Washing and waxing

[Todd]

Couple things,

1. If Im lazy and want to bring my car to a car wash, should I take the antanna off and should I go with touchless (probably)or should I avoid car washes all together.

2. I dont know the first thing of waxing cars. My car is one month old. How often should I wax it. Is waxing easy enough for a newbie to do ( I will buy any tools I need) and or is there any companies that will do this for me and how much do they cost.

Lot a questions, but I would love any input on any of these questions, Thanks

Todd

 

[LambOfSilence]

1. i personally don't think its a good idea to go car wash (unless its very cold out there) even those touchless ones, they still scratch since they use high pressure water stream. oh, and i don't think its a good idea either to take off your antenna, (unless the car wash is so low, your antenna is touching the roof), since the screw is metal, water+metal=rust.

2. there are a few threads here that detail waxing, poke around. It is not hard at all, just take some time to do it. After a good wash, apply a thin layer of wax on your baby, wait for 5 min, and wipe the wax off, repeat when necessary. Remember to do the max indoor and wax your hood twice (it gets chipped easily). As for companies that wax the car for you? I am sure some of the place which offers hand car wash do that too. Again, I would recommand doing it yourself, so you can know your p5 better, fix scratches earlier, and you can feel the bond between you and your p5...

 

[APEXistud]

Actually, when doing a wax job. It is better to do the three step method if you haven't waxed you can in a while. You can read more in depth on this post. Cleaner/Wax post Or you can visit carcareonline.com

 

[OurP5]

Tire Shine

When I want to shine up the tires for a show or a Sturday night cruise I use Meguiars Endurance High Gloss Gel. It lasts through rain and applied easily. There is a regualar and High Gloss. Even if you can't find it at your local autoparts store or department store you can order it online directly from Meguairs. Check it out.

http://www.meguiars.com/product_showroom/showproducts_template.cfm?SrcLine=CW

Items six or seven.

I use the Meguairs 3 step wax. Well, 4 if you count the wash.

1: Gold Class Wash

2: Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner

3. Deep Crystal Polish

4: Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax

I usually take me about 6 hours from start to finish, but again, I'm in Florida and it gets hot so I need to take a lot of breaks.

 

[Korey Chaos]

Just use Meguiars for all your detailing needs. Car washes just dont do the job like hand-washing does. Remember no one cleans your rims and tires like u do!

 

[Sir Nuke]

CarWashes..... for starters the ONLY reason I would go in one was if there was some SERIOUS dirt on the outside of the car...as in the way they can get up north drivin in the slush and ice and all.....then ONLY a touchless one....my wife will take her P-5 to the one around here for a "QUICKY" wash from time to time and she has NEVER removed her antena....never had a problem either.

NOW, you should never use regular dish soap for washing your car either....after all...its not a pot with gooy grease on it now is it!

as far as how often you should wax your car? it somewhat depends on how often you need to wash it..and what you use to wash it....

does the water still bead up when you wash it? if so...the wax is still there and working....maybe or maybe not do you want to REDO it.....its all personal choice in this respect.

 

[OurP5]

Waxing

Todd-

Waxing schedule is up to you. Some deatailers will tell you every 3 months.

I live in Florida and the sun just kills a car's finish in the summer and the bugs do not help matters.

I usually wash my car twice a week and wax about every 1.5-2 months.

Maybe I'm just obsessed

 

[Sir Nuke]

Re: Waxing

Todd-

Maybe I'm just obsessed

well sure you are...but that is a totally different matter all together! lol lol :{D

 

[skman]

hey guys...i just wanted to ask....which rim cleanser is good?? cause i find out it's very hard to wash the rim....are those spray work??? since our rim has only 5 stroke...the chemical will goes into the brake..will it harm the brakes???
you guys know what am i talking about???
are those rim cleanser really remove dirt and dust well???

 

[OurP5]

Very funny Nuke

I am seeking therapy. It's a great 12 step program.

I finally broke through a barrier. I admitted I am obsessed. I feel so releived to be able to say it.

I AM OBSESSED!

I am happy you all were here to witness this breaktrough.

I'm feeling a little veclempt.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Re: Very funny Nuke

I am seeking therapy. It's a great 12 step program.

I finally broke through a barrier. I admitted I am obsessed. I feel so releived to be able to say it.

I AM OBSESSED!

I am happy you all were here to witness this breaktrough.

I'm feeling a little veclempt.

its okay dude...we all know that just admitting it is the first step...

:{D

 

[Sir Nuke]

hey guys...i just wanted to ask....which rim cleanser is good?? cause i find out it's very hard to wash the rim....are those spray work??? since our rim has only 5 stroke...the chemical will goes into the brake..will it harm the brakes???
you guys know what am i talking about???
are those rim cleanser really remove dirt and dust well???

its mostly personal preference....and depends on the wheels you have. since you posted this in the P-5 forum I will assume you have a P-5...which means unless you have gotten aftermarket wheels you have the stock ones....

I do to, the polished ones...and my wifes has the painted ones....I don't use any wheel cleaners on either....I waxed the wheel just like any other part of the car...and brake dust really doesn't STICK to the wheels....you can just wash them off with a hose and dry them just like any other part of the car and they clean up very easily.

IF you are going to get one of the spray on wheel cleaners...insure its of a type that is MADE for use on COATED wheels... other wise it may eat the coating right off the wheel.

 

[sundevilMP5]

yeah waxing is pretty much up to you...it's a good idea to put on a good coat before summer hits...especially here in AZ where the sun is constantly shining and it's always hot...you don't really need any tools if you're willing to take the time to do it by hand...just apply and wipe pretty easy just allow yourself plenty of time to do a good job(don't miss a big spot on your car)...

as for the carwash...i would never take my baby to those mechanical...high pressure places...sometimes when i'm lazy i take her to a place that washes by hand...a little more expensive but at least i don't have to worry about getting scratched up...they do a pretty good job unless they're really busy...but don't go to the automatics you're just asking for it if you do...

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Re: Tire Shine

Items six or seven.

I use the Meguairs 3 step wax. Well, 4 if you count the wash.

1: Gold Class Wash

2: Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner

3. Deep Crystal Polish

4: Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax

I usually take me about 6 hours from start to finish, but again, I'm in Florida and it gets hot so I need to take a lot of breaks.

This soudns a lot like my process:
1. ZipWax Car wash (the best,and Ive used some very expensive ones)

2. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (to remove buggies as to not seal them in)

3. Meguiar's Gold Class Paste Wax

4. Meguiar's #7 professional Show Car Glaze

!Remember! For the love of the clear coat, use 100% cotton towels only.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Re: Re: Tire Shine

Remember! For the love of the clear coat, use 100% cotton towels only. [/B]

and if you can afford to get a few....get some of the microfiber towels too.

another GREAT thing to use....DIAPERS!! 100% cotton diapers....

you can buy BIRDSEYE single ply diapers for about $8 a dozen....wash them before you ever use them on your car...the are soooooooooooooooooooooooo soft...

.I got this information from a man that PROFESSIONALLY restores and shows antique and collectible cars....and he is right.

they aren't very good for drying off the car or anthing like that...but to use for polishing your ride...they work great!

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Re: Re: Re: Tire Shine

and if you can afford to get a few....get some of the microfiber towels too.

I find those great for cleaning the dash instead of using windex. I don't know about the paint though...

another GREAT thing to use....DIAPERS!! 100% cotton diapers....

Absolutely! I get mine from the auto parts store; 100% cotton diaper soft towels. I find the to be essential for buffing after you remove the excess wax.

 

[noodles]

Another good way to know if your car needs more wax is just rub the back of u're hand over the car and if it feels smooth then the wax is still there, but if the paint catches on to your hand and it feels rough, then there's no more wax and just the clearcoat/paint.

The spray i find works to get the real dirt off. Just spray it and leave it on for 2-3 minutes, then hose it off (Gets lots of dirt off) then after you wash u're car , by the time you actually clean your rims, the rest of it comes off even easier.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

noodles

Yummy name...

 

[2002VividYellow]

Re: Re: Tire Shine

This soudns a lot like my process:
1. ZipWax Car wash (the best,and Ive used some very expensive ones)

2. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (to remove buggies as to not seal them in)

3. Meguiar's Gold Class Paste Wax

4. Meguiar's #7 professional Show Car Glaze

!Remember! For the love of the clear coat, use 100% cotton towels only.

I've used both your #3 & #4 in the past, but I have to say the Zaino products worked better then those.

 

[Todd]

When I wash my car, I use a power washer. Someone told me that I should use a bucket of water and a wash cloth. What do you think, is a power washer a bad thing?

Todd