (High Pressure)

• While specific catalogue specs were harder to locate, the “21A” line typically includes rugged general or high-pressure 2/2‐way valves, often with stainless internals or reinforced seals to tolerate aggressive media.

• In car wash systems, a 21A high-pressure valve can be used to switch on/off the main wash nozzles or to control high-pressure soap jets, depending on the exact construction.

• Upto 1450 PSI

31L Series

• Similar in design philosophy to the 31JL, the 31L series offers 3/2-way direct acting valves, often with stainless steel bodies and good flow characteristics.

• They are frequently used in chemical dispensing, fluid mixing, and for more complex car wash fluid routing, where three-way switching (e.g. diverting water to rinse vs. foam circuits) is beneficial.

21X Series

• These are general-purpose 2/2-way valves built for higher flow (Kv up to 160 l/min) and operational pressures up to 290 PSI.

• Stainless steel AISI 316 bodies are common, which suits corrosive media or hard water rinse systems.

• In car washes, the 21X series makes an excellent choice for the central water feed lines or large-volume rinse circuits where both high pressure and high flow are needed.

21PW Series

• General-purpose 2/2 way indirect-acting valves, often brass-bodied, with moderate-to-high flow capacity (32–38 l/min) and up to 290 PSI pressure rating.

• These are good “workhorse” valves for mid-pressure rinse, pre-soak delivery, or medium-flow chemical injectors.

• Their brass construction is a cost-effective choice where stainless steel isn’t strictly required, but pressure and durability demands are still significant.

21H / 21EN Series

• These series are also general-purpose 2/2-way valves, frequently brass-bodied, with flow rates ranging from 20 to 50 l/min and pressure ratings up to 290 PSI.

• They offer a middle ground between cost and robustness, suitable for many car wash auxiliary lines (wax feed, rinse additive injection, blow-off air lines, etc.).

4743 Series

• Another option in the general-purpose category, with a 2/2-way indirect-acting design, brass body, and a flow coefficient around 40 l/min with operational pressures up to 232 PSI.

• Useful where the flow needs are moderate-to-high but the design doesn’t justify super high-pressure valves.

21WA / 21W / 21X Series

• In-direct acting high flow valves with various sealing materials which offers nickel plated brass as well as stainless steel 316 body family.

• In a car wash setting, they could be chosen when the highest corrosion resistance is required together with reliable flow control, especially in bleach or salt-water rinse stages.

21HT Series / 21TG Series

• In car wash systems that include steam cleaning, hot-water stages, or heated rinse water, HT variants would be particularly valuable. These use EPDM and ruby sealing material.

21L Series / 21JL Series

• These serve as general-purpose valves.

• The 21JL could combine features of the 21-series valve body with a more corrosion-resistant internal construction with Teflon sealing material, suitable for long life in harsh wash environments.

Why ODE Leads the Pack in Car Wash Fluid Control

Putting together all those models, a few themes emerge that explain why ODE solenoid valves are so popular in car wash systems:

1. Wide-ranging product line
   ODE offers valves that span from general-purpose water feed (5116, 21PW) to specialized high-pressure jets (4731, 4966) to stainless-steel chemical-resistant valves (31JL, 21X). A car wash designer can often stay within the ODE family for nearly every fluid control point, simplifying spare parts, maintenance training, and system integration.

2. Robust materials and options
   With brass, stainless steel, techno polymer, and reinforced composites, ODE valves can be tailored to anything from mild water to harsh chemicals, hot water, or high-pressure steam. Their catalog explicitly lists carwash applications.

3. High pressure and high flow capability
   ODE doesn’t shy away from tough conditions: the 4731/4966 series are built for high-pressure service, while the 21X and 21PW lines can handle 290 PSI and tens or hundreds of liters per minute. 

4. Flexibility of actuation and configurations
   ODE offers 2/2, 3/2, and 5/2 configurations, direct-acting and pilot-operated designs, proportional and modular valves, and a wide choice of materials and connection types.
   
   This flexibility lets designers match exactly the functional requirements of each car wash stage — for example, a fast-responding direct-acting valve for a rinse blow-off, versus a pilot-operated, larger orifice valve for a detergent feed circuit.

5. Global reputation and service backing
   ODE has been in business since 1960, and emphasizes customization, reliability, and post-sale service. 
   
   Meanwhile, Hydronics Depot, as an authorized distributor, ensures that global integrators and maintenance crews can access genuine ODE parts, factory support, and fast shipping around the clock. 
   
   When equipment and parts are down, Hydronics Depot Inc stays up and delivers.

6. “One-stop shop” sourcing
   Because Hydronics Depot stocks a broad array of ODE models, car wash operators or maintenance contractors can often source everything from a small brass 5116 rinse valve, to a stainless 21X high-flow water feed, to a tough 4966 high-pressure jet valve, all from one supplier. This simplifies procurement, reduces lead times, and lowers the risk of downtime due to waiting for rare parts.

Example Scenarios in a Car Wash

Here are a few illustrative “where you might use it” scenarios:

Conclusion

A modern car wash demands fluid control components that are fast, flexible, durable, and compatible with a wide variety of fluids and pressures. ODE’s broad valve lineup, strong materials engineering, and longstanding reputation make their solenoid valves a natural choice — and Hydronics Depot ensures those valves are easy to source around the world.

If you're designing a new car wash system, doing maintenance, or simply looking to upgrade your fluid control reliability, ODE valves deserve a close look. And with a distributor like Hydronics Depot, it's often possible to get the exact valve model you need quickly, with genuine parts and factory support.