End of season detail: '99 Protege LX

[Mr Detailer]

To prepare for the harsh Wisconsin winter that my car has to go through, I've been working on it for a few days now. I've got everything done except the wheel/snow tire swap and Einzett Gummipflege on the weatherstripping. It's the end of October now, so both of those will be done very soon. Before long, I'll be glad I've got snow tires!

The car had Klasse AIO + FourStar UPPx2 + Pinnacle Paste Glaz already, and then yesterday I wiped it down with Poorboy's Spray and Gloss, and then added Meg's #16. I left the #16 on for 12 hours before buffing the excess. I had no problems removing it this morning, except in a few spots where I applied it a bit thicker (on accident of course). Those spots took a little more effort.

And the wheels still have the same application of Klasse AIO/Wolfgang sealant x2 that I put on when I first got the wheels in early September.
The tires have Poorboy's Natural Look, 4 days old.
Clearkote Vanilla Moose/#16 on the glass
Meg's PlastX/#16 on the headlights/taillights
Poorboy's Trim Restorer on the trim
Mother's Mag/Aluminum Polish on the metal areas of the engine bay, and the exhaust tip
NXT Tech Protectant on the plastic/rubber components of the engine bay.

So here it is...

It's too bad the sun couldn't peek out for a bit. I do like the ominous clouds in the background though.
I'll see if I can get a few shots in the sun tomorrow.

 

[t3ase]

nice..

you use a buffer or do it by hand?

 

[Mr Detailer]

Both.
Everything I did over the weekend (including that shiny valve cover ) was done by hand. Earlier in the season when I did the polishing and applied the Klasse All-In-One, it was via a Porter Cable 7424 orbital polisher.

 

[capnsavem]

quick question?

what do you use to clean the engine bay? gotta do that this weekend

thanks

 

[capnsavem]

quick question?

what do you use to clean the engine bay? gotta do that this weekend

thanks

bumpin' my own post (poke)

 

[t3ase]

www.autopia-carcare.com

 

[capnsavem]

www.autopia-carcare.com

you're the best t3ase. i want to have sexual intercourse with you asap. but first... on to clean the engine bay!

 

[t3ase]

how about during?

 

[capnsavem]

how about during?

kinky.

 

[Mr Detailer]

Well I'm not like most people as far as engine cleaning. I do everything by hand.
I take a bucket of warm water and car soap, and dip a microfiber towel into it. Then I go to work, cleaning everything by hand. Periodically, I grab a dry MF towel and dry off the areas that I cleaned.

After everything is clean, I dress the plastic and rubber with a protectant, such as NXT Tech Protectant, 303, Poorboy's Natural Look, etc...
I also polished my valve cover and heat shield by hand, with Mother's Mag/Aluminum Polish.

This is what the engine looked like when I bought the car in July '05...

 

[MSP#735]

i too do EVERYTHING by hand, i trust my own 'elbow grease' more than a machines. i am also a HUGE clean freak when it comes to my car (others can atest to this) lookin good man!!!

 

[khaosman]

This is what the engine looked like when I bought the car in July '05...

Holy crap, what a difference! Can you post a close-up of the clean engine bay?
I need to clean my engine bay, it is terrible. I really ought to do a wash and wax in before winter too, as it is nearly as bad here in Iowa.

 

[MSP#735]

here is one of mine....(even though you didnt ask for it) sorry for the huge thread jack.....just tryin to help

 

[khaosman]

here is one of mine....(even though you didnt ask for it) sorry for the huge thread jack.....just tryin to help

I saw yours in your thread with the painted heatshield, it looks great too. I should have cleaned my engine bay when I had the header out, that might have been a little easier. Oh well.

 

[Mr Detailer]

I'll see if I can get a good closeup pic tomorrow.

You definitely should wash/wax your car before winter. Do yourself (and your car) a favor and get some decent stuff (mitt, shampoo, drying towel, wax, etc...), not just the cheapest crap you can find.

 

[Mr Detailer]

 

[MSP#735]

lookin' good but, the heatshield needs some love.......

 

[Mr Detailer]

Well that heat shield needs some silver paint if it's gonna look any brighter than that. It's got lots of corrosion on it. I probably could polish the rest of it a little more, but it's such a pain in the ass to move my arm around in there.

What I keep forgetting to do, is to scrub the intake manifold with a toothbrush. I did that on my Maxima, and it worked very well, AND amused the neighbors too

 

[Mr Detailer]

I was able to take a few sun pictures today. That sun's been hiding from me all week!

 

[LEXi73]

lookin nice!!! tell ya what- i will drive up there and you can clean my engine bay up all nice and shiny just like yours!!! i dont have the time to do that! but i would love to do it! please please!!!