Obsessive compulsive car care habits

[ruthrj]

Anybody realize they might have some OCD tendencies caring for their vehicles? I’ll start.

Are clay bar treatments really worth the effort? I’ve done one on my cars once a year for the last several years. I’m thinking to myself, is this really worth it giving the minuscule amount of crud I’m removing from the clear coat? Did that really help my Ice Seal N Shine protect the paint that much better?

I don’t know. I probably won’t do it next year, probably does a lot more for you prior to applying a legit ceramic coat (I won’t spring for it).

Anybody else car to share? We listen and we don’t judge. Maybe you have to open and shut the hood of your car three times after an oil change, curious to see what you all have discovered about yourselves while maintaining your Mazda.

Edit: and yes, the tire shine adds +5 HP. You can’t convince me otherwise.

 

[theblooms]

I like clay towels. And I'm so OCD about washing my cars, I have a mixed bed demineralizer hooked up to my hose.

 

[wlong01]

Used to but not anymore. It's just a tool, no more no less. I keep it clean inside and out but don't go overboard.
I used to with my RX-7, every time it rained I was out there as soon as it stopped cleaning the car.

I also clay bared my CX-5 but for all the work did not notice a big difference.

I do use a Cali duster, spray detailer for inside and outside, keep the wheels clean and wax twice a year.

 

[wlong01]

I like clay towels. And I'm so OCD about washing my cars, I have a mixed bed demineralizer hooked up to my hose.

I mixed my own water spot remover since our water is filled with limestone. Spray it once the car is washed and dried. Removes all the water spots. Way cheaper than the store bought stuff.

 

[Point37]

nope...child + 2 dogs in it every weekday...time is limited...keeping it clean is not a high priority...did just get a foam cannon and small electric pressure washer so i'm excited to use that although i assume it will take me longer than just hand washing with a bucket/hose/sponge...haven't even washed off the winter yet

 

[Jmaz]

OCD? No, one look at the interior will dispel that notion but it's not filthy at all. I had given up on even doing quick wipe-n-shines until last fall. The spray waxes never seemed to last long and didn't seem worth the effort. So I started off (not all in one session obviously) cleaning exterior with polishing compound. That was followed by an alcohol "rubdown" to remove anything residual. Then came 3 coats (spaced 3-5 days apart) of Griot's Garage "Ceramic 3-in-1 Wax". A lot of work for me but worth it. Glassy finish and now 7 months later is still there but not as glossy probably due to harsh detergents from a few over the winter drive through car washes to remove road salt. Sometime between now and fall I'll do a couple of coats after an alcohol wipe. Beats the hell out of all of the waxing I've done through the years.

 

[ruthrj]

nope...child + 2 dogs in it every weekday...time is limited...keeping it clean is not a high priority...did just get a foam cannon and small electric pressure washer so i'm excited to use that although i assume it will take me longer than just hand washing with a bucket/hose/sponge...haven't even washed off the winter yet

Agreed! I used to wash every month or two, now it’s every six months. Rather spend time with the family than have the car spotless.

 

[ruthrj]

OCD? No, one look at the interior will dispel that notion but it's not filthy at all. I had given up on even doing quick wipe-n-shines until last fall. The spray waxes never seemed to last long and didn't seem worth the effort. So I started off (not all in one session obviously) cleaning exterior with polishing compound. That was followed by an alcohol "rubdown" to remove anything residual. Then came 3 coats (spaced 3-5 days apart) of Griot's Garage "Ceramic 3-in-1 Wax". A lot of work for me but worth it. Glassy finish and now 7 months later is still there but not as glossy probably due to harsh detergents from a few over the winter drive through car washes to remove road salt. Sometime between now and fall I'll do a couple of coats after an alcohol wipe. Beats the hell out of all of the waxing I've done through the years.

Only spray I’ve ever liked is the Seal N Shine. @Unobtanium turned me on to that years ago. Keeping the car in garage overnight and at home, rain will still bead for 3-4 months. Doesn’t hurt plastic, and I think it dies a good job protecting weatherstripping.

 

[Jmaz]

Only spray I’ve ever liked is the Seal N Shine. @Unobtanium turned me on to that years ago. Keeping the car in garage overnight and at home, rain will still bead for 3-4 months. Doesn’t hurt plastic, and I think it dies a good job protecting weatherstripping.

Not familiar with SNS. Thinking about it, I had also picked up a bottle of Griot's Speed Shine. Sometime after the ceramic coats and before it got colder weather, I applied it after wiping the dust off. It really didn't improve the ceramic gloss very much if at all. It's more of a detailer/cleaner. Actually now would be a good time to see how long it lasts before doing the ceramic wax regimen. Ain't this fun?

 

[ruthrj]

Thinking back to an oil change I did with a friend, it was funny how he reacted when I installed the new oil filter. Good practice to put a little oil on the filter gasket before install right? I dabbed my finger in the drained oil pan to lubricate the filter gasket. You’d think I dipped my finger in a sandbox. He was like, why in the world wouldn’t you use the new oil!?

 

[sm1ke]

Owning a black car has amplified my tendencies a bit lol. For example, let's say I wash the car the night before. The next morning at work, it rains. I find myself tempted to go out to the car at lunch and wipe the car down to prevent water spots lol. Or a few days after washing the car, there's a fine layer of dust or pollen that I can see. It comes off easily with a rinse from the garden hose, so sometimes I'll spray it down and then dry it.

 

[Point37]

Only spray I’ve ever liked is the Seal N Shine. @Unobtanium turned me on to that years ago. Keeping the car in garage overnight and at home, rain will still bead for 3-4 months. Doesn’t hurt plastic, and I think it dies a good job protecting weatherstripping.

mine is in the garage at home and exposed at work aside from the 2 days a week i work from home...i will intentionally park it in the driveway when it rains during the winter to help wash off some of the road salt...i will have to check that product out for an easy wax to help with keeping the paint in good shape...at the same time my car is a tool not a display piece...has a bunch of knicks from rocks and stars in the windshield...can't keep it perfect forever, especially with the amount of highway driving i do when commuting (at least 86mi/day when i commute)

 

[Point37]

Thinking back to an oil change I did with a friend, it was funny how he reacted when I installed the new oil filter. Good practice to put a little oil on the filter gasket before install right? I dabbed my finger in the drained oil pan to lubricate the filter gasket. You’d think I dipped my finger in a sandbox. He was like, why in the world wouldn’t you use the new oil!?

have done the same...it's right there in the pan when doing an oil change...not going to hurt anything

 

[Jmaz]

Thinking back to an oil change I did with a friend, it was funny how he reacted when I installed the new oil filter. Good practice to put a little oil on the filter gasket before install right? I dabbed my finger in the drained oil pan to lubricate the filter gasket. You’d think I dipped my finger in a sandbox. He was like, why in the world wouldn’t you use the new oil!?

I've done the same before.