Car Care and Detailing Thread

[lewdog]

Others mentioned I should start this thread in my other thread. And while I won't have the new car for a while, I'd like to hear some thoughts and recommendations so I can have most of it on hand before the car shows up. My other thread had a lot of great posts in it and you guys have been a big help.

While black cars looks great clean, keeping it relatively clean in Phoenix might be the death of me. But I'll sure as shit give it my best shot.

I actually like cleaning and waxing our current cars but it's not like I am being meticulous about it. I've never had a car with rims either and I know those can get dirty quick. I've never owned a dark colored car and I've never had a car with leather. I plan to take really good care of this car and would like some tips on doing so. But I'm just a ****ing n00b.

I'll throw some links out from Amazon as I mention things.


Some of the things already on my list are:
1. Not sure if everyone recommends wool wash mitt over micorfiber here but many people I know do?
http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Genuin...wool+wash+mitt

2. Grit guard and two wash buckets. One for rinse and one for soap/water.

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Genuin...wool+wash+mitt

3. Waffle Weave Drying towel. There are tons of towels out there but this seems to be able to take up a lot of water.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q8DMA0/...I21164SXVV1AWB

4. Car Wash

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009IQXFO/...b_recs_2_title


Some mention that after washing you should use a paint cleanser before waxing. But wondering if washing then clay baring is sufficient prior to wax?

I've seen this P21S Paintwork Cleanser mentioned on a few reads. Looks like good use for water spots and swirls prior to waxing if needed. Not sure if you would do entire car first or just use it for bad spots before waxing?

http://www.amazon.com/P21S-12350B-Pa...twork+Cleanser


Also, a company called Zaino has great reviews and recommendations. They have a package that looks like it includes all products I'd need together including wash, polish, wax, leather and tire care.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...y_Code=prokits



I do not have a polisher and would need to get one of those as well but not sure where to start on that front.



Can't wait to see what you guys have tried and recommend.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I actually really enjoy it. Open up the garage, put some tunes on, chat with the neighbors if they go by, enjoy the ****ing awesome weather were we live. It's relaxing and I don't mind doing something on a car every few months outside of a normal wash. I'll probably wax the Stang every 2-3 months here.



This isn't even new! It's 10 damn years old. But sure more fun to drive than anything else I have ever driven and maybe my last fun car for a while.

Aces on the weather. This time of year is why we live here. Good on you. I don't have neighbors within talking distance but that sounds nice.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Miles

Exactly as you assumed. You only want to correct when you have to and do your best to maintain when washing. All polish contain at least some micro-abrasives but you just want enough to do the job. The pad will also be a factor in the amount of cut as well.

Should be no need for much paint correction if any on the stang if it was maintained really well. I do the whole car maybe once a year or so an touch up any trouble spots where needed.

I use these two polishes:
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover (for correction)
Wolfgang Wolfgang Finishing Glaze (jeweling polish)

Also for autogeek they do have sales from time to time that can be a good way to load up. Another tip is if you order from them pick up a sample of compound if you want some on hand just in case for a scratch. You likely will never use up all of that sample.

So that Wolfgang swirl remover you put on with a polisher and cutting pad and do that once per year? Followed by the finishing glaze? It says aggressive swirl remover.

If it's an aggressive polish that can only be used once per year, what do you do for swirl marks during the year or do you minimize them by continually washing and waxing?
How often do you wax in between?

Maybe I am over-estimating the amount of clear coat you remove by polishing? It just doesn't seem like there is a consistent answer for how often you need/can polish, although I realize that's based on how your paint is holding up.

Part of the attraction to the Zaino products, now more than ever, is their non-abrasive nature. I'm not thinking I'll need to do pain correction. So it's layers of non-abrasive polish to decrease what I can assume will be light swirl marks followed by a wax. They even recommend on their site to use abrasive compounds only once you've tried other methods of correction.

Their steps go Z-5 which is car polish for fine scratches and swirl marks. They claim non-abrasive fillers that can be layered 2-3 times over a dark colored car and will decrease these fine marks unlike other abrasive polish compounds where you couldn't layer because they have cleaners and oils in them.

I would think with a very fine polishing pad it could help in applying this polish without damaging the clearcoat but might make the application of 2-3 layers less fatiguing on the old arms.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...oduct_Code=Z-5

They then recommend following that with their Z-2 to lock in that polished shine of Z-5. Seems to me they are considering their Z-2 to a polish in name only but seems like a wax as they claim that's the last step? That's the only confusing part.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...oduct_Code=Z-2

They also make a moderate/heavy paint cleaner but recommend this as last step secondary to issues we've mentioned. Again, they recommend layering their non-abrasive polish to hide fine marks/swirls over using an abrasive product. Less abrasive the better until you actually need to correct the paint. They make this very clear and that was good for me to hear because I wasn't really understanding polish before reading some things today.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...duct_Code=Z-PC


Another option for compounds would be Meguiar's #9 glaze/swirl remover. Looks fairly non-abrasive and could be used with light cutting polishing pad.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SQVX0/...I3BMJPQC14P7W9

Follow that with their Black Wax product.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OBW29S/...I2M5W8ZF5PGSX3

[stevieray]

Aluminum foli cleans chrome like a boss.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Feeling you brotha, I'm a lazy sob when it comes to that...saw the new corvette when I was in the show room now having a midlife crisis. Hope your new ride is smooth.

I drove one yesterday, a customer picked his up and stopped at the shop. Told me to take it out.

I was impressed.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by lewdog

So that Wolfgang swirl remover you put on with a polisher and cutting pad and do that once per year? Followed by the finishing glaze? It says aggressive swirl remover.

If it's an aggressive polish that can only be used once per year, what do you do for swirl marks during the year or do you minimize them by continually washing and waxing?
How often do you wax in between?

Maybe I am over-estimating the amount of clear coat you remove by polishing? It just doesn't seem like there is a consistent answer for how often you need/can polish, although I realize that's based on how your paint is holding up.
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More that I only strip it all down as use once per year due to the effort it takes. I will do stuff like the hood more often and try not too look at everything with a critical eye.

Figuring out how abrasive a polish was the last time I heavily ready up on this was tough. That Wolfgang Swirl Remover is not terribly abrasive but you need that level to get out your typical surface micro scratches.

Also there isn't a way to polish out scratches without at lest a little abrasion. With a black car it's much tougher to hide them since you really do see everything.

Have never tried Zaino products but anything that is a polish will have some abrasion which is not a bad thing. If it don't abrade its some kind of filler that ins't a polish.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by lewdog

So that Wolfgang swirl remover you put on with a polisher and cutting pad and do that once per year? Followed by the finishing glaze? It says aggressive swirl remover.

If it's an aggressive polish that can only be used once per year, what do you do for swirl marks during the year or do you minimize them by continually washing and waxing?
How often do you wax in between?

Maybe I am over-estimating the amount of clear coat you remove by polishing? It just doesn't seem like there is a consistent answer for how often you need/can polish, although I realize that's based on how your paint is holding up.

I don't have time to go through the individual products.

The amount of clear you take off depends on how abrasive the polish and pad are. There are heavy correction pads and polishes and lighter ones. You more then likely will be able to use a relatively non-abrasive polish because the car has been taken care of.

I polish twice a year but I use a very light polish and a light cutting pad on my Speed. I have a heavy correction polish for my wife's car because its paint is ****ed.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by KC native

I don't have time to go through the individual products.

The amount of clear you take off depends on how abrasive the polish and pad are. There are heavy correction pads and polishes and lighter ones. You more then likely will be able to use a relatively non-abrasive polish because the car has been taken care of.

I polish twice a year but I use a very light polish and a light cutting pad on my Speed. I have a heavy correction polish for my wife's car because its paint is ****ed.

Ok makes sense. So do you wax in between your two polishes or no? Or is it just those two polishes a year with washes and quick detail wax between polishes?

[KC native]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ok makes sense. So do you wax in between your two polishes or no? Or is it just those two polishes a year with washes and quick detail wax between polishes?

I'll occasionally wax in between. I usually don't need to wax again though.

That's one of the reasons I highly recommend the Chemical Guys stuff. It lasts quite a while.

My process, usually in early spring and late fall, is clay bar, polish, paint sealant, then wax. Usually my wife bitches at me when I go through it because she doesn't think the car needs that level of work again.

[BigRedChief]

What about the paint sealer line? Getting a new car and want to use some kind of sealant on the new paint. Cquartz? What else?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I drove one yesterday, a customer picked his up and stopped at the shop. Told me to take it out.

I was impressed.

I viewed the white one with black leather and red trim, fully manual I think 7 speed. ****ing tits.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by vailpass

I viewed the white one with black leather and red trim, fully manual I think 7 speed. ****ing tits.

This one was an awesome blue with black trim. Manual.

Yeah it was pretty ****ing nice

[lewdog]

Two n00b questions. I like learning and I know I'll need to be close to a perfectionist here.

1. What is the best way to remove spots of road grime and bird shit without having to wash the car every few days? Water and let it soak to soften it, then microfiber? Another product? Quick detailer?


2. Since we are tinting the windows, I am also thinking about doing 3M film on the front hood to decrease rock chips and not use that bra which can collect dust and scratch the paint. Can you polish or wax the 3M film since it will show scratches as well? Is it safe against oxidation in the Phoenix heat and discoloration?


Thanks

xoxo
Lewdog

[KC native]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Two n00b questions. I like learning and I know I'll need to be close to a perfectionist here.

1. What is the best way to remove spots of road grime and bird shit without having to wash the car every few days? Water and let it soak to soften it, then microfiber? Another product? Quick detailer?


2. Since we are tinting the windows, I am also thinking about doing 3M film on the front hood to decrease rock chips and not use that bra which can collect dust and scratch the paint. Can you polish or wax the 3M film since it will show scratches as well? Is it safe against oxidation in the Phoenix heat and discoloration?


Thanks

xoxo
Lewdog

My friend has the film on his CTS-V and I hate it. You can see where it stops from a ways away.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by KC native

My friend has the film on his CTS-V and I hate it. You can see where it stops from a ways away.

Yea I've heard that too. Almost have to clean the lines around it with a Q-tip I've heard as well. I was going to do whole hood though not just front if I do it. Which might decrease a big line showing on the front of your hood. Other than that, with leaving it bare I would just take a pounding with rock chips I would think. Or I could leave that ugly ass bra on?

[KC native]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Yea I've heard that too. Almost have to clean the lines around it with a Q-tip I've heard as well. I was going to do whole hood though not just front if I do it. Which might decrease a big line showing on the front of your hood. Other than that, with leaving it bare I would just take a pounding with rock chips I would think. Or I could leave that ugly ass bra on?

Saw a plaque at a car show that said, "It might have scratches. It might have knicks. But one thing is for sure, I drive this bitch."

That pretty much sums up my philosophy on it.