Drying black accord

frankprozzoly

frankprozzoly

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I took advice to ring out a waffle weave to dry the car. After shampoo wash I used the metro vac. Then sprayed a little megs express wash over a section then rung out the WW to wipe down. I still got streaks. Maybe I dryed it too much with the master blaster first. I got streaks and water spots. I should've bought white or silver. I used hyper dressing for the first time. That stuff is awesome.
 
frankprozzoly said:
I took advice to ring out a waffle weave to dry the car. After shampoo wash I used the metro vac. Then sprayed a little megs express wash over a section then rung out the WW to wipe down. I still got streaks. Maybe I dryed it too much with the master blaster first. I got streaks and water spots. I should've bought white or silver. I used hyper dressing for the first time. That stuff is awesome.
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Welcome to the world of black cars. :xyxthumbs: I struggle with streaks as well, but that is because it is 110 degrees here. Wish I had some good advice your you, but I'm still trying to get a fool proof solution as well.
 
frankprozzoly said:
Looks great clean. Doesn't last long
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Yeah I know. Nothing looks like a black car, but damn it's a lot of work. I have found that using a waterless wash every few days not only keeps it looking great, but makes washing in general much easier. I also can go much longer between washes. Keep in mind I am in Phoenix, so we rarely see rain, only dust.

My favorite waterless wash right now is Pinnacle, it makes the car look incredible and is very slick, looks incredible on black. I am going to try Ultima Waterless Wash Plus next week too.

I have no streaking issues with Pinnacle, however, due to the wax content, I do get ghosting right now as the temps are above 100 degrees. If not for that, I would't be trying UWW+

Fuuny, I went to a paint shop the other day to see about getting my trunk lid repainted, and they cringed because it's black. I quickly asked them how much it would cost to repaint the whole car silver :)
 
I've never used express wash as a drying aid. I have used the the meguiars express spray wax as a drying aid on black and that works just fine. When you use a drying aid it's best to leave the panels wet. Is you are using the blaster before hand you are sort of defeating the purpose.

I don't believe that the rinesless wash is to be used as a drying aid. Some rinesless washes can be depending on which ones. I think this is where your problem is.

Did you wash the car while the paint was warm to the touch?
 
Your right about the dryer. I was in the garage but I dryed it too much. I didn't have anything else so i used the express wash for lube. Like you said if I would've left the panels a little more wet, I think it would've worked
 
I dont worry about streaks water spots until its show time. I use meguiars waterless after regular wash to get rid of anything left behind.
 
Another option, though little costly, would be to invest in a CR Spotless system. After wash and rinse, simply let it air dry.
 
Try ONR wash, dry with a normal drying towel. My wife's car is black toyota and that is how I handle it, seems to be the best method I have come up with. You can do just one panel at a time if you like too.
 
On my black RAV4 I use my leaf blower to get most of the water off it leaving a little water on the car then mist each panel using Chemical Guys P-40 cut 50/50, then I do as you do, I wet a soft MF towel, wring out well and follow with a dry MF towel, no streaks.
Took me a longtime to figure out how to get a streak free finish.
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of black..

Buy you some UWW+ spray it down a panel at a time while wet. I've gone from 2 washes a week to 2 washes a month.

About once a week I'll wipe my truck down with UWW+ with a damp MF, and she's brand new again. Keep in mind my truck is garaged, so it's 100 times easier.
 
frankprozzoly said:
I took advice to ring out a waffle weave to dry the car. After shampoo wash I used the metro vac. Then sprayed a little megs express wash over a section then rung out the WW to wipe down. I still got streaks. Maybe I dryed it too much with the master blaster first. I got streaks and water spots. I should've bought white or silver. I used hyper dressing for the first time. That stuff is awesome.
Click to expand...

The Master Blaster won't help with water spots if you are working outside and there is sun out (hot panels). I am assuming you are - as that is where you usually get water spots.

I can offer a few suggestions, as like you - I have a black car and wash it outside. First - buy some type of water spot remover. I use Duragloss, but CarPro seems to be in vogue. Second, the real trick is to keep the car wet and rinse it with DI water.

Your not wetting panels necessarily to "keep them wet" - your wetting panels to keep them cool. Try to keep that in mind. Also, concentrate on keeping the horizontal panels cool - as these will get hottest from the sun and pool water. Work fast - but not so fast you forget to keep the panels wet.

Lastly, you need to rinse well with DI water. This is key. After you rinse with DI water, assuming you did everything else right, it won't matter how you dry. In fact, this is when I let my car bake in the sun and clean my buckets and what not. Then, use the Master Blaster or a towel.

Another thing that helps is to wash your car at the crack of dawn before the sun is all the way up and really hot. If you live in the desert or something - I'm not sure if that helps much.

Clean your wheels first - but don't wet the rest of the car until you are ready to clean it. The water spot problem is caused by tap water baking dry on panels - so try to avoid this at all costs. Also, you can clean your windows first with glass cleaner if you have a lot of glass. This is one less thing you will have to do during the 2BM - making it even faster - so less time the car will have to sit with tap water on it.
 
I got water spots in the garage. I'm using megs shampoo plus. Maybe I'll try another shampoo. But I'll never dry first with the blower again. I'll wipe it down, then master blaster. Then ill spray meguiars express wash and wipe down to get small streaks left behind. Pain in the ass process
 
frankprozzoly said:
I got water spots in the garage. I'm using megs shampoo plus. Maybe I'll try another shampoo. But I'll never dry first with the blower again. I'll wipe it down, then master blaster. Then ill spray meguiars express wash and wipe down to get small streaks left behind. Pain in the ass process
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Your getting water spots and washing inside? Maybe your water quite hard where you live. You can get a water testing kit for a few bucks and measure the TDS (total dissolved solutes). 200 or less is workable, once you get much higher than that it's spot city.

The real trick is keep the car wet/cool & rinse with DI water. I would test your water to see just how bad it is. I can 100% guarantee you the soap is not the problem and not leaving these spots - it's from hard water / minerals drying on the paint.

Adding an ounce or two of ONR to your wash solution is claimed to act like "a water softener". It's cheap and worth a try. However, it will kill your suds.
 
frankprozzoly said:
I got water spots in the garage. I'm using megs shampoo plus. Maybe I'll try another shampoo. But I'll never dry first with the blower again. I'll wipe it down, then master blaster. Then ill spray meguiars express wash and wipe down to get small streaks left behind. Pain in the ass process
Click to expand...

Have you tried rinseless and/or waterless washing yet? I now have tried UWW+, Megs Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere, Pinnacle Liquid Crystal Waterless, and ONR.

So far, my favorite waterless is UWW+. It doesn't streak like ONR, and it doesn't ghost like Megs and Pinnacle (because there is no wax in it). I waterless every other day with UWW+. Spray down the panel, wipe with a clean MF towel, buff with another. I use about 6 towels per wash. My car always looks freshly washed, and I don't have to do a traditional wash and deal with water spotting. If the car is a bit dirtier, I use either UWW+ or ONR for a rinseless using the GD method. Again, working panel by panel, and drying before there is ever a chance of water spots forming. Yes, I end up washing my car more frequently, but waterless takes maybe 15 minutes, with rinseless taking 45-60 when doing the wheels, door jambs, etc., and I don't have to deal with the hassles of a traditional wash.

Keep in mind, I am only dealing with dust where I live, so this may not apply if you are dealing with a heavier soiled car.
 
I'll just make sure I don't let the car dry. It is easier to keep up using rinseless and waterless. But I don't have time for every other day plus im always worried ill scratch the car so I usually end up washing anyway. I live in Pittsburgh and the water probably is hard
 
swanicyouth said:
The Master Blaster won't help with water spots if you are working outside and there is sun out (hot panels). I am assuming you are - as that is where you usually get water spots.

I can offer a few suggestions, as like you - I have a black car and wash it outside. First - buy some type of water spot remover. I use Duragloss, but CarPro seems to be in vogue. Second, the real trick is to keep the car wet and rinse it with DI water.

Your not wetting panels necessarily to "keep them wet" - your wetting panels to keep them cool. Try to keep that in mind. Also, concentrate on keeping the horizontal panels cool - as these will get hottest from the sun and pool water. Work fast - but not so fast you forget to keep the panels wet.

Lastly, you need to rinse well with DI water. This is key. After you rinse with DI water, assuming you did everything else right, it won't matter how you dry. In fact, this is when I let my car bake in the sun and clean my buckets and what not. Then, use the Master Blaster or a towel.

Another thing that helps is to wash your car at the crack of dawn before the sun is all the way up and really hot. If you live in the desert or something - I'm not sure if that helps much.

Clean your wheels first - but don't wet the rest of the car until you are ready to clean it. The water spot problem is caused by tap water baking dry on panels - so try to avoid this at all costs. Also, you can clean your windows first with glass cleaner if you have a lot of glass. This is one less thing you will have to do during the 2BM - making it even faster - so less time the car will have to sit with tap water on it.
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One of the best post I've read from you, very helpful not only to the new guys but us pros too. :dblthumb2:

I agree, good idea to make sure you rinse well to cool down the panels, I rinse the entire car well in the summer months for one reason, hot panels, before and after.
As I said, I don't dry the entire car off , leaving just a little water along with a DS sure helps for a streak free finish.
 
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